Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-09-29
Continued.

N
Marguerite, pardon me; you are very
wet, my child"
Not very" said the little girl
blushing; my stockings will dry In
the sun. See, here comes papa"
A pleasant looking man of three
and t 'rty, came striding over the
rocks toward them as she spoke.
"Ho! Miss Maggie. so you have
been in the river, | hear. frightening
the fishes, Ell? What do you say
madame? should she not get hel
things dried?"
az fear she will en-cold herself
said madame, anxiously. Perhaps
monsieur. we had better return a.
once"
Maggie interrupted. however.
But, papa, madame has met a
friend. The young lady who helped
me out of the water knew madame,
at Paris"
"Ah indeed" and the gentleman
tool off his hat to Esperance. while
madame gravely introduced Mon
sieur Henderson and Mademoiselle de
Mabillon."
II hardly know how to thank you
enough for helping my little girl" he
said, pleasantly. 81 hope madame
will instill into Maggie some of the
ready adroitness of your nation. But
as to these wet clothes" he contin-
ued, turning to Nine. Lemercier.
Suppose I take Maggie back to the
inn, madame, and let her dry them by
the fire; we shall be back in an hour,
and you will like to have some talk
with Mademoiselle de Mabillon."
Monsieur Is too good, but it will
prevent you from searching for the
ferns. Let me take Marguerite
back"
"No, no; I will find ferns on the
way" said Mr.. Henderson, good-na-
turedly I'VE will be back in an
hour Come, Maggie"
"a good gentleman, a kind gentle
man" said Nine Lemercier, relaps-
irg into FRENCH as she waved her
last farewell to Maggie and her ia
Their. "She is my little pupil, Mar
guerite, you know, and very amia-
bic little girl. But ma chere come,
tell me all that has happened to you
you are thin. my poor child, thin
ner than in the siege; that Is very
wrong. and you are altered, ah! very
much altered; there Is more OF the
angel in your face; It Is no more a
naughty little piece OF humanity; you
must have suffered, my poor little
one. But fear you grow too good,
and then you will die; keep little
naughtiness, ma chere. do not become
too much like saint"
Esperance laughed merrily.
do not fear that. madame; as
sure you there Is too little danger.
have had an illness: that Is why I
ar thin"
IAN Illness? All, 7 was sure you
would suffer from the effects of that
siege It was rigorous. too trying for
one so young. I myself have never
falt so we'll since that time of star
walton. But tell me OF Gaspard,
mon enfant"
"He Is in Ceylon on coffee plan
tation." said Esperance, and she told
Nine Lemercier all the details OF
Gaspards letter Madame noticed
that there were tears in her eyes.
"Ah' ma chere. we women have our
part in the hardness Of life; it Is not
easy to he left behind" she said,
cgcntly laying her hand on Esper-
my child, and II is easier for us, for
we know they are strong, whereas
they know that we are weak and I'M
protected. You heard Of course OF
monseur's arrest7"
yes, dear madame: Gaspard told
me But do let me hear what hap
pened to you after we left"
"Ah, eherei what history IT IS, a
thousand times did I thank Heaven
that you were spared the horrors OF
that second siege knew not what
to think I scarcely saw Victor-he
was always engrossed either with his
writing or-or with more direct
means in the futherance OF his cause.
At first he was certain of success. and
I could bear the tumults and the hor-
rors better, because I hoped that in
the end his part would be victorious,
and that we should have peace and
better constitution. What can wo-
man know of the rights and wrongs
~ such questions7 7 trusted my hus-
band But then came the furious re-
pulse Victor was in despair; he
knew that all was over 7 entreated
him to 7y, to hide himself; but no.
he was always brave; he refused TO
- so he said to me. 'Antoinette.
tho neople I have melted and led on
can not fly: 7 must stay with them.
So he stayed. my brave husband. he
stayed and was arrested"
Here madame was Obliged TO wipe
away her tears. and her voice was
broken with sobs as she continued.
he and many others that had been
Il