Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-06-13
Il never saw q little creatur' with
orettier ways" said the captain. blush

L
ing and tapping his cane on the floor.
This first appearance of the little
foreigner on an April day was like the
coming of a young queen to her king
DOM She reigned all summer over
every heart in Dulhan-not a face but
wore its 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 man.
ners and kept their froclSs 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 difference be-
tween young and old She sometimes
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
biacksmith's, watching them at their
work; smiling much but speaking lit
tie- and teaching as much French as
she learned English To this day, in
Dulham, people laugh and repeat her
strange foreign words and phrases.
Alexis, the father, was steady at his
work of gardening and haying: Marie,
the elder, his wife, washed and ironed
and sewed and swept, and was helper
| in many households; now and then on
Sunday they set off early in the morn
| ing and walked to the manufacturing
| town whence they had come, to go to
mass; at 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
better for their presence, and the few
old-fashioned houses that knew them
treasured them, <and French Mary
| reigned over her kingdom with no re-
volt or disaffection to the summers
| end She seemed to fulfill all the du-
ties of her childish life by some exquis-
lite instinct and infallible sense of fit
| ness and propriety.
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, appre-
hensive and forewarned.
Alexis says he's going right away"
| (regret was mingled with the JOY of
having piece of news to tell. Yes,
Alexis is going away; he's packing up
now, and has spoken for Fosters hay
cart to move his stuff to the railroad
What makes him so foolish?" said
Mr.. Spooner.
He says his folks expect him in
Canada: he's got an aunt Twin there
that owns good house and farm. and
she's gittin' old and wants to have
n i'm set ip1 n To tai of
! her"
I've heard these French folks only
desire to get forehanded little. and
| then they go right back where they
cone from" said some one, with an air
OF disapprovaL
He says he'll send another man
! here: he knows somebody that will be
glad of the chance, but L don't seem to
like the idea so we'll" said Capt.
Weathers. doubtfully. 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,
l 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 in. She
was dressed in her best and her eyes
were shining.
Il go to Canada in re ears.'' she an
nounced joyfuliy, and came dancing
down between the two long counters
toward her regretful friends; they had
never seen her SO charming.
Argument and regret were impos-
sible-the forebodings of elderly men
and their experience of life were of no
use at that moment, CLEAN of youth
and hope was theirs by sympa thy in
stead A child's pleasure in journey
moves the dullest heart; the captain
was the first to find some means of ex-
preston.
Give me some o that best candy for
her." he commanded the storekeeper.
NO, take bigger piece of paper, and
tie it Up WELL
..Ain't she dressed little thin?- said
gruf Mr. Spooner, anxiously. and for
his part he pointed the storekeeper tc
small plaid shawl that hung over
head and stopped to wrap it himself
| about the little shoulders
Il must get the little girl something,
too" said the minister, who was a
grandfather and had just come in for
| his mail What do you like best, my
| dear?" and French Mary pointed shyly,
| but with instant decision, at blue
| silk parasol, with a white handle,
which was somewhat the worse for
having been openly displayed all sum-
| mer. The minister bought it with
| pleasure, like country boy at 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 para
sol and ran and climbed into the old
captains lap and Rugged him with
| both arms tight round his neck She
| thought for a moment whether she
should kiss Mr.. Ezra spooner or not,
but happily she did not decide against
| it. and said an affectlonate good-by to
him and all the rest. Mr.. Staples
| himself came out from behind the
/ counter to say farewell and bestow
some raisins- They all followed her
to the door and stood watching while
she tucked her bundles under her arm
| and raised the new parasol and walked
| away down the street in the chilly au-
| tumn morning. She had taken her
French gayety and charm and all her
| childish sweetness and dignity away
with her. Little French Mary had
gone. Fate had pluclSed her like
flower out of their lives
| She did not turn back but when