Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1894-06-23
A CHILD'S INFLUENCE

The snow had been falling all day long,
and the dark November weather had
changed the streets of Paris to dismal
drains for the melting flakes.
An omnibus stopped at the head OF
Prony street, and from its aristocratic in
terror stepped 18-year-old boy, with
morocco satchel under his arm. He ran to
the door of an elegant house, and the next
moment was Gathering up tho marble
steps into tho vestibule.
lis mother homer" he asked of the serv-
ant as she helped him off with his wet
overcoat and leggings.
'No," was the answer. "Her ladyship
has not come in.
"And my sistersS"
'Miss Christine and Miss Yvonne are in
tho reception room with Diana and their
dolls"
In the reception room he found Chris
tine seated before q cheerful fire.
"Oh, how glad am that you have got
home!" she cried throwing her arms about
his neck 'Wc are so lonely! Father
went out soon after breakfast and mother
about the time you left for school. Father
came back with some cakes, but he went
right out again"
II have been thinking of father and
mother all schooltime. Something Is
wrong Have you not noticed, Christine
''Mother seemed little put out with IA
thor But that is nothing new I have no.
ticed that this long time"
"Yes, cried little 6-year- old Yvonne, Il
| have often seen papa crying when I caught
| him in the study and put my hands over
his eyes. Ever since the lady in red
''What is she chattering aboutP" inter-
| rupted the boy, with superior air.
| Yvonne was touched In her feminine
weak spot
II know it better than you, for was
with mamma. View coming out of the
Louvre shops, and had my balloon, the
| one that you brolo'-
You should say burst" said her broth
Taking no notice, the child went on
with her story.
tThcn mamma said to Firmin i am
going to walk across tho Palais Royal.
| Have the carriage for us before the
Bourse.
Christine and Gaetan looked at each
other, hardly able to keep from laughing.
~ know what saw, at any rate. And
when we met papa with the lady in red
mamma drew me away and squeezed my
wrist SO hard she hurt mo.
'sWhat lady in red?" exclaimed Chris
tine.
"There, now," cried Yvonne, "perhaps
You'll believe me. And the lady had an
elegant bonnet and a gold veil, and silk
parasol, and-and"--
But Gaetan jumped up suddenly and
exclaimel: Don't listen to her nonsense.
Why should not papa walk with lady In
red if he wants to? There are plenty OF
ladies who come here on mammals Thurs.
days. and she and papa don't get angry
over them"
''Of course not" said Christine
The hours crept OH, the Greek theme
was written, and Ovid was in fair way to
be converted into bad French, when lone
lincss proved too much for Gaetan's phi
losophy, and he got up to rejoin his sister
by the fire.
Just then several quick, sharp peals OF
the bell were heard, and beautiful young
woman soon made her appearance. The
children had hardly finished Il stormy but
affectionate welcome to their mother when
the door again opened, and their father
came in. He received the childrcn's ca
resses in an abstracted way, and turning
to the countess said, with some emotion;
"Clotilde, we must arrange our affairs i'm
mediately. Take the children out and
come back here, beg of you. :"
''As you like" she said.
Left alone Count Bellcfontaine took thu
code from the table and opened it at ar
ticles 144s and 1449 and read:
1.-The wife who has obtained decree O
separation from bed and board assumes
tho FREQ control of her property. She mus
contribute to the expense of educating tn
children of the marriage If her HUSBAND
has no property, she must bear the who'll
Of this expense"
He closed the book and leaned upon tn
mantel with his back to the fire and said
II don t caro- for the money, but the chill
dren. None of them is to go with me
The Judge so ordered, and they are to b
brought to see me once a month. AS If
were no longer their father, because N
consideration! Temptation, weakness
never taken into account, and then in thre
years divorce-unless Clotilde should for
: give She'll never do that, for she ha
chosen this course Thank you, Clotilde,
he continued. You have not kept m
waiting. Here are the keys of my secrc
. tary. You will find cash and title deed
n oil safe"
n "And how about yourself? How are yo1
e to liver Though I have been wrongcd
\. bear your name and cannot permit you t
4. suffer"
!. II thank you, Clotilde, for your com
w miseration, but cannot accept it at you
g hands.
70 80, having broken your faith, you wis
= now to play the magnanimous!"
u "Remembcr that have been defeated
l. am punished enough"
Y. 'That ia SO, but that punishment weigh
n. upon me, too, and more heavily than 70
In imagine. The sight Of my ruined home
!" the publicity Of oil and the scandal afoat.
2 "You were inflexiblc'
N NMy dignity was at stake, SIR"
es ee "Say your pride"
4 "Yes, and my hate. could not forgiv
er you for giving me rivnl.''
"a rival have told you hundrc
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