Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1901-12-26
CHAPTER XxvT.

days together ON the roofs, More often
than not we were without wood for our
FIRE, and when We had II. Il was green
esna assseaSeued, ana oais nneldared
away with smoke that stnng and irri-
tated our eyes. Our insufficient and un.
wholesome food supplied ua with no In
ward warmth. Al times the pangs OF
hunger grew too strong for us both. and
forced me 10 spend little OF the money
| was nursing 40 carefully. As soon as
could make myself understood ! went
out occasionally after dark 70 buy bread
and milk.
found that had no duties TO perform
~ teacher. for none OF the three French
pupils desired TO learn English English
girls, who had been decoyed into the
same snare by the same false photograph
and prospectus which had entrapped me,
were all Of families too poor 10 bo able
TO forfeit tho moncy which had been paid
In advance for their French education.
Two OF them. however. completed their
term az Christmas and returned home
weak and M the third was TO leave In
the spring.
Very fast melted away my money. l
could not see ,ae child pining with hum
ger. though every sou | spent made our
return to England more dlflcult Mad
anne Perricr put no hIndrance In my way,
for the more food we purchased for our
selves, the less we ate at her table. The
bitter cold and the coarse food told upon
Minima's delicate little frame Yet
what could dor dared not write to
Mrs. Wilkinson, and very much doubt.
ed II there would be any benefit to be
hoped for II ran the risk. Minima did
not know the address OF any one OF the
persons who had subscribed for her edu
cation and board. She was as friendless
as ! was In the world,
So far away were DIR. Martin Dobrce
and Tardlt that | dared not count them
as friends who could have any power to
help me. Better for DIR. Martin Dobree
II he could altogether forget me, and
return to his cousin Julia. Perhaps he
had done 80 already.
Towards the middle of February Mad.
anne perrler's coarse face was always
overcast, and monsieur seemed gloomy,
too gloomy to retain even French polite
ness Of manner towards any Of us. The
household was under cloud, but could
not discover why. What little discipline
and work there had been in the school
was quite at an end, Every one was left
TO do as she chose.
Early one morning long before the day
break. was startled out OF my sleep by
hurried knock at my door. II proved
20 be- Madcmoisele Morel. opened the
door for her, and she appeared In her
bonnet and walking dress, carrying Il
lamp In her hand, which liz up her weary
tear-stained face. She took seat at
the foot OF my bed aud buried her face
in her handkerchief. .
"Mademolselle," she said, "here Is a
grand misfortune, n misfortune without
parallel. Monsieur and madame are
gone"
"Gonew | repeated; "where are they
gomez
IL do not know. madem0iselle," she
answered: II know nothing at all. They
are gone away. The poor good people
were in debt, and their creditors are ns
hard as stone. They are gone, and |
have no means to carry on the establish
lneflt. i no sCHOOl ~ uulShtNs
"But am to stay here twelve months,
cried, In dismay, "and Minima was to
stay four years. The money has been
paid to them for Il. What Is to become
Of us?"
II cannot say, mademoiselle; am des-
olated myself" she replied, with fresh
burst OF tears; "all is finished here. IL
-. h.,.n ,,,t ,uoaoy apnuOh IN taxa Vnu
back to England, you must write to your
friends. am going to return to Bor-
deaux. detest Normandy; 1t Is so cold
and triste."
But what is to be done with the other
pupilsT" inquired.
''The English pupil goes with me TO
Paris" she answered; "she has her
friends there. The French demoisellts
are not far from their own homes, and
they return to-day by the omnibus to
Granville. 1t Is misfortune without
narallel, mademoiselle- misfortune
without a parallel"
TO crown all, she was going to start
Immediately by the omnibus to Falaise,
and on by rail to Paris, not waiting for
the storm to burst. She kissed me on
both cheeks, bade me adieu, and was
gone, leaving me In utter darkness before
l fairly comprehended the rapid French
In which she conveyed her intention.
had seen my last of Monsieur and Mad
anne Perrler, and of Mademoiselle Morel.
All had to do was to see to myself
and Minima. l carried our breakfast
back with me, when returned to Min
ina.
II wish I'd been born boy" she said
plaintively; they can get their own liv-
ing sooner than girls, and better. How
soon do you think l could get my own
living? l could be little nursemaid
now, you know; and I'd eat very little"
"What makes you talk about getting
your living2" l asked.
"How pale you lookv' she answered,
nodding her little head ':why, heard
something of what mademoiselle said.
You're very poor, aren't you, Aunt
Nelly2"
"Very poorw repeated. hiding my
face on her pillow, whilst hot tears fore
ed themselves through my eyelids.
"Oh! this will never do," said the child
ish voice. 1--WE mustn't cry, you know.
The boys always said 1t was like baby
to cry; and father used to say, Courage,
Minimap Perhaps, when all our money
Is gone, we shall find a great big purse
full of gold or else beautiful French
prince will see you and fall In love with
you, and take us both to his palace, and
make you his princess; and We shall all
grow up till we die"
laughed at the oddity of this childish
climax, in spite of the heaviness of my
heart and the springing Of my tears.
Minima's fresh young fancies were too