Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-12-31
The Doctors dilemma
BY Hesba Stretton


droll to resist, especially in combination
with her shrewd, old-womanish knowl-
edge of many things of which l was ig-
norant.
1t was now that across the darkness of
my prospects flashed thought that seem
ed like an angel of light. Why should l
not try to make my way to Mrs. Dobree.
Martins mother, to whom l could tell
my whole history, and on whose friend
ship and protection l could rely implicit
ly? By this time Kate Daltrey would
have quilted the Channel Islands, salts
fed that | had eluded her pursuit
The route was neither long nor difficult;
at Granville a vessel sailed direct for
Jersey, and we were not more than thir-
ty miles from Granville. 1t was a dis
tance that we could almost walk. If
Mrs. Dobree could not help me, Tardif
would take Minima into his house for
time, and the child could not have a hap
pier home. l could count upon my good
Tardif doing that. These plans were tax
ing shape in my brain, when l heard a
voice calling softly under the window.
opened the easement, and leaning out,
saw the welcome face of Rosalie, the
milk woman.
'Will you permit me to come in?' she
inauired.
Eyes, yes, come in,'' l said eagerly
She entered, and saluted us both with
much ceremony.
$50 my little Emile and his spouse are
gone, mademoiselle, she said, in a mys-
| terious whisper. 81 have been saying to
| myself, What will my little English lady
do? That is why l am here. Behold
me-"
Il do not know what to do,' 1 answer
| ed
"1f mademoiselle is not difficult" she
said, ''she and the little one could rest
with me for day or two. My bed is
clean and soft-bah! ten times softer
than these paillasses. 1 would ask only a
franc a night for it. That is much less
| than at the hotels, where they charge
| for light and attendance. Mademoiselle
could write to her friends, if she has not
enough money to carry her and the little
one back to their own country"
| II have no friends | said desponding-
| ".
No friends! no relationsr' she ex-
claimed.
Not one replied.
was only too glad to get a shelter for
Minima and myself for another night.
Mademoiselle Rosalie explained to me the
French system Of borrowing money upor
articles. But upon packing up our few
possessions, l remembered that only a
| few days before Madame Perrier had
borrowed from me my sealskin mantle,
the one valuable thing 1 had remaining.
1 had lent it reluctantly, and in spite of
myself; and it had never been returned.
| Minimas wardrobe was still poorer than
my own. All the money we could raise
was less than two napoleons; and with
this we had to make our way to Gran
vile, and from thence to Guernsey. We
could not travel luxuriously.
The next morning we left Noireau on
foot, and strolled on as if we were walk
ing on air, and could feel no fatigue.
Every step which carried US nearer to
Granville brought new hope to me. The
face of Martins mother came often to
my mind, looking at me, as she had done
in Sark, with a mournful yet tender smile
"a smile behind which lay many tears
| "Courager' | said to myself; every
hour brings you nearer to her"
| had full directions as to our route
and l carried a letter from Rosalie to a
cousin of hers, who lived in a convent
about twelve miles from Noireau. If we
reached the convent before six o'clock we
should find the doors open, and should
| gain admission. But in the afternoon the
sky changed. The wind changed a point
or two from the south, and breath from
the east blew, with a chilly touch, ovel
the wide open plain We We're now cross
ing. The road was very desolate. Ii
brought US after while to the edge OF
a common, stretching before us, dreal
and brown, as far as my eye could reach
Are you very tired, my Minima?"
asked.
SIT will be so nice to go to bed, whe1
we reach the convent" she said, looking
up with a smile. 81 can't imagine why
the prince has not come YETI
"Perhsps he is coming all the time,
1 answered, "and he'll find us when We
want him ~orst."
We plodded on after that, looking fol
the convent, or for any dwelling where
we could stay till morning. But none
came in sight, or any person from whom
we could learn where we were wander
ing. l was growing frightened, dismay
ed. What would become of US both, il
we could find no shelter from the cold O,
a February night?