Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1895-06-05

it tC me an I'll give it to her" said the
captain eagerly, reaching for his cane
and leaving his chair with more than
usual agility; and everybody looked on
while he took a striped stick of pepper
| mint from the storekeeper and offered i,
CALAMITY. There was something in the
way this favor was accepted that savoreG
of the French court and made every man
in the store q lover.
The child not only made a quaint bow
before she reached out her hand with
childish eagerness for the unexpected de.
light, but she stepped forward and kissed
the captain.
There was a murmur of delight at this
charming courtesy, not a man there would
not have liked to find some excuse for
walking away with her, and there was q
general sigh as she shut the door behind
her and looked back through the glass
with a parting smile.
That's little French Mary, Alexis lit
tie girl said the storekeeper, eager to
proclaim his advantage of previous ac-
quaintance. "She came here yesterday
and did an errand for her mother as nice
as grown person could.
L never saw a little creatur' with pref,
tier ways" said the captain, blushing and
tapping his cane on the floor.
This first appearance of the little for
elgner Oh an April day was like the com
ing OF young queen to her kingdom.
She reigned all summer over every heart
IN Dulham-not q face but wore it's
smiles when French Mary came down
the street. not a mother who did not say
to her children that she wished they had
such pretty manners and kept their
frocks as neat. The child danced and
sang like fairy, and condescended to
all childish games, and yet, best of all
for her friends, seemed to see no differ
ence between young and old. She some
times followed Capt. Weathers home,
and discreetly dined or took tea with
him and his housekeeper, an honored
guest; on rainy days she might be found
in the shoemaker's shop or the black
smiths, watching them at their work
smiling much but speaking little, and
teaching as much French as she learned
English. To this day, in Dulham, peo-
pie laugh and repeat her strange foreign
words and phrases. Alexis, the father,
was steady at his work of gardening and
having; Marie, the elder, his wife,
washed and ironed and sewed and swept
and was helper i'll many households:
now and then on Sunday they set off
early III the morning and walked to the
manufacturing town whence they had
come, to go to mass: ut the end of the
summer, when they felt prosperous, they
sometimes hired a horse and wagon and
drove there with the child between them.
Dulham village was the brighter and
old-fashioned houses that knew them
treasured them, and French Mary
reigned over her kingdom with no revolt
or disaffection to the summers end. She
seemed to fulfill all the duties of her
childish life by some exquisite instinct
and infalible sense of fitness and pro-
priety.
One September morning after the first
frost the captain and his friends were
sitting in the store with the door shut.
The captain was the last conner
I've got bad news" he said, and
they all turned toward him, apprehensive
and fOreWarned.
Alexis says he is going right away"
(regret was mingled with the JOY of
having piece of news to telD. Yes
Alexis is going away; he's packing up
now. and has spoke for Fosters hay
cart to move his stuff to the railroad
What makes him SO foolish:" said Mr.
Spo0ner
He says his folks expect him in Cana
da; he's got an aunt livin' there that owns
Il good house and farm, and she's gettin
old and wants him settled at home to
take care Of her
I've heard these French folks only de-
sire to get forehanded little. and then
they go right back where they came
from said someone, with an air of disap-
prevail.
He says he'll send another man here:
he knows somebody that will be glad of
the chance. but | don't seem TO like the
idea so well. said Capt. Weathers. doubt
fully. We've all got SO used to Alexis
and his wife: they know now where we
keep everything and have. got to be so
handy Strange they don't know when
they're well Off | suppose it's natural
they should want to be with their own
folks Then there's the little girl
At this moment the store door was
opened and French Mary came ill., She
was dressed in her best and her eyes were
shining.
Il 90 to Canada in re carsr she an
nounced. joyfully, and came dancing
down between the two long counters
toward her regretful friends; they had
never seen her so charming.
Argument and regret were impossible
the fOrebo6tings of elderly men and their
experience of life were of no use at that
moment a CLEAN of youth and hope was
theirs by sympathy instead. A child's
pleasure in a journey moves the dullest
heart; the captain was the first to find
some means of expression
"Give me some O that best candy for
her" he commanded the storekeeper.
mo. take a bigger piece of paper and tie
it up we'll.
grufT Mr.. Spooner anXiOusly, and for his
part he pointed the storekeeper to a small
plaid shawl that hung overhead, and
stopped to wrap it himself about the little
shoulders
Il must get the little girl something,
too" said the minister, who was grand
father and had just come in for his mail.
What do you like BEST my dear?" and
French Mary pointed shyly, but with in
slant decision, at blue silk parasol
with white handle, which was somewhat
the worse for having been openly dis
played all summer. The minister bought
it with pleasure, like country boy at a
fair and put it into her hand.
French Mary kissed the minister with
rapture and gave him her hand to shake
| then she put down the parasol and ran
and climbed into the old captains Lar
| and Rugged him with both arms tight
round his neck. She thought for mo-
ment whether she should kiss Ezra
Spooner or not, but happily she did not
decide against it and said an affectionate
| goodbye to him and all the rest. Mr.
! Staples himself came out from behind
| the counter to say farewell and bestoN
! some raisins They all followed her tt
/ the door and stood watching while she
tucked her bundles under her arm anC
raised the new parasol and walked away
down the street in the chilly autumn