The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1901-09-13
HALF ASLEEP

Yes, there were very few possessions
in that light trunk, but the first glance
showed me blue silk dress and sealskin
jacket and hat. | lifted them out for
her, and after them pair Of velvet slip
pers, soiled, as If they had been through
muddy roads. did not utter remark.
Beneath these lay handsome watch and
chain, fine diamond ring and five sover-
eigns lying loose in the box.
"That Is all the money ! have Il the
world" she said sadly.
! laid the five sovereigns in her small
white hand, and she turned them over,
one after another, with a pitiful look on
her face. felt foolish enough to cry
over them myself.
"Dr. Martini" was her unexpected
question after long pause, do you
know what became Of my hairr
"WhyT l asked, looking at her fin
gers running through the short curls we
had left her.
Because that ought to be sold for
something" she said. II am almost glad
you had 1t cut of. My hairdresser told
me once he would give five guineas for a
head of hair like mine, 1t was so long,
and the color was uncommon. Five
guIneas would not be half enough to pay
you, though, know"
She spoke so simply and quietly that
did not attempt to demonstrate with her
about her anxiety to pay me.
'Tardif has It," said; ''but Of course
he will give 1t you back again. Shall
sell 1t for you, mam'zelle3"
"Oh, that Is just what I could not ask
your she exclaimed. "You see there ID
no one to buy 1t here, and hope 1t may
be long time before go away. don't
know, though; that depends upon wheth.
er l can dispose of my things. There Is
my sealskln, 1t cost twenty-five gulneal
last year, and 1t ought to be worth some
thing. And my watch-see what nice
one 1t is. should like to sell them all
every one. Then could stay here as
long as the money lasted
How much do you pay hereT' inquir
ed, for she had taken me so far into
counsel that l felt justified in asking
that question.
"a pound a week" she answered.
"a pound a weekp | repeated, II
amazement. "Does Tardif know thatY
II don't think he does" she said
when had been here a week CAV,
Mrs. Tardif a sovereign, thinking per
haps she would give me little out OF It
l am not used to being poor, and die
not know how much ought to pay. Blu
she kept 1t all, end came to me ever!
week for more. Was it too much L
payT
TOO muehv' | said. "You should hav,
spoken to Tardif about it, my poor child.
II could not talk to Tardif about hi
mother" she answered. Besides,
would not have been too much, IL hai
only had plenty. But it has made me s
anxious. l did not know whatever
should do when 1t was all gone. do no
know now"
Here was a capital opening for a ques
ton about her friends.
"You will be compelled to communi
cate with your family" | said. "Yo
have told me how pooe you are; canno
you trust me about your fIiendsf'
"I have no friends" she answered sol
rowfully. 'If had any, do you suppos
should be hereT
Il am one" l said, "nnd TardIf is an
other"
"Ah, new friends she replied; "but
mean real old friends who have know
you all your life. like your mother. Dl
Martin, or your cousin Julia. | wan
somebody to go to who knows all abou
me, and say TO them, after telling theI
everything. keeping nothing back at al
Have I done rightf What else ought
to have doner No new friend could an
swer questions Ike those"
Was there any reason | could brin
forward to increase her confidence
nei | thought there was, and her friend