Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1899-07-06
''Lu Bette"

5 "Lu Bette" )?
; By Ethel Ramsey.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
THIS il in no sense an animal story.
On the contrary, it has to do with
q small convent school for girls, situ-
ated in an eminently respectable but
cherries quarter of Paris. Moreover,
the story is founded on fact, as they
say, and is devoid of that lavish orna-
which bona fide animal
story permits for teller, whether he
be q church member or not.
Ihad been left in the convent to COM
plete my education. A slight illness
had excused me from the routine Of the
schoolroom, and as l stood in the re-
fectory one morning. struggling with
the demon of homesickness, an uncon-
trollable desire to look out of the win
dow seized me. Not the window which
overlooked the garden, where l knew
there was nothing of interest to be seen
except few rowdy sparrows, or per-
haps a sister scurrying across the
walled court to the other wing of the
building, but toward the opposite
house, where one of the girls declared
there dwelt handsome young man,
who had looked out of the window
when we were playing in the yard and
had twice tried to attract her attention.
Had been less homesick it might have
been a temptation to investigate, and,
If fortune favored me. to establish
rival claim, but thirsted for sight OF
the street, forbidden pleasure.
Soeur Marie, lay sister, had taken
me to task when first arrived for de-
liberately standing at the front win
dow, where could see and be seen.
''It looked SO bad" said she. "for q
demoiselle to appear before the pub
ic."
Presently q man carrying box OF
tools came out of the house. Instead
Of turning to the right or left. he
crossed the street. The door-bell
tangled and o moment later Seour
Marie led the man into the refectory.
what are you doing, mademoiselle%
she asked. 49,
Looking out of the window" sceur
Marie rolled her eyes.
"Imagines vous," she said to the car
penter, 1.-THE demoiselle likes to look out
Of the window. She says that in her
country every young girl can look out
into the street all she wants to-"
He shrugged his shoulders politely.
He was much younger than she, and
possibly had broader views. I decided
to cultivate him as far as possible, SO
as to rout utterly the girl whose ad-
mirer lived across the court. There had
never been any doubt in my mind but
that he was valet. and it seemed that
present carpenter promised more ex-
element than q distant valet.
Soeur Marie hustled around nervous
". From time to time she eyed me
curiously as though celebrating. She
finally beckoned me to follow her into
the hall.
81 have to go down to the kitchen fol
few moments" said she, land l don't
like to leave him in there alone. All
the silver mugs are out in full view. and
who knows when the hour of tempta'
ton approaches? Blessed is he who il
prepared to resist 1T. Now you are an
American, and it will be proper fol
YOU to remain in the room while am
downstairs, so just stay and watch the
mugs. but don't go to the window"
every well, ma soeur," I answered
quietly.
There was evidently struggle in hel
mind as to the propriety of this, and
to betray interest would have settled
any doubt at once.
The carpenter by this time ha6
opened the door Of what had supposed
was q closet. When returned to tn.
room, he was kneeling by hole II
the floor cut in the bottom of the closet
taking measurements.
"What are you doing"' asked.
He stopped in his calculations.
'.Les BONES seours," he said, "hav'
given me q job. I wanted to put TIN
dumb-waiter out in the room, but no
it would look untidy, SO they have made
me use the closet for it, which is con
trary to the laws of carpentering!"
care there laws of carpentering?"
asked.
"Oh, mademoiselle! There are law
to everything, but carpentering is ont
of the most difficult and complicated
of artist" Having found already tina
every Frenchman considered his trade
an art, proceeded to converse amiably
plying him with questions, and reall,
having almost as much fun as the day
the charbonnier came and brought my
Lille dog and made him perform tricks
until a sister came up from behind ane
sent me on an errand.
The dumb waiter was concession t.
the march of tiule. Who shall say how
many years the patient sisters hat
-