The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1894-11-09

some one TO love me as Earnest love
lyou."
| Laura sighed and looked up senti
mentally.
You have a father and mother
Clara. am quite alone. Ernest saw,
4 that Is one reason he at first felt as i
he must love me-
What would Mime. Mere sayq"
Madame must not know for tn,
world, Clara. She would write to m,
guardian. Oh, Clara, I am going t.
tell you great secretl Ernest and
have determined to run away to Gretns
Green and get married"
"Oh-h-h-h! Laura. how dare you.
Madame will be sure to find it out
| She never looks as IL she knew things
but she always does. When are yor
going?"
Tonight. Ernest will be waiting
with carriage at the end of the gar
DEN wall. have bribed cook tc
leave the kitchen door unlocked, and
shall go through her room and down
the back stairs"
Thus, until the nine o'clock bell rang.
the two girls talked over and over the
same subject and never found it weari-
some. and when they babe each other
. good night In the long corridor it
was very meaning one. They were
both greatly impressed with the ro-
nance of the situat ion, and timid little
Clara envied and admired her friend,
and could not sleep for listening for
the roll of carriage and the parting
signal which Laura had agreed to
make on her friends door as she
passed it.
Then Laura made her few prepare
tions and sat down in the moonlight to
wait for the hour. She thought of
all her favorite heroines who had en-
acted similar part, and tried to feel
as they were asserted to have felt.
''Half-past eleventh
She rose and laid her bonnet and
mantle ready, but, in spite of her ro-
mantle situation, she was really
chilled and unhappy and conscious of
q most unnatural depression of spirits.
just then the door opened softly,
and Madame Mere, with candle in
her hand, entered the room. She was
a very small, slight woman, with a
grave, lovable face and pair of won
derful eyes, In their calm, clear light
lay the secret Of her power over the
fifty girls whom she ruled absolutely
with a glance or smile. She came
gliding in more like spirit than q
woman, and putting the light down,
said:
Laura. have had q dream, dear
girl-a dreadful dream-and am
afraid. Let me stay here with YOU"
So she sat down and began in low,
trembling voice to tell of Laura's dead
mother; of her pure lofty womanhood,
and Of her love of her child. Laura
scarcely heard her; the time was going
faster, it was close upon midnight, she
must make an effort at once. So, dur
ing moments pause. she said:
''Will madame try to sleep now?"
Yes, will put out the light, and
we will both try"
First, will madame permit me to go
W CLARA TOOH! HdVc lcIL my JHluRS
there. shall not disturb anyone"
In moment madame's attitude
,hanged; her eyes scintillated with
light; all the caressing tenderness and
sorrow of her voice and manner were |
rome. She was like an accusing spirit. |
"Down on your knees, false girl,
whom no memory of mothers love
,ould soften! Down on your knees,
md let your prayers strengthen the |
hands of those good angels who are
lighting your evil genius this very mo-
nent!. Pray as those should pray
whose purity and honor, whose very
lie and salvation hang upon villains
vordw And, drawing the girl down
reside her, she watched out with her
hose dangerous midnight hours.
At . o'clock Laura was left to weep
ut alone her shame and her disap-
ointment. Madame had kissed and
orgiven and comforted her with such
omfort as was possible; but youth
axes hardly the breaking of its idols,