The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1901-12-20

en- upon the little crowd, as If they were
trying to catch the meaning Of the Eng
lish words. But as she pushed on, lead
ing us both, litter for the first time ran
from lip to lip | glanced back, and saw
Monsieur Perrier, the avocat, hurriedly
putting our luggage on a wheelbarrow
and preparing to follow us with it along
the dark street.
was too bewildered yet to feel any
astonishment. We were in France, in a
remote part of France, and | did not
know what Frenchmen would or would
not do. We stopped at last opposite the
large, handsome house, which stood in
the front, in the photograph | had seen
in London.
ut is midnight nearly" said Madame
Perrier, as we came to a standstil and
waited for her husband, the avocat.
He passed through the garden gate and
disappeared round the corner of the
house, walking softly, as il careful not
TO disturb the household. At last whe
reappeared round the corner, carrying a
candle, which flickered in the wind. Not
word was spoken by him or his wife as
the latter conducted us towards him. We
were to enter by the back door, that
was evident She led us into a dimly
lighted room, where | could just make
out what appeared to be a carpenter's s
bench, with heap of wood shavings "
ing under it.
1T is a leetle cabinet work of my hus-
band" said Madame Perrier; "our cham
Der is above, and the chamber for you
and leetle mees is there also. But the
school is not there. Come on, mees."
We went down the broad gravel walk,
with the pretty garden at the side of us,
where a fountain was tinkling and splash
ing busiy in the quiet night. But we
passed the front Of the house behind it
without stopping at the door. Madame
led us through cart shed into a low,
long, vaulted passage, with doors open
ing on each side; black, villainous look
| ing place, with the feeble, Pickering light
of the candle throwing on to the damp
walls a sinister gleam. Minima pressed
/ very close to me, and ! felt strange
culver of apprehension; but the thought
that there was no escape from it, and
/ no Help AZ ihS " ASaioN
quietly to the end.
The end brought us out into a mean,
/ poor street, narrow even where the best
streets were narrow. A small house
stood before us; and madame unlocked
the door. We were conducted into small
/ kitchen. There was an oil lamp here
Madame's face was Illuminated by it.
] Of Of safan nl
culture about her, not even the proverb'
ial taste of FrenchwOman in dress. The
kitchen was a picture Of squalid dirt and
neglect. The few cooking utensils were
scattered about in disorder. The stove
before which we sat was rusty. Gould
be dreaming Of this filthy dwelling and
this slovenly woman? No; it was all toe
real for me to doubt their existence fol
an instant.
She was pouring out some cold tea into
two little cups. when Monsieur Perriel
made his appearance, bis face begrimet
aud his shaggy hair uncombed. He stood
in the doorway, clubbing his hands, ant
gazing at US unAinchingly with the harC
stare Of Norman peasant. whilst h,
spoke in rapid, uncouth tones to his wife
turned away my head, and shut my eyes
: to this unwelcome sight
Eat, mees," said the woman. bringing
us our food. There is tea. We give
our pupils and instructresses tea for sup
per at six o'clock; after that there is n,
more to eat"
We had the same vaulted passage anG
cart shed TO traverse on our way bach
to the other house. There we were ush
cred into a room containing only two bed
and our two boxes. I helped Minima q