The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1899-10-27

by tattered skirt and an old chemise,
hopping bravely behind her geese on
her rough wooden LEG. with her bare
foot on the dust.
The fowls, recognizing their home,
turned into the court of the dairy, and
their driver was about to follow them,
when the captain accosted her:
"Hello, little girl what is your name::
"Pierette, monsieur, at your SER
vice" she answered, shaking the shaggy
hair from her face and staring at HIM
with her great dark eyes.
"Then do you belong in the house?
| never saw you BEFORE
Yes. indeed, and l know monsieur
very well, because l sleep under the
stairs, and he wakes me every night
when he comes home'
"Really? Well, well, we'll have to
come in on tip-toes after this. And
how old are you?"
mine years old next Halloween,
monsieur"
as the landlady your mother?"
"No, monsieur, l am in service"
"And how much do they give you?"
"Soup and bed under the stairs" :"
"And what MANNED you like that,
my poor child?'
"a kick from COW when | was five
years oll.'
"Have you father and mother?'
The child colored through her sun.
burn. Il came from the Founding
Asylum" she said abruptly, and, bow
ing awhwardly, she limped into the
house, and the captain heard the sharp
click of the wooden leg on the pave
ment of the court dying away in the
distance.
"Holy Name" he said, turning
mechanically toward the cafe. "Theres
something against the regulations.
An old soldier is slowed away at the
Invalides with the silver of his medal
for tobacco, and an officer has collec-
torship posted to him and marries in
the province. But this gamin! That's
something against the regulations!'
Having thus stated the injustice of
Fate, the captain went to the door of
his dear cafe, but found there such a
crowd of blue blouses and such din
of loud voices that he went home again
thoroughly disgusted.
His room-it was probably the first
time he had spent many hours Of the
day there-suddenly looked mean to
him. The bed curtains were as dingy
as a pocket pipe; the hearth was lit
tered with cigar ends and burnt
matches, and he could have written
his name in the dust which covered the
furniture.
For some time lie was lost in con-
temptation of the walls, whereon the
sublime lancer of Leipsig went to his
glorious demise hundred times.
Then TO refresh his spirits he reviewed
his wardrobe. 1t was lamentable
series of torn pockets, hose which ad-
mitted the light of day, and buttonless
o.I!tS.
IL must have a servant" he said to
himself.
Then he thought of the little wood
en- leg.
"Ofcourse, I shall rent the next room.
Winter is coming, and the child will
freeze down there under the stairs
She can look out for my clothes and
keep the quarters tidy"
Then a cloud overshadowcd this
bright picture. The captain remem-
bered that the expiration of his quar-
was still in the distance, and that his
bill at the Cafe Prosper was assum-
ing alarming proportions.
Not rich enough, he reflected,
though one thing is certain. They are
robbing me down there. Living is
much too dear, and that old Whiskers,
the veterinary, plays like wild-fre. 1t
is week now since | paid him his
winnings. Who knows? Perhaps it
| would be better to let the little one do
everything. Coffee in the morning, a
pot-au-feu at noon. and a rata at night
campaign diet, in short. 1t agrees
with me-"
Decidedly it was an enticing scheme.
AS he went out he met the mistress of
the house, a great coarse creature, and
the small cripple stirring over the rub
bish heap in the court with pitch
fork.
"Can she sew, wash, and make soup?"
he demanded sharply.
"Who? Pierctte? Wny?'
Can she do a little of all that?'
"Holy Virgin, man! she came from
the asylum, where people wait upon
| themselves
"Tell me, little eirl," turning to the
child, "you aren't afraid of me, are
you? And you, woman, will you give
her to me? | need a servant
"Ifyou will give her her living"
Every we'll Here is twenty francs.
She must have dress and new shoe
| by tonight. Tomorrow we will see
| to the rest of it.
And giving Pierette a friendly tap
on the cheek, the captain departed,
enchanted with the arrangement he