The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-10-29
ME IuQ QLlE1lS.
CHAPTER IN.
THE BLIND GIRLS sUFFERINGS.
DsEnnSTy-

stouteSt heart quail.
Imagine a low. narrow room, rcek-
ing with ordors from decaying wood
and rags, and damp from the mlStS
which arose from the Seine, and pene-
trating every crack and crevice, caus-
ing the unhappy inmate toShiver with
dread, as if struck by a blast from a
cnarnel house.
The blind girls SuferingS were fear
full. For a moment all would be quiet
as the tomb, and then, startled by
some unusual noise, the rats which
infested the dismal place would scam
per from their hiding places causing
Louise TO- Shrink with fear from the
almost unearthly noise OF which she
knew not the meaning.
Her imagination, vivid as it IS IN the
blind, peopled the fearful place with
terrorS which were intensified by being
unseen.
During the hours of the day, and yet
more dreary ones Of the night, poor
Louise crouched close to the low roof,
trembling at every new noise caused
by the wind or waves, and even pray
ing that she might be visited by her
brutal captors; for much as she dread
ed them, the sound Of a human voice
would be d relief to her oTertaxed
nerves.
After what seemed TO her many days,
but was in reality little more than
twenty-four hours, Louise heard the
sound Of heavy footsteps on the stairs,
and Immediately after, the door was
unlocked, and man entered.
talo e1on hnorH told hQr
plainly that it was Jacques who had
visited her, and much as she feared
him, she gladly welcomed his coming.
Instinctively, she knew that he was
gazing upon her, and before she spoke.
She sunk upon her knees before him IN
an attitude Of supplication.
IF you have any pity IN your heart
If you ever knew what it IS to suffer
take me from this fearful place
The tears which rolled down her
pale cheeks showed how intense was
her agony: but it had no effect upon
the wretch before her.
a coarse, brutal laugh was the only
answer to her pleadingS. and she sunk
upon the floor almost lifeleSS.
Villain as he was, Jacques saw that
their victim could not survive her i'm
prisonment many hours longer: for
even as it was, her day Of terror had
changed the roSycheeked Normandy
girl as much as would many days OF
severe sickness.
The pallid cheeks, the deep, dark
circles under the eyes, and the marks
of suffering that were to be read IN
every feature Of her delicate face, told
how severe had been her anguish.
s'You are better fitted for your busl-
ness now than you were before you
came here" said Jacques, as he eXult-
ed over the misery, and delighted in
the pain he had been the means OF
causing.
"Oh, take me away-take me away.
I will dc as you tell me-" she pleaded.
"Will you beg?'
"Yes-yes."
"Well, come along then," and he
erasped her by the arm, which was
protected only by thin covering OF
coarse cotton, with force that caused
her to scream with pain.
''Deyilish tender, amt you?' ne
asked, with a chuckle, as he brutally
dragged her toward the doorway.
"Well is she willing to help her
friends now?" asked the shrill tones OF
Mother Frochard'S voice, as Louise
and Jacques appeared in the doorway.
''I guess she'll behave herself now,"
laughed Jacques, as he forced the blind
girl to descend the stairs without any
assistance from him.
''Oh, very well-very well my fine
lady" said the old woman, as she led
Louise to a seat near the table. If
YOU have been there long enough, l
suppose you'd like to have sometnlng
to eat, you ungrateful husSy?"
''I am very hungry. madame" faI-
tered Louise.
"Well. it's a good thing snarled
the old woman, you'll know how to
appreciate what you get after this"
Jacques, seated aStride Of the chair,
with his arms resting on the back, en-
loved the scene with evident Zest,
while Louise listened anXiously for
Pierre's sympathizing voice.
Let US leave this scene for a while,
and follow Henriette, while she ac-
companies her deliverer from the beau
tiful, but vile garden Of Bel-Air.
They had reached the street before
Henriette ventured to speak TO the
chevalier Of her gratitude for the as
sistance he had rendered her. Then,
in voice trembling with emotion, she
thanked him for his interference, and
begged him to show her the way to
the place where she had been robbed
Of her sister.
The distance was very great, and
during the walk the Chevalier De
Vaudrey learned all Of the history OF
the beautiful girl whom he had res
cued from such a fearful fate: but in
reply to the probable fate Of her sister,
he could not cOnScientiously tighten
her heart.
But I shall find her, shall not,
monsieur?" asked Henriette, looking
up into his face with an implorlng
gaze.
For moment De Eaudry thought
he would tell her how little chance
there was for finding a lost girl imme-
diately, unless some kind. honest peo-
pie had taken compassion on her, and
even then it would require several
days. But as he looked into her beau-
tiful eyes. and saw there the hope and
longing that was mirrored in them, he
could not speak those words which
would plunge her into despair.
Therefore be assumed hopeful air.
which was very far from being sincere,
and replied:
I'VE shall find your sister, mademoi-
selle, but you must not get discouraged
if it takes several days. for we can
hope to tird no clew to where she has
gone
Henriette was not satisfied with the
answer, but she said nothing, and in 4
few moments more they had reached
the Normandy coach office.
The most persistent inquiry revealed
nothing relative to Louise's where