The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-06-16
The Little Is acx Lady.
Part

Marguerite Sylvtstre was a young Swiss
girl, who had never had A settled home
anyW here until she was twelve years
old. though she belonged 20 a nation
which is more faithful 10 nome than any
other Her parents were extremely poor.
so thrv were obliged TO come to Eng
land: Monsieur Svvestre used to teach
French. and his wife gave music lessons.
After While he loft ISndon and went
to Liverpool. ord then, As ne did not
find many pupils TO teach, ne thought he
had better go 10 America. and wherever
ne went Madame Sylvestre and Mar
gueiite followed him.
They were often very poor. Sometimes
Marguerite and her little brother Raph-
ael, who was born in New York, could
not sleep for hunger and cold. Then they
used to nestle beside their mother as she
sat mendlng stockings, and ask her to tell
them tales about Switzerland. She de-
scrbed the blue lakes. and the dark
pine-woods, aud the pretty cottages with
vines growing up their walls. until the
children faRcied they had actually seen
them with their own eyes.
After they had been five years in
America they came back TO England, and
there Monsieur Sylvestre died The
mother and children were now alone. and
very hard times they had. They lived in
dingy lodgings. and Madame Sylvestre
went out all day, trying TO find pupils.
Daisy and Raphael got very thin and pale.
When their mother was out they walked
about the streets. gazing at the toy shops
and settling what they would buy If they
were rich. on Chrsmas-Evo they went
out together and must haze stayed
rather longer than usual for when they
came back. they found their
had letter TN her hand and Daisy
thought she had been crying, though she
told them the news was very good and
tomorrow they should each have a
beautiful surprise. That night after tea,
when they begged her 10 tell them a
story, she said: Il can only think OF one
story tonight; 1t Is all true; 1t Is an
adventure OF mine when | was little
girl. think l shall call it. The Little
Back Lady "
The children curled themselves up on
either side OF her and gazed into the
fire, and Madame Sylvestre began:
Not far from the village where / used
to live In Switzerland, there was a small
house. which stood quite by itself in
pine wood. The trees grew so closely
together that you might have passed
many times quite near the house and
never have seen even the top OF a Chin
ney. Unless some smoke were going up.
YOU would not have known there was
habitation in the wood at all. There
were two ways Of reaching the house;
one was to follow a road which led
through the village. and then 10 take a
foot-path through the wood. the other
was to go down a road outside the vii
lage until very deep tarn was seen,
called the Red Lake. There was no
bridge across the farn. but an old boat
man lived close by, who rowed people
over for a penny, and set them down
few yards distance from the house. al
most AT the foot OF a garden which be-
longed TO IT.
.In this lonely place, ever since ! could
remember. a lady had lived. who was
very small and always dressed in black.
She had a large black bonnet, black
veil. and a black dress. No one had ever
seen her face-at least no one whom l
knew. An old servant lived with her,
who used To come once week 10 the
market TO buy food, but she was very
cross. and never made friends with any
one. The lady's name was Mademoi-
seile de st. Pierre. l am not sure II II
was the black veil or the mystery which
always seemed to hang over the lady
and her servant. but for some reason we
children were terribly afraid OF her. In
those days even grown-up people be-
lieved foolish things, and terrified them
selves about trifies
MY great friend was a girl called
Lucille. the only daughter OF the village
inn-keeper and she heard great deal
OF gossip. and repeated it as quickly as
she heard. One day she came to tea with
my cousins and me. and began 10 talk
about the black lady.
She Is very wicked woman. said
Lucille: they all say So
"'What has she done?' we cried.
Something must not tell you
"'Oh. do. please, tell u.s.. we begged.
And one OF my cousins said. I don't
believe you know. You are only pre-
tending to have secret
This angered Lucille. OF course. and
she CRIED
aft you will all promise. solemnly
promise not 10 ransat win say what