The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-11-19
TDe T.uO 0TpD1DS.
BY D'EnneTy
CHAPTER Nv,
THE STREET BEGGAR'S LIFE.

SCUllOCN " I 4SIk ClS l!4S Ait$A CAA-SoS- ~
love and peace, drew a sigh Of relief
from Jacques. He had deferred ms
carousal at the cabaret because ne had
no money: therefor he had waited until
he could take from his mother the
scanty amount earned by the bhnd
girl. who was so cruelty forced to beg.
Here they are at last" said Jac-
queS, joyfully, adding, in a tone OF I'M
disputed proprietorShip: THAT voice
ought 30 be worth a louis day, at
least"
Mother Frochard's shrill cry Of
CHARITY. good people. Pity a poor
unhappy child. Charity, ifyou please" "
was heard before the two came IN
sight, and the shrill tones Of that harsh
voice sounded doubly hard in the cold,
frosty air.
GLOW the poor child must suffer-"
exclaimed Pierre, sympathetically.
Good" was Jacques unfeeling re-
joinder; what's part Of the business.
Look out, Master Cupid, no getting
soft, I tell you"
At this moment the two came into
the square, and as soon as the old wo-
man saw that it was unoccupied, save
by her two sons, she. dropped her cry
Of "Charity," and exclaimed, IN an
angry voice:
"Ah there's nothing to be got from
those miserable common people. They
will stop and listen quick enough: but
when you ask them for son, they
clear out"
1T will be bitter when the church
is OUT said Jacques patronizingly, as
be lighted his pipe, and went toward
his mother.
0We'u go back, then,' said the old
woman, as she grasped the thinly-clad
arm of Louise in her hard rough hand.
'Come-come, let US be moving"
II am tired, madame" said the poor
girl, in tones Of deepest distress, and
her looks and actions bore evidence OF
the truth Of her words.
Although the day was bitterly cold.
and the snow falling fast, the young
girl was clad only in thin cotton gar
mentS, and the wretched shoes that
were upon her feet afforded very little
protection. During all of that Sab
bath day, which was intended as a
dav of rest for man and beast, she haC
walked the streets, singing as well as
she was able, and forced along by the
old hag at her side, until now she
reeled with fatigue as she walked
and many times would she have fallen
had it not been for the relentless grasp
of the wicked woman who was thus
forcing this life Of misery upon her.
When, worn out by fatigue and SUI
fering, Louise yentureo to say that
she was tired, Mother Frochard looked
at her with as much aStonishment in
her face as though Pierre's wheel hao
complained.
SWen, you can sleep tonight" she
said, roughly.
'Oh, madame, I am so tired can
scarcely stand, We have walked sc
much today" said Louise, in pite'
Gus tone.
"WelI, didn't you want to walk?':
asked La Frochard, angrily. Didn't
you say that you wanted to look fol
your sister,"
"Yes; but you always walk III the
same part of the city," was the low
answer of the blind girl.
''Bah." interrupted the old woman:
''How do you know? You can't see. y
81 know that, madame, when you
found me you promised"
'sI promised you to find your sister.
Amt I doing it?" and the old hag's
voice took tone of injured innocence.
81 amt rich, and you must earn your
bread. You must sing, and I'll do the
begging: :,
a voice full Of resignation, "lfyou wish
it."
eyes; but how doyou sing:" asked
the old woman, brutally. Like a
mourner at funeral,
II sing as well as 1 can," pleaded
the blind girl, piteously. II cannot,
indeed l cannot. When | think OF
what am-of what I am doing-1-l
i am so unhappy-so miseraoly un-
happy"
feelings, she sunk down upon the cold.
wet snow, and gave herself up to an
agony Of grief that plainly told how
near the poor heart was to breaking.
During this affecting scene the Two
brothers stood looking on, but with
entirely different feelings.
To JACQUES it was scene Wnlcn al
forded him great enjoyment, and moth
ing ever gave him half the pleasure
that the sight of grief or suffering did:
But Pierre was different. He coulo
never look upon another'S sorrow un.
moved; but when it was Louise's grief
that be was a witness Of, his heart was
deeply touched, and despite his efforts
to restrain them, the tears rolled down
his cheeks, and Involuntary ne
stretched his hands out toward her
aud in voice which expressed the
sympathy he felt, he called:
LOUISE"
He would have gone toward her, but
Jacques caught him roughly by the
shoulder, and hurled him some dis
tance away.
''Wen what are you up to, Master
Cupid?" he asked, as he Savagely sur
yeyed his fallen brother.
iNothing-nothing," said Pierre, as
he slowly rose from the ground, and
then, as shame came over him at ms
own helpless condition, he muttered:
u am so helpless"
JACQUES went toward the weeping
girl. and after gazing at her admlrlng'
" for few moments, he SalQ:
"She ispretty when she cries"
"Come-come." said Mother FrOch'
ard. seizing Louise brutally by the
arm, and dragging her to her feet.
enough Of this, let us be moving.
Very well, madame. will, > said
the poor girl, striving to represS her
tears, and holding on By the ola WO-
mans arm in order to stand, while al
the same time she wiped away the
tears which were streaming COVE her
cheeks.
"Don't do that" exclaimed La
Frochard. catching L0uise'S hands;
"What, would you wipe away real
tears: Why. that is the very thing TO
catch YOUR softhearted fools"