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

meekly, mo, sir; don't think am 60
very wicked"
30. you do not? You don't think steal
Ing anything OF a crime? Rather an ac-
complishment, eh?" he sneered
She felt the blood rising to her cheeks,
as she rose and facing him, she said
firmly, 81 am no thief, sir"
well" he replied. angriy; I'VE are
going 10 see about that. You dare move
and | Will have you arrested immedi-
ately. Anyway | am going TO have
you searched"
Gabrielle was too dumbfounded to re-
ply or move, aud was hardly conscious
that he had left the room and the lady
had entered The door closed and
hand was laid gently on her arm, and
gentle voice said 70 her, Don't be
frightened. my dear. You shall tell me
all about u, and Mr.. Rosenthal viii not
be hard with you"
The soft voice acted Ike a charm on
the poor child's pent up feel
lngs. She sank on the floor
and sobbcd Historically. The
kind lady unfastened her dress and
smoothed her dark tresses and by de-
grees she became more composed.
II knew you were not thief she
said soothngly.
20, no. madame" sobbed the girl.
her grief breaking out anew az
the mere suggestion, and then
between her sObs she told that
she wanted to get work, and
was afraid to ask because everyone
was so busy. The simplicity and quiet
dignity OF the childs replies convinced
the lady entirely of her innocence, and
finding that she still trembled as II with
cold. she made her sit by the fire, and
procured some warm wine and cake
for her. Gabrielle was very thankful
for all her goodness and more than
once felt as If she would like TO make
a coniidant Of her, but the terrible fear
that they would be sent back 70 the
Home deferred her. Instead she asked
where the factories were to be found,
and was directed 10 Montmartre, as
that part Of the city Is called where
most OF them are situated.
After awhile the man returned, and
explained TO her that they had been
robbed very often OF late, and were al
ways on the lookout for dishonest per-
sons, and expressed sorrow at the false
accusation, and seemed anxious that
she should not mention the anair 10
anyone, which she readily promised. He
then shook hands with her, and she
was relieved to see him put on hls hat
and leave the room. When she had re-
covered her self-possesslon, her KIND
friend conducted them out Of the store.
and imprlnting kiss upon their fore
heads with smile babe them good
bye.
The children started once more on
their travels, and after walking for
nearly an hour they came to the river
and crossed one Of the bridges. q what
q contrast TO the scene OF last night!
1t was now about four o'clock. and as
the air grew colder, a mist arose from
the water. The snow had melted under
the feet Of hundreds Of pedestrians and
the pavement was covered with thick
black mud. AS the horses dashed over
the bridge. their feet spashed the mud
In all directions Gabrielle gaZed down
on the flowing river. but that too was
dark and forbidding. She shuddered as
she looked at IT,
The strain of all her excitement was
beginning to tell upon her and in spite
of her efforts her tears flowed con-
tinuously She tried to pray. but 1t
seemed hopeless to imagine her petitions
could be heard with such terrible
noise going on all around her. As the
daylight drew to close, the baby was
restless and cried necessarily.
At last thoroughly exhausted she
went on TO one of the less frequented
streets Sitting on a doorstep she took
him on her lap and sang softly TO him
hoping he would go TO sleep. He seemed
to enjoy the music so she patiently con-
tinued song after song until she re-
ceived inspiration from the sound OF her
own voice, and something akin to hope
filled her heart once more.
AS she was thus engaged a lady
passing slipped two sous into her hand
This seemed almost a gift from heaven.
and she told Pierrot he should have
some nice milk. IL he would be good
boy and stop crying
They soon found creamery and were
much refreshed by their warm drink.
Opposite the dairy was a church, and
Gabrielle saw that IL was Illuminated
as II for a special service. Then she
remembered that Il was Christmas Eve
and mass would be said at midnight.
They crossed the road and went In.
The church was beautifully decorated
with flowers. They walked around and
admired the fine paintings. Pausing
with an exclamation Of delight they
entered an alcoye near the main
altar. II had been arranged to sym
bOlize the nativity OF our Savior. In
a bower of evergreens and flowers
stood a manger In which was laid a
! large wax doll TO represent the in
! FAINT Jesus. on one side stood the
| figure OF His mother Mary and on the
other Of her husband Joseph. There
was also an OK and three kneeling fig
! utes which Gabrielle told her brother
were three wise kings from the East,
! who had come TO offer rich gifts 10 the
babe and His mother.
Plerrot was too much interested In
| the scene to be induced to leave, so
Gabrielle sat down and taking him on
! her knee, she told him the story Of
the shepherds in the fields who heard
the angels singing and the wonderful
star that guided them to the place
where the little baby was lying in a
manger, Just like the one before them
He listened contentedly for awhile, but
soon the little tired eyelds closed and
his head rested heavily on her arm.
| While he lay peacefully sleeping she re-
called the stirring events Of the last
two days. How would II all end she
wondered. She thought Of the two
sous the lady had given her, and
smiled at being mistaken for a beggar.
but was she anything else anyhow? II
she could not find work. they would
surely have TO beg. She remembered
the women and children she had seen
singing on the streets and that her
mother had often given her money for
! them. She would go out and sing.
and earn money for their needs. She
| felt impatient Of delay and was anX-
! ious 10 commence at once. But what
could she do with the baby? She
looked at the waxen figure In the wood
en- Manager. How cosy II looked. The
idea came to her to take the doll out
and put her brother In instead She
| gently laid him on the downy pillows
and covered him up with the silken
| quilt How beautiful he looked she
! thought, and bent over and kissed his
rosy cheeks. There was no one in the
church but man who was too much
engrossed In his prayers TO notice her
as she went out.
The crowd was dense now and as the
pan,la nacead cha could haar cnafehea