Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1902-01-02
ouArTER xxYII.-tcontInued.l.

my hrotherf' she asked.
II have brought no doctor except thy
brother. my sister," answered Monsieur
iyanrentle, ''also . treasure which
found Il the foot Of the Calvary down
taanr
He bad ailghtad whilst anying skis. ssd
the rest of the conversation was carried
on In whispers. There was some ono NJ
In the house. and our arrival was ~
timed. that was quite clear. Whoever
tho woman was that had como 20 the
door. she did not advance 10 speak 10
me, but retreatcd as soon as the conveF-
satlon was over.
Pardon. madame" he said. approach.
Ing u.s. "but my sister IL too much occu'
pied with sick person to do herself the
honor Of attending upon you"
lie did not conduct us through the open
door. but led ua round the angle OF the
preshytery TO 4 small clubhouse opening
on TO the court. and with no other en-.
trance II wSs building lying between
the porch and belfry of the church and
his own dwelling place. But II looked
comfortable and Inviting. A Are had been
hastily klndled on sn open hearth. and =
heap OF wood lay beside Il. Two beds
were In this rn M; one with hsngings over
the head and large tall cross at the
foot board; the other q low, narrow pal.
let. lying along the foot Of IL. A cruel.
fix hung upon the wall. and the wood
work OF the high window also formed a
cross. II seemed strange goal TO reach
after our days wAnderings.
NMonaieur Laurcntle put the lamp down
oA the table. and drew the logs OF wood
toAelheT on the hearth. lie was an old
m&. AS then thought. over siIty. He
lg led round upon us with benevolent
llo.
4"Madame." he said. ''our hospitality
&is rude and simple, but you are very wei.
come guests. My sister IL desolated that
Sho must leave you to my cares. But II
there be anything you have need Of. tell
me, pray you"
There IL nothing. monsieur" | an.
Swered; you are too good to us--too
good"
No. no. madame" he said, "be con
tent. Tomorrow ! will send yon TO Gran
Vile under the charge Of my good Jean.
Sleep well. my children, and fear moth
Ing, The good God will protect you"
Minlma bad thrown herself upon tho
low pallet bed. | took of her damp
clothes, and laid her Down comfortably
20 rest IL was not long before ] also
was sleeping soundly. Once or twice a
vague impression forced itself upon me
that Mlnima was talking great deal in
her dreams II was the clang OF the
bell for mathis which fully reused me at
last. but IL was minute or two before
| could make out where ! was. Then
Minima began to talk.
How funny that ls!" she said. there
the boys run. and can't catch one OF
them. Father. Temple Secundus Is pull.
Ing faces at me. and all the boys are
laughing. welll II doesn't matter, does
&? Only we are 30 poor, Aunt Nelly
and all. We're so poor-so poor-so
poorv'
Her voice fell into a murmur too low
for me to hear what she was saying.
though she went on talking rapidly, and
laughing and sobbing at times. called
to her, but she did not answer,
What could all the childg ! went to
her, and took her hands In mine-burning
little hands | said, "Minimaw and she
turned TO me with n caresslng gesture,
raising her hot fingers TO stroke my face
"Ycs, Aunt Nelly. How poor we are,
you and II am so tired, and the prince
never comesv
There was hardly room for me in the
narrow bed, but managed to lie down
beside her, and took her into my arms TO
soothe her. She rested there quietly
enough; but her mind was wandering,
and all her whispered chatter was about
the boys, and the dominic, her father, and
the happy days at home In the school in
Epping Forest. As soon as 1t was light
dressed myself in haste, and opened my
door to see II could find any one to send
to Monsieur Laurentie.
The first person | saw was himself,
coming In my direction. had not fairly
looked at him before, for had seen him
only by twilight and freight. His cas-
sock was old and threadbare, and his hat
brown, His hair fell In rather long locks
below his hat, and was beautifully white
His face was healthy looking, like that
OF a man who lived much out OF DOORS
and his clear, quick eyes shone with a
kindly light. l ran impnlsively to meet
him, with outstretched hands, which he
took into his own with a pleasant smile
"Oh, come, monsieur" cried; make
haste! She Is Ill, my poor Mlnima"
The smile faded away from his face In
an instant, and he did not utter word
He followed me quickly to the side Of
the little bed, laid his hand softly on
the chlld's forehead, and felt her pulse
He lifted up her head gently, and opening
her mouth, looked at her tongue and
throat. He shook his head as he turned
70 me with a grave and perplexed express
sion, and he spoke with low, solemn ac-
cent.
Madame" he said, "it is the fevery'
He left me, and sank down on a
chair, half stupehed by this new disaster.
1t would be necessary to stay where we
were until Minima recovered; yet had
no means to pay these people for the
trouble we should give them, and the ex-
pense we should be to them. l had not
time to decide upon any course, however,
before ne returned and brought with him
his sister,
Mademoiselle Therese was tall, plain,
elderly woman, but with the same pleas
ant expression Of open friendliness as
that of her brother She went through
precisely the same examination Of Min
Ina as he had done.
"The feverr' she CALCULATED in much
the same tone as his. They looked sig
nifcantly at each other, and then held
hurried consultation together outside the
door, after which the cure returned alone.
Madame" he said, "this child Is not
your own, as supposed last night. My
sister says you are too young to bo her
mother. Is she your sisteri