The Washington weekly post., 1900-03-27
THE MIRACLE OF LOVE.
BY ELIZABETH NJ. GILMER.

Odette was brushing Mrs Maitland's
hair before the long mirror, stopping
every now and then to take a surrepti-
iious peep at her own dusky locks, worn
ooronet fashion above a brow that had all
the creamy beauty of tea rose Quad
rooms in New Orleans do not wear tig-
mons, though they still follow their moth
ers' trade of eoiffueseS.
ITEMS" she was saying, when all IS
SAID 1t was a miracle of lie bon St Roch
Yesterday m'sieu lie doctor say to Mime.
Pierre, Hit is Of no use, my fren', de Ill
gal will die Nine. Pierre, she sen out 10
ce miracle chapel of st. Roch, an make
an hotferin'. She burn one, two, three.
candles. Dis mawnin' de Ill gal opens her
heyes an speak. VOLTA. II is, as l tell
you, 4 miracle
Mrs. Maitland smiled a little cynically
In the brilliant and worldly society in
which she moved at home miracles and a
BELIEF In the supernatural had small space
'Odette,' she asked, do you believe in
miracles?"
Ode1te crossed herself piously Mrs.
Maitland was 'of de mort" and many &C.
centncities were to be forgiven her-as,
Tor instance, walking when she might
ride, but this was too much.
4! No, she said, Il don't believe. |
know. One time | know girl, she get so
old-tWenty-tWO, tWenty-thFee-so Old
and Odette threw out her hands in a su-
perb gesture that took in the remote ages,
an she not marry. One day she says. /
go make noyena to de blessed ST. Roch.'
DE las mawnin she come home, dat Jean
Whut had never look at her befO he come
an he ak her TO make marry wild him."
The girl paused and brushed the beautiful
rich hair until il shown like FURNISHED
gold. and then curiosity got the better OF
her and she asked timidly: Does mad
anne not believe in miraclesg'
Mrs. Maitland shook her head. "Ah q"
returned The girl, lit is perhaps that
madame is very wise but il is not happy
that one should be too wise" and then
she added a little wistfully. IF only
madame would go out TO the miracle
chapel. and there pray FOR her hearts de-
sire, she would see that the blessed mira
Gle would happen.
After the girl had gone Mrs. Maitland
sat long time before The mirror with
unseeing eyes, thinking about what the
girl mad said. ut was not happy 10 he
too wise" Good God, VINO should know
that so We'll as she! And then her mind
went back and threshed over thar mis-
cradle affair with JACK She had been
rich, and ne had been poor. and peonl4
had not scrupled 10 hinT 10 her that ne
was fortune hunter. but people ALWAYS
say that about every man who usays al
tention TO girl with money Jack mad
never seemed 20 care for money. and she
had trusted him, and loved MIN, and mar
rIed MIN. Well. she had had three wears
Of such bliss as seldom falls 20 rnortals
she told herself, before Tle end came TO
her paradise. She had found him reading
a letter in a woman's handwriting one
day. and had demanded 10 see H. lie had
replied that Ii contained d secret of one
VINO had confided In his honor, and thai
ne could not reveal il. and a sudden pas
sion Of jealous fury mastering her, she
mad turned upon him with gibes aud
taunts, and ended wfgh the bitter accusa-
ton that he had married her for her
money.
do you think that. Alicia?' he had