Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-23
BY MARY F, KELLY.


Did she not make a solemn promise 90
her mother that she would never leave
him. 20. what shall do? What shall
! do?" she means. Just then the supper
bell rings. she goes TO the little COZ
where the baby form Is already In re-
pose. After taking one long look at
him. she descends to the great dining
hall She makes a pTetense Of eating.
but a lump in her throat seems 10 pre-
vent her swallowing. She Is thankiul
when the bell Is rung for bed, Ii APP
pears hours 10 her before the last busy
tongue Is silenccd, but finally a great
quiet rcigns over the sleepers. She has
drawn the baby's cot close up TO her
bed. and she holds one little hand firm
ly graspei In here. as II she feared
ne would be parted from her In his
sleep. After tossing TO and fro for an
hour or more, she. too, falls INTO a
ftful slumber. Then a beautiful vision
is opened 60 her view. She Is In a
lovely garden. Seated on a bench IL
her father. Just as she used to see him
I'm his fine Uniform with gold straps on
the arm. Beside him is her mother
making a little coat for Plerrot OF blue
cloth with gold stripesjust like hls, and
there In the pathway IL the baby boy
with his fathers three-cornered hat on
his head and his e"fheT's sword In his
hand. They are all so happy together.
Suddenly her mother stoops and kisses
her and says, Gabrielle. you must
never leave Pierrot." The kiss seems TO
waken her. for she finds herself In the
whltewashed room, and the grey dawn
Is breaking. For n moment she feels
dazed and then the dreadful scene Of
the previous day comes TO her mind
still she feels her mothers kiss on her
brow and great calm takes possession
OF her. No. she must not LET him be taken
from her. that Is certain. There are
only two days now before Christmas,
so there Is no time to lose OF course
they must leave the Home. Where
shall they go? Her mother had many
dear friends in Paris, but she does not
know where TO find them. Suddenly
an idea strikes her. She remembers
that her mother has told her that In
the great city they employ little girls
like her in the factories. She viii
take the baby 20 Paris and work TO
provide FOR them both Quick as thought
she rises and dresses herself. Then with
trembling eagerness she slips the shoes
brother and enyeloplng him in her
mothers big shawl. she takes him still
sleeping In her arms. Down the stairs
she creeps. How the boards do creak.
Surely someone IL following her. But
no. she quietly unlocks the kitchen door
and slips out into the open street. The
frosty morning air fans her burning
cheeks. Soon Pierfot begins to awaken.
-. A. IL Ian ~ N
be out 50 early. He IL going TO Paris
she tells him. Il is only twenty-five
miles. and he can walk some Of the way
He agrees only too readily to everything
and she wraps the shawl tightly around
his little body so that he can run, foi
her arms are already aching with her
heavy load. she Ia too full Of anxiety
TO trouble much about physical needs,
but Pierrot says he Is hungry and wants
his breakfast. She had not thought OF
that. They are now nearing the out
skirts of the town and there stands
a little inn called the Travellers Rest
with a number OF wagons standlsg out
side. on the edge Of the road is
a large barrel and a CHEEKY faced wo-
man with a red handkerchief tied round
her head is throwing the sweeplngs OF
the bar room into It. The little boys
quick eyes catch sight Of part OF a bun
in the dust Cake" he cried, and
holds out his hands to reach It. With "A
little culver In her voice Gabrielle asks,
please Madame may | have that piece
OF bread for the baby
Goodness, child replies the woman
sharply. Haven't you had your break
fast yet? Here. wait a bit. Don't eat
that dry stuff" and soon she brings
out couple OF fresh buttered rolls and
a tin mug Of hot coffee.
Come ON inside and eat H." she says,
looking suspleiously at the little pair,
but Gabrielle Is too much afraid OF be-
ing questioned and sent back TO the
Home, so they drink the coffee and
taking the bread. she thanks the kind
lady and resumes her journey
The sun is beginning to shine upon
them now, and the air becomes ptlle
warmer. The roads too, are crisp ana
hard. and the exercise has brought
bright glow TO the girls pale cheeks.
She feels full Of hope After awhile
thy come to cross roads and n sign
post indicates one 20 be the road 10
St. Denis and the other to Paris. PIER
rot here refuses TO walk any further
glad 60 sit down and rest. She WIN
ders II she viii ever be able to go 80 far
FOR her feet are already numb and
swollen. But she will not lose heart
she tells herself. Suppose they say
their morning prayers, and ask their
Father In heaven TO take them safely
10 Paris. She makes her brother kneel
In her lap and put his hands together
and repeat the words after her Then
she feels more comforted for she thinks
that even the angels must Ike 10 hear
Pierrot pray, and that God Himself
would not refuse him his desires.
Soon she hears the sound OF wheels
and sees one OF the covered wagons that
was standing by the inn, coming along
the road. What II that were gong 10
Paris. She rises With diinculiy ana
calls TO the driver to halt. lie is only
boy Of about seventeen. In reply 10
her question he tells her he Is going
10 the city as far as the Great Central
Market. o. yes. he will take them,
certainly. Clearing a space at the back
az the wagon he lifts them both In, eye
ing them curlOusly the while. Although
sitting upon load OF potatoes and
beets in not the downlest Of couches
Gabrielle Is full OF gratitude and be-
gins TO think that their troubles are
over.
The wind Is cold but the boy has
pulled down the canvas tightly around
them. and the rumbling Of the wheels
makes her drowsy. Soon she and her
precious baby are in a sound slumber
! The boy looks IN at them occasionally.
Cant make them out, he soliloquises
"Theyre rum uns." with which char
acterlstic summary he promptly dis
misses them from his thoughts.
II Is getting dark before the tired
| sleepers again awake and the wagon Is
/ then entering the great city. Gabrielle
! looks for the bread they had saved from
| breakfast. Although II Is not much, II
satisfies them.
Pulling aside the canvas they can
| view the varied scenes as they pass
along Gabrielle could never have i'm
/ aglned that so many people lived In
| the world. she thinks. As they cross
! the bridge over the River Seine an ex-
clamation Of delight escapes from her
The reflection Of thousands Of lights
| from the embanlment Is thrown on the
water and the brilliantly lighted bridges