Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1901-10-05
CHAPTER XIV.

1t and the refuge ] had bought with II.
Besides I should awaken suspicion and
inquiry by silence. 1t was "a fearful risl;
to run; yet 1t seemed safer than a pre-
cipitOus retreat. l gave her my address.
and saw her write 1t down on slip of
paper.
In the afternoon the little girl arrived
quite alone, except that man had been
hired to carry a small box for her. aud to
deliver her int my charge. This was
great relief to me, and gladly paid the
shilling he demanded. The child was
thiniy and shabby dressed for our long
Journey, and there was forlorn loneli'
ness about her position, left thus with
stranger. which touched Inc to the heart.
We were alike poor. helpless, fricndless.
I'm SO gladw she said with deep.
drawn sigh Of relief; II was afraid l
should never 20, and school Is such n
heavenly placer
The words amused yet troubled me;
they were 80 different from a child's or.
binary opinion.
"lts such hateful place at Mrs. vii.
kinson's," she went on, Everybody call.
Ing me at once. und scOlding me; and
there are such a many people TO run
crrands for"
"What Is your name, my dcary' ask
ed, sitting down on my box and taking
her on my lap. Such n thin. stunted lit.
tie woman. precociOusly learned In trout
BILE! Yet she nestled In my arms like
q true child, and tear or two rolled
down her cheeks, as II from very con.
tentment.
"Nobody has nursed me like this since
mother died." she said. "lm Mary; but
father always called me Minima, because
I was the least In the house. lie kept
a boys school out Of London, In Epping
Forest, you know; and 1t was 80 heaven.
~! All the boys were good to me. aud
we used to call father Dominic. Then
he died, and mother died just before him.
and he said, Courage, Minima! God
will take care Of my little girl 80 the
boys fathers and mothers made sub
scription for me, and they got n great
deal Of money, hundred pounds; and
somebody told them about this school.
where can stay four years for hun.
drcd pounds, and they all said that was
the best thing they could do with mo.
But I've had to stay with Mrs. Wilkin.
son nearly two months, because she
could not find gOverness to 20 with me.
l hate her; l detest her; l should like to
spit ut her!'
Hush! hushw I said, drawing her head
down upon my shoulder again.
"Then there is Mr.. Foster" she con-
tinued, "he torments me so. Hc likes
to make fun Of me, and tease me, I'LL |
can't bear to 80 into his room. You'd
hate Mr.. Foster, and Mrs. Foster, II you
only knew them"
"WhyY" I asked In a whisper. My
.1u.n Al.
felt parchcd, The child's impOtent rage
and hatred struck slumbering chord
within me.
"Oh! they IRE horrid In every way"
she said; they brighten me. lie IL fond
Of tormenting anything, because he's
cruel. But they nre very pOOr-poor as
Aren't you gladT
The question Jared In my memory
against q passionate craving after re-
venge, which had died away In the quiet
and tranquility Of Snrk. Ought l to do
anything for him? Was there anything !
could do to help him?
"He Is III, too" pursued the child; II
heard him say once to Mrs. Foster. he
knew he should die like a dog"
III! dead! My heart beat faster and
faster as ! pOndered over these words.
Then ! should be free indeed; his death
would release me from bondage, from ter.
rOr, from poverty--those three evils which
logged my steps. ] had never ventured
to let my thoughts run that way, but
this child's prattling had now forced
them into 1t. Richard Foster ill--dying
what ought ! to dot
There was one thing only that I could
do, only one little sacrifice I could make
for him whom ! had vowed, In childish
ignorance, to love, honor and cherish In
sickness and In health. until death parted
us. A home was secured to mo for twelve
months. l had enough money still to
last me until then. My diamond ring.
which had been his own gift to me on
our wedding day, would be valuable to
him. Sixty pounds would be a help to
him. set the child gently away from
me, and wrote my last letter to my hus'
hand. Both the letter and the ring ! en-
closed In little box.
A great thump against the door brough,
q host Of fears upon me. but before
could stir, the insecure handle gave way
and no one more formidable appeared
than the landlady OF the house, carrying
before her a tray on which was set Out
q sumptu0us tea. consisting Of buttered
crumpets and shrimps. She put 1t down
ON my dressing table aud stood survey
ing It and us with an expression Of be-
nign exultation.
.Those rs are going into foring parts,
she said, Fought to get a gOO~ English
meal afore they start. And this, my mas
ter says. Is a testimonial to you"
could hardly control my laughter
and ! co I'D not keep back the tears. II
was q long time now since any one had
shown me SO much kindness and sympa
thy as this. The dull face OF the good
woman was frightened by her kind-heart
ed feeling, aud instead OF thanking hel
put my lips &c her cheek.
The next morning found us In France
From HOnAeur to Falaise warm. genia
sunshine filed the air. The slowly NOV
ing train carried us through woods where
the autumn seemed but few days old
We passed through miles upon miles Of
orchards, beneath which lay huge pyrs
mids Of apples. Truck-loads of then
stood ut every station. The air wal
scented by them. Children were peltins
one another with them. 1t was almos
like going into new world. and ! breath
cd more freely the farther we travelet
down into the interior. At Falaise W,
exchanged the train for small omnibus
which bore the name "N0ireau" cOnspic
uously on its door. At length We starte,
off on the last stage of our journey.
Finally our omnibus was jolting ant
rumbling down some steep and marrow
tul,t Ill Ia, N