The Saint Paul globe., 1900-12-24
CHAPTER XVII.

ly of the past history of his uncle.
CHAPTER XVII.
REVELATIONS.
''Would you like to come with me to
the village, mademOiselIe? ?'' said Justin
one Gay, some weeks after the episode in
the garden, recently described 81 am go
ing to buy some fresh eggs for Mime la
cOmtesse, and it might amuse you a lit
tie to go out.
Molly, who was looking pale and tired
after an unusually trying morning, threw
down the sheet she had been mend.ng,
and accepted the invitation with aiacrity.
Poor young lady!" said Justine, IS
they trudged off together. Il feel sorry
for you sometimes Nine. la comresse is
not always easy to manage. Non ca!
Many a time l pity you"
1T is no worse for me than for any
body bod else, else, / suppP3se,'' said Molly, sm /
the Others sympathy
Ah, but I am accustomed to it. do
you see, mademcisel!c? 1t is nearly tn
same to me whethec Nine Ia c3mtesse is
my ears when she rumbles-Brum,
brum. brum-it is like a great humble bee
humming round one. When she is ve.y
cross, L begin to s.nG-perhaps made
molselie has remarked it? l have several
little songs that serve me on such ocCa-
slons: and sometimes, when against my
will the mustard mounts to my n0sa-af-
ter all human natu e is very weak, mad
emoiSelle-I sing hymns and church mu-
SIC to change the current Of my
thoughts"
Molly laughingly congratulated her en-
SO excellent and simple method of pre-
serving her good temper.
AS for M'sieu le baron" pursued JUS
llne, after a pause, ne has the pati5nca
of an angel with her as everyona knows
and always had. Nothing is too good
for her it seems. You see maden2oisI lie,
one must love something, and she is ali
he has-eXcept NJ sieu CASTOR, and he
she broke eff suddenly, but resumed af-
Ter m9ment. Mime la comtesse was
kind to NJ sieu lie baron long ago, almost
a mother to him, he told me once for
their mother died soon after his birth),
and that IS the bast part of madame, as
m!ademolseHe knoWs-the T.ate. nal in
Slnct ! mean; Now 1T is cliff
story But M'sieu le baron is not or
those who forget
They had left the park behind and were
QescendlnS the steep, stony road which
LED to the village, and which was bor-
dered on each side with high bank, sur
mounted by a stone wall, behind which
was a plantation of frs
All at once a child's shril cry rang
cut close to them, followed by loud
tI3b.!f te5riiled s9bbing; mans tones being
po tulating and condoling.
Down went Justines empty basket,
and up the slippery bank she clambered
her curiosity lending her unwontei ac-
tivity. Before Molly had recovered from
her surprise at the sudden movement
she turned, with a smiling but mvster-
lous face, put her finger on her lips to
recommend caution to her to approach.
Just lcok over there, mademoiselle, -
she whispered, ''and you will see some
thing Which will amuse YOU
Obediently scaling the bank and peep
ing over the wall Molly deserted NJ. de
Sauvigny kneeling on one knee on the
nossy ground while he supported on
the other a very small child His back
was turned to them, but the baby's
=. face testing on his shoulder was distinct
~ visible, and Molly recognized it as
Una tt,at 2,tiR OF me child whom she had seen on
me, evening of her arrival, and whose
tardy sense of duty had been aroused
by ludlclous reference to "Croqueni-
taine." On that occasion, as MolIV re-
membered, she had considered NJ. de
SauVlgnys appearance and manner such
as might fairly strike terror into the
infant mind; but, behold! so far from an
peanng afraid of "Bogey," this little
Se5eature clung to him with evident con-
nqence not to say affection. Ourson
stood at distance, looking half asham-
.eu. nam aggressive, and wholly lea Gus,
and being, as it transpired, the cause of
her alarm.
Did my big dog frighten thee. then.
knee?', said Raoul. tenderiy. 'SNaugh1v
5 cursor! What shall we do to him, Mar
Margot murmured between bar cob,
that the big. dog ought to be beaten, a
suggestion from which she seemed to
derive some consolation; while Ourson.
catching his masters eye. drooped Iis
further Gnu -e'-ieu d ii'l-e
"Oh, no. must not beat him." returned
Raoui, laughing softly; I'VE must for
give him. Poor Ourson! He did not
mean it,, dost thou see, Margot? He
torgets that he is so big and Slat thou
art SO little; Helm? thou wilt forgive
him? Poor Oursonr'
Margot; whose magnanimitv had not
apparently reached such a height, be-
3 gan to wall again, and pulling up her
skirts, contemplated her chubby knee
with With a deeply injured expression.
oh, the poor little kneer' said Sau-
Yigny, compassionately I'VE must make
1t better. mustn't We? Would ten-cen
tlmes piece make it better, do you
Margot appeared to think if wou,d
She checked her sobs, and watched the
baron with keen interest as he searched
ms pockets one after the other. a smile
qln!ijY1ering on her lips, though big tears
still hung on her thick black Iashes.
"Ah, but is not this a dreadful mis-
IortuneE' cried Raoul, all at once. II
peiIeNe ! nave not got a tencentime3
pl4eGce-What piece shall we do?"
He thrust his hands into his pockets
again, but in vain; not one single coin
vas Forthcoming. Margot's anguish burst
forth afresh; her knee became very bad
again, and she refused all attempted con-
ISOLATION. Molly, from her post of van
tage, watched Raoul in amazement as
he folded his arms round the Offended
DabY, ard endeaVored by means of re-
peated promises and much kindly non
sense to distract her thoughts from fhc
recollection of her injuries his face which
was now visible TO Molly, wearing an
expression of tender amusement which
became 1T very well. Suddenly he stopp-
cd and kissed the little knee
Good heavensi' thought MolIv siS
this Croquemitaine? How I have haen
mistaken in hiIn!''
A few days afterwards she was en-
abled to judge of the devotion with which