The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-19


traordinary intelligence.
The physician had forbidden his work
ing, but TO amuse him and TO change his
surroundings they sent him to school,
where he forced himself to listen grayely
and to retain all that lao heard.
One evening after school / saw him
seated under the porch Of the house against
the rooms Of the concierge. His mother
had gone out to make some purchases,
and, his sister not yet having returned
from tho shop, ho found the door Of tho
apartment locked. He was watching the
street with hungry eyes, while his express
sion indicated deep thought and mournful
resignation. While questioned him the
pupils Of his eyes threw observant and
frightened glances at me. During the in
terview his sister returped all out Of breath.
"Oh, my poor Gahl" cried she. "Ihave
kept you Whiting, and you are impatient,
amt your
"No," replied Cab, with calm, siivery
voice. II said to myself only that perhaps
you did not want me any more and would
not come back. am SO sick and so trou-
blosome"
"Ah, you naughty boyp' murmured tho
young girl, covering him with kisses and
then turning her eyes filed with tears to-
ward me:
"He Is so little and so intelligent. He
reasons like grown person. What pity
that he Is not strongl The doctor says IL
he can go to Berck this summer the salt
air and the sand baths will probably cure
him. But it is far away, Berck, and IL
would be expensive, but 1 am going to try
TO make enough money to take him there"
The courageous young girl worked from
morning until night TO make the amount
necessary. She broke herself down at her
machine She folded, gathered, scanned,
basted and sewed without rest. / heard
the dry, quick click Of the machine late
into the night. 1t sounded like a sharp
chorus of grasshoppers In the fields.
Behind the curtains of the lamplight !
saw the outline Of the young seamstress.
In the house everybody knew the history
Of little Cab and the women willingly
gave their work to the sister. They stop
ped tho child on the landing. In tho halls
and court, carcssing and fondling him and
sending him delicacics. He was always
shy, and he shrank from their caresses,
which gave him moro inquietude than
pleasure; be thought long time Of these
marks of friendship.
1.-THE lady on the top floor has given mo
these toys Why has she done so, when
sho does not know mes nc asked of his
sister, with keenness which gave heart
breaking understanding Of the working Of
his brain. "It is, without doubt, because
am hunchback."
Work was plenty, and the bank grew
heavy in dark corner of the bureau
drawer July was approaching, and prep
arations were already commenced for their
departure. A trunk Ind been bought and
a costume for tho child, who, enchanted,
talked of nothing 10 his schoolmates but
his trip to the seashore.
At the last moment everything was up
set by al unfortunate accident.
The young wife Of n clerk on tho fifth
floor had given her wedding gown to the
sister to be retrimmed in the prevailing
fashion.
One evening in playing with the ink
bottle Cab let 1t slip from his slender fin
gers. and its contents ran unluckily on the
white satin skirt.
They did not scold him. Alas, mol The
CONSERVATION in his face was too painful
TO see. His sister stifled cry Of terror
Silently, nervously she sponged the ma
terial and measured the extent OF the dis
aster. The ink had outrageously spoiled
sight yards of satin.
Between a loss to the client on the fifth
hoor and pity for Cab there must be nc
Hesitation. The clerks wife was not rich,
and her wedding dress was her only re-
source for fete days and occasions OF cere-
mony. Then again the little dressmaker
was proud and did not wish the people Of
she house TO know the cares and sorrows
Of their home. The most practical and
dignified thing TO do was to run TO the
Bon Marche and try to match the stuff.
't..lN Il. 4
Total of 1870 francs, n rude breach in the
bank, a fund for tho journey.
1t was finished. 1t would be necessary
to give up the visit for this year.
The girl embraced little Cab and went
10 sewing again.
The following winter they worked
steadily on the first floor The autumn
had been rainy, and little Cab health had
suffered in consequence. His bones ached,
DC had n fever and pains in the head. Tho
doctor examined him, stroking his beard
meanwhile, and again ordered the child 10
Berck as soon as tho weather became
warm.
This time IL was decided, cost what 1t
night, they would start for tho baths at
The end Of May.
The sewing machine recommended
again, and its grasshoppor chorus was
heard far into the night.
They had bought Cab picture book
With nothing but views OF the sea. Here :,
we're ports with their forests of moats
nnged along the walls Of the quays. Steep
lifts and rocks washed by yeasty waves
ana fishing boats disappearing at sea lKe
flock of white winged birds.
The child talked Of nothing but the
ocean. Ho saw IL in bis dreams and some
times in broad day ho thought he saw
through the fog which filled the inner
court strips Of coast beaten by the tide and
large vessels with swollen sails.
Occasionally he took from tho mantel n
largo shell and held it to his ear. He
would stand thus, his neck lost in his
shoulders, listening for hours TO the noise
OF the sea which seemed To him to come
from far off-from very far of.
The winter was exceptionally damp, and
/ did not meet little Cab any more on tho
porch of the house. The physician had ox-
pressly forbidden that he go out.
From time 90 time / saw him at the
n .0.A