Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-09-14
A WOMAN OF STONE.

Lurine was pretty, petite and Is. She
had a nice situation at the Pharmacle de
Siam, in the Rue St Honore.
She crossed the river twice every day
once in themorning when thesun was shin
ire. and again Mt night when the radiant
lights along the rivers bank glittcred like
Jewels in a long necklace. She had her little
walk through the gardens of the Tuileric5
every morning after she had crossed tho
Point Royal but die not return through
the gardens in tho evening, for park in
the morning is a different thing 10 park
at night. On her return she always walk
ed along the Rue dc Tuileries until she
came TO the bridge Her morning ramble
through the gardens was IA daily delight
to her for the Rue de Lille is narrow and
not particularly bright, 50 it was pleasant
to walk beneath the green trees, 10 feel
the crisp gravel under her feet and to SEE
the cleaning white statues in the sun
light, with the sparkle on the round toun-
tain pond by the side Of which she some
times sat Her fayoritc statue was one OF
a woman that stood on a pedestal near the
Rue de Rivoli. The arm was thrown
over her head, and there was smile ON
the marble face which was inscrutable.
1t fascinated the girl as she looked up at
it and seemed 10 be the morning greeting
to her busy days work in the city II no
one was in sight which was often the case
at o'clock in the morning, the girl kissed
che tips Of her fingers and tossed the salute
airily up 10 the statue and the woman OF
stone always smiled back thcstrango
mystical smile which seemed TO cXp.,-7
that ii knew much moro Of this world ana
its ways than did the little Parisiennc Who
daily gazcd up at her.
Lurinc was happy, as mattorol course
FOR was not Paris always bcauululf DID
not the sun shine Brightly And WAS not
the air always clear? What moro, then,
could a Young girl wish? There was one
thing which was perhaps lacking but that
ut last was supplied, and then there was
not a happier girl in all Paris than Lurlnc
She almost cried it aloud to her fayoritc
statue the next morning, for il seemed TO
her that the smile had broadeEad since She
had passed it the morning before, and She
felt as if the woman of stone guessed the
secret Of Enc woman of flesh
Iurino had noticed him for several days
lowering about Tie pharlnacio and looking
in at her now and thcn She saw 10 ALL
but pretended not TO sec. lie was "a hand
some young fellow, with curly hair, and
she noticed how white his hands were, as
IL he were not accustomed TO doing hard
manual labor
One night he followed her a. far as the
bridge. but she walked rapidly on, and Ac
did not ovcrtakc her. He never entered the
pharmacies, but fingered about as if wait
inc for "A chance TO speak 10 her Lurinc
had 10 one to conldc in but the woman
Of stone ana it seemed by her smile that
she understood already, and there was no
need to tell her that the inevitable young
man had come. The next night be fol-
lowed her quite across the bridge and this
time Lurinc did not walk so quickly.
Girls in her position are not supposed To
have formal introducitons TO their lovers
and are generally dependent upon hap
hazard acquaintance, although that la
rino did not know. The young man spoke
80 her on tho bridge, raising his hat from
his black head as nc did so.
Good evening" was all hc said to her
She glanced sideways ,hyly at him. but
did not anwsor, and the young man walk
cd on beside her.
You como this way every night, ho
said 4 have been watching you. Arc
you oGcndclY'
NO, " she said almost in a whisper.
Then may walk with you TO your
homc| hc asked
You may walk with ne as far as the
corner Of the Rue dc Lille" she replied.
THANK you, " said the young fellow
ard together thcy walked the short dis
tauo,. aud there he babe her good night
after asking crmi@sion to meet her 0t the
corner Ct the Rue So. !Ionoro ana walked
homo with her the next night
You mast not come TO the shop, she
said.
II understand" he replied, noddua his
head in assent TO her wishes. he told her
his name was Jean Durct, and by the bye
she called him Jean, and he called Acr
Lurnc lie never haunted the pharmacio
now. but waited for her at the corner, and
one sunday hc took her for little cXcur
Son on the river, which she enjoyed c1-
cccdingly Thus time went ON, and Lu-
no vas very happy. The statue smiled
sis cnigmaLcal smile, though, when the
sky was overcast, there seemed TO her q
subtle warning in thc smilc.
Pclhaps &c was because they had QUAR-
rricd the night before jean had seemed
TO her harsh and unforgiving. re had
asked her If she could not bring him somu
things from the pharmacic and gave hCr
q list OF three Chemicals, the names of
which he had written on paper.
You can easily got them, he had said.
They arc I'm every pharmacic and VIII
never be missed"
But" said tho girl in horror, that
would be stealing.
The young man laughed.
How much do they pay you thcr,
he asked. And when she told him h0
laughed AGAIN and said:
why, bless you, If l got so litte o-
that / would take something from th,
shelves every day and sell it,.
The girl looked at him in amazomCnt
and he angry at her, turned upon his hcci
and left her She leaned her arms upol
Tho parapet Of the bridge and looked down