Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-23
CHAPTER l.

snow that had held their own III spite
OF the suns soft wooing. The air was
ehlsp and frosty and an almost SOL
emn stiffness reigned. Then the sound
OF children singing rang out on the
clear air. How full Of melody II was
speaking OF innocense and peace. Sure
~ the praises OF these little ones
would mount up to the throne above
and win for them a special blessing
from Him who had promised 10 De
Father TO the fatherless, for Il was the
little orphans at the Home VINO were
making such sweet music,
AT an upper window sat one OF the
inmates, girl Of about twelve years
Of age. She was certainly not q pretty
child and the severe outlines of her
close fitting black dress lent an air OF
elnsh angularity TO her slim form Her
hair and eyes were black and the face
was one that arrested persons atten-
lion by the firmness Of the tightly
closed lips. Looks as II she might have
a temper one would eXclaim, and then
for hours afterwards those piercing
eyes would haunt YOU and make you
wonder how she looked when she
smiled. II was only six months since
little Gabrielle Duyal and her two year
old brother Pierre (or Pierrot as she
always called hlm) came TO the
home, and although she was not unhap-
py there, occasionally she would with
draw herself as now, 10 the window at
the end OF the corridor to think OF her
dear mother and OF the events that
had followed each other In such rapid
succession during the last three years
OF her young life.
Adrian Duval, her father, was SOL
der and she well remembered him and
the merry games they had together.
He would teach her to Tense and some
times let her think she had won the mlm-
&c contest Then she recalled the ex-
element OF the beginning OF the war,
when he had gone out, not TO play az
fighting, but to lead men into the held
TO conquer or 10 die. How her mother
had wept during those days, and she
had loved 20 sit at her feet ana COM
fort her. Then came the news that the
enemy was coming 10 the very walls Of
their capital and one night her father
had carried her in his arms away from
their homo 10 a place Of safety and
she had seen him no more. She knew
he had given his life In his effort TO
defend his beloved city Of Paris from
the Prusslan invaders. Her mother had
bravely tried TO battle on her side
against most trying circumstances, for
the sake Of her child, but after the
birth Of the little brother who was all
Gabrielle held dear on earth now, she
too had slowly faded away.
Then Il was that Monsieur lie Cure
the good parish priest, who had been
the friend OF the poor widow in her
affection, took the little orphans to the
kindly shelter OF the home.
Madame Legre, the matron, had taken
them under her hosptatble roof and set
them down 10 run with the rest, as she
termed H. She was a good woman. but
having never known herself the joys OF
motherhood she had a fixed idea that
If these many little souls In her care
had plenty Of good food at regular
hours. and went 10 bed when the An
gelus rang at night, they would thrive
like young chickens. II one Of them
was sick, then she was all anxiety and
never begrudged rising from her warm
bed I'm the coolest night to minister 10
their slightest need. but once well again
''they could Just run with the rest"
But Gabrielle whose heart was filled
with an intense longing for love, could
not find in her the friend she needed
SO much. The matron thought her
proud, and imagined she ridculed her
manners and speech. Thus an imper-
ceptlble barrier had grown up between
them and on Pierrot was concentrated
every thought and purpose of the
child's being, and they seemed TO live
I'm a world apart from the other chill
dren OF the house. And yet Madame Le-
gre was almost worshipped by the rest,
and a contented, merry little crowd
they were, for she was too busy with
her numerous duties and prayers 10
trouble them with many dont's.
In the afternoon when her work was
finished the little ones would crowd
round her and read their daily portion
and learn some lesson in spelling or a
little piece 10 recite TO Monsieur lie
Cure when he should come on Saturday
10 inspect the school. She in the mean
time would take her rosary from her
pocket and repeat 20 herself a few Ave
Marias. Soon her head would begin
TO nod and the children would look shy-
~ at each other and giggle under their
breath. Then the beads would drop on
the floor and with her chin resting on
her breast the good lady was sure TO
sleep an hour az least. the children
knew o the fun they had then. One
would softly creep 10 the door and the
rest followed, on into the big dining
han, jumping over the forms and ia
bles and waking the echoes with
their Joyous shouts, After a while they
would hear the matrons heavy foot
fall and In an instant they were all
seated at the long table as demurely as
little Saints When che entered she
would shake her fist at the little cul-
prits but they only laughed and cried
out: but, Madame, Il was your fault,
FOR you went 20 sleep, and we are so
hungry O, We do want our SUPPER
And away would go the older once 10
help bring in the huge plates OF bread
and butter, and the jugs Of sweet, warm
milk, and before the meal was over,
some Of the little tired heads were rest
ing on the table almost too sleepy 10
lake part in the evening prayer.
To Gabrielle the great event OF the
week was the saturday visit Of the
good priest who had known her mother,
He would always ask for the children
and when they came he would place his
hand upon her head and say In his
kindly way, that he was glad the ma
iron hpd such a good report 10 make
u her. and what fine boy her broth
fr was growing
Tonight, seated al the window, she
hears HIN speaking 20 someone on the
.tairs. she strains her ears 20 catch
he sound % his loved voice Suddenly
her heart seems 10 stand stlll DO her
ears deceive her? Can she believe her
senses? Gabrielle would never con-
sent 20 H." she hears him say.
But Il viii be such a splendid op-
portunlty Tor the little fellow. Madame
II ilch and viii let him share equally
W. everything With her own boy" the
ether REPLIES.
4 know. but al any rate lei him stay
IBIS week so that they can spend their
christmas together. poor little lambs,
me priest saws. with a trem0r In his
voice that Gabrielle remembers after.
wards with gratitude. Then the great
noor u swung open and he steps Oui
into the street. Mechanically the child
Watches the tall figure o. her friend
VI ne Is lost 10 view. Then the whole
SITUATION breaks upon her. She knows
NAV sometimes kind people open thell
n.spilanle doors 10 these little waits
Who en1Ov ouc. f,a,s . f.th..s 49,