Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1901-10-12
CHAPTER XVI.

days together on the roofs. More often
than not we were without wood for our
fire, and when we had 1t, 1t was green
and unseasoned, and only smOldered
away with a smoke that stung and irri-
tated our eyes. Our insufficient and un-
wholesome food supplied us with no in
ward warmth. At times the pangs Of
hunger grew too strong for us both, and
forced me to spend little of the money
I was nursing so carefully. As soon as
I could make myself understood, I went
out occasionally after dark to buy bread
and milk.
found that had no duties to perform
a. a 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 to be able
to forfeit the money which had been paid
In advance for their French education.
Two Of them. however, completed their
term ut Christmas and returned home
weak and ILL the third was to leave in
the spring.
Very fast melted away my money. I
could not see the child pining with hun
ger, though every sou l spent made our
return to England more difficult. Mad.
ame Perrier put no hindrancc 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 I do? 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
o. was In the world.
80 far away were DIR. Martin Dobrce
and Tnrdif that I dared not count them
a. 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 Perrier'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 n 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, l was startled out Of my sleep by
q hurried knock ut my door. 1t proved
20 be Mademoiselle MOrcl. opened the
door for her, and she appeared In hel
bonnet and walking dress, carrying q
lamp In her hand. which lit up her weary
tear.stained face. She took a seat al
the foot Of my bed and buried her face
In her handkerchief.
"Mademoiselle." she said, here Is q
grand misfortune, a misfortune without
parallel. Monsieur and madame ars
gone"
"Gone!' I repeated; "whcre are thcy
gomez"
II do not know. mademoisclle." she
answered; II know nothing ut all. The,
are gone away. The poor good people
were In debt, and their creditors are a,
hard o. stone. They are gone, and
have no means to carry on the establish
nent. The school Is finished"
"But am to stay here twelve months,
I cried. In dismay, "and Minima was Il
stay four years. The money has beer
paid to them for It. What is to become
OF usf"
II cannot say, mademoiselle; l am des
olated myself" she replied. with a fresl
burst Of tears; "all Is finished here. j
you have not money enough to take 20,
back to England. you must write to you
friends. am going to return to Dor
deaux. I detest Normandy; 1t Is 80 COLI
and triste."
But what Is to be done with the othe
pupilsf" inquired.
''The English pupil goes with me Il
Paris" she answered.; ''she has he
friends there. The French demoisellc
are not far from their own homes, AM
they return to-day by the omnibus 4
Granville. 1t is misfortune withou
parallel. mademoiselle--a misfortune
without a parallel"
To crown all, she was going to star
Immediately by the omnibus to Falaise
and on by rail to Paris, not waiting 70
the storm to burst. She kissed me Of
both cheeks, babe me adleu. and Wa
gone, leaving me In utter darkness, befor
I fairly cOmprehended the rapid Frencl
In which she conveyed her intention.
had seen my last of Monsieur and Mad
anne Perrier, and Of MademOiselle More
All I Ind to do was to see to mysel
and Mlnima. carried our breakfas
back with me, when ] returned to Min
lima.
II wish I'd been born a boy" she sal
plaintively; "they can get their own liy
Ing sooner than girls, and better. HO,
soon do you think could get my Owl
0ivtuw9 I covld ho N littla nuraom N 1
aow, you know; and I'd eat very little.
"What makes You talk about gettin
your iivingY" ] asked.
"How pale you look" she answered
nodding her little head; "why, l hear
something Of what mademOiselle said
You're very poor, aren't you, Auu
Nelly2"
"Very poorv / repeated. hiding m
face on her pillow. whilst hot tears for,
Cd themselves through my eyelids.
"Oh! this will never do" said the chile
ish voice; 1--WE mustn't cry, you know
The boys always said 1t was like bah
to cry; and father used to say, Courage
Minimav Perhaps. when all our none
Is gone, we shall find a great. big purs
full Of gold; or else a beautiful Frenc
prince will see you and fall In love wit
you. and take us both to his palace, an
make you his princess; and We shall a
grow up till We die"
laughed ut the oddly of this childis
climax, In spite Of the heaviness of m
heart and the springing of my tear
Minima's fresh young fancies were to
droll to resist, especially In cOmbinatio
with her shrewd, old-womanish know
aA0o NJ many things NJ xvhtch I uos 1,