The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-10-15
The TuO orphans.
CHAPTER VI.
THE HOME OF THE FRoCHARDs.
Bv D"EnneTys

THE HONE OF THE FROCHARDS.
Mother Frochard led Louise along
the streets in a careful manner: al
though had the poor girl not been so
engrOssed with the thoughts OF the
loss she had just sustained, she would
have noticed that although they
walked in a leiSurely manner though
those streets that were evidently
deserted, the old woman Qulckened
her pace very perceptibly whenever
they approached any traveller:
For some moments neither La F,roch-
ard nor Louise spoke. The one was
thinking of the prize she had found,
and of the best means of making her
serve her purpose. while the other was
thinking of the sister she had lost.
Now it was not Mother FrOchard S
custom to walk through the streets IN
this quiet manner: for she was pro-
fessional beggar, and her mOnotonouS.
nasal CRY Of CHARITY, good people
charity for poor old woman was
well known in the quarters which she
freouented. But on this OCCASION, she
cid not wish to let Louise know what
her business was: and again, she olo
not wish to attract attention, as Sne
feared it might excite suspicion II she
was observed with the neatly dressed,
innocent looking country girl.
''Haye you always been blind, my
dear?" she asked, in what was intend
ed to be kind, motherly voice:
"Oh, no. madame" repied Louise.
s.T have only been blind two wears"
''Two years" replied La Frochard;
land what caused you to lose your
sight?" x o,s
something seemed to grow over my
eyes," replied Louise sadly, as She
thought of the time when she was thus
shout out from the world and imprlSon-
ed. as it were. within herself.
II don't suppose there is any chance
of YOUR ever being cured, is there?'.
asked the old woman, with view OF
finding out whether there was any
chance of the girls being able to leave
her motherly care.
"Henriette thinks that I may be
cured: there are so many SklinuI
physicians in this city,, answered
Louise, with tears filing her eyes again
as she was thus so vividly reminded OF
her sister. "She sold all we possessed
to raise money enough to pay the doc
tors"
$50 you had property, them,
"a very little, madame. When our
dear parents died they left US the 1T
tie cottage in which we lived. But
how much further have we to go:
And Louise'S voice, as she asked the
question, told plainly how weary she
was.
"Onlv a few steps, dear. We are
Door people, and can not live in fine
houses, so we have little house by
the river. But courage" said the oIo
woman, patting her on the shoulder
"We shall soon be there.
YEARLY the blind girl followed her
guide. She was entirely worn out by
the excitement and fatigues OF the day,
and any shelter, however humble or
poor, would have been gladly welcon-
ed by her.
1--WE shall find my sister in the
morning, shall we not madame" ask
ed Louise, for the second time: ,
''It may take some days" replied
Mother Frochard, evasiyely. You
must try not to think OF her tonight. "
a PRAYER went up from the poor
girls heart that her sister mlghU De
Speedily restored to her, and she silent
" followed the old woman. After they
had walked, as it seemed to Louise,
many miles, Mother Frochard stopped
before house which, from the outside
annearance. had formerly been a boat
house. It was in the last stages OF
decay, and the whole surroundings
seemed a fit abode Of crime.
'sHere we are, dear: here we are at
last" said the old woman. as she LED
Louise through a long, dark passage,
and then down several damp,
moldy steps, and left her standing IN a
small entry, reeking with nolsome
odors, while she fumbled in her capacl-
Gus pockets for the key.
The door was opened at last, ana the
two entered a large square room, the
furniture of which was Of the rudest
description. Two large, barn-llke
doors, which opened on the water
front, and which were barred with
heavy wooden bars, showed that at
some very remote time the building
had been used, as its outside appear
ance indicated, for a boat-house.
A fight Of steps led from the centre
of the room to what was pro6ao!y the
garret: but several straw beds IN one
corner Of the room showed that the
lower floor was the only portion OF the
house which was used.
Louise shuddered as she entered the
damp, diSagreea able-Smelllng room; out
her feelings would have been much
worse could she have seen the we
place, and the CLEAN OF triumph Whlcn
Shone in the old woman'S eyes as sne
saw that she had her prize securely
Gagged. ,
8Sit down there" said La Frochard.
land will get you something to eat.
And the old woman led Louise to
chair, where, by placing her hands on
her shoulders, she forced her 10 De
seated. -,
Il do not care to eat, madame
said Louise, piteously. If you VIII
allow me to go to my room, l Will re-
tire"
"Go to your ROOM" cried Mother
Frochard in a hard, shrill voice. from
WHICH dll CIlC dSSUIi4SO lSiINSA-ASS' --sN =,
fed. do you think we keep an nm:
And the old wretch stood, with her
hands on her hips, before the poor slrI,
who shrunk from before the mocklhg
words as from blow.
'I-did-not know, madame, she
faltered: II was very weary, and want
ed to retire" 49,,
wen, if you want to go to sleep.
YOU can do that over here, ana tne
old woman led her toward the beds N
the corner These are good enough
for my handsome Jacques, and l guess
they will do for you my, fine lady" :.
Anything will do for me, madame
said Louise, in conciliatOry tone. i
did not know you were so poor: but
Henriette will pay you tomorrow
when we find her"
And with a sigh Of thankfulness Tor
the resting-place, poor and wretched
as it was. Louise sunk upon one OF the
dirty straw beds, dressed as she was,
,.1,<th hf.I.I al DIN