The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-10-08
CHAPTER V.
BLIND AND ALONE.

BLIND AND ALONE.
For an instant the bind girl stood
in an anxious. listening attitude, hop
ing to hear her sisters voice again:
but no familiar sound met her ear. only
tie rushing OF the water, or the foot
steps Of some pedestrian in the dis
tance.
She was alone in Paris. Blind and
alone. without relatives or friends.
No one to whom she could go save to
Him who watches over the sparrow,
and His ways are rot mans ways.
y hear nothing" said Louise, in a
terrified whisper, as she again bent
her head to listen. Then, in a voice
trembling with fear, she cried: Hen
rictte. where is that man. Sister, why
do you not answer me?"
But no reply came to her agonlzed
cries.
"Henriette! Henriette, Speak to
me, speak one word. Answer me,
Henriette," No answer, no reply.
At this moment she heard a half
stifed cry in the distance, and
recognized the tones Of the voice.
Louise, was the cry, and the poor
blind girl knew that her sister was be-
yond reach and in the power OF cruel
men who knew no mercy.
All, It's she. They have dragged
her away from me-" exclaimed Louise,
in a tone which would have thrilled a
hearers heart with pity. "Oh, what
shall do, Alone.-alone. abandOned."
And with the last word the full
measure Of her situation surged across
her brain with irresistible force, and
she burst into a torrent Of tears. Would
that it were possible to express through
the cold medium Of letters all the in
tense suffering which came from the
poor girls heart with that one word
abandoned"
The reader, sitting in his or her cozy
home, surrounded by friends, can have
no idea Of what the word may express:
no idea of how a loving heart may be
wrung when that word portrayS their
situation as fully as it did in Louise's
position.
What will become Of me?" she
cried, between her sobs. alone in
this great city: helpless and blind-my
God, what shall do? Where am to
go? l do not know which way to
turn
The poor child knew that she was
standing in the street, and in danger
of being rudeiy pushed about by any
party Of revelers. or so-called gallantS,
that might pass her, and her instinct,
for her brain was in such a Whirl that
she could not think, warned her to try
and reach some place less exposed.
She groped her way around: but her
hands touched nothing, until unwitt-
ingly she approached the railing or
wall which served as a guard to the
steep bank that descended to the river.
Along this she felt her way until
suddenly her hands met the empty air.
1t was the angle formed by the long
flights Of rough stone steps which led
to the water, and all unconscious OF
her danger, she was about to pursue
her way.
Another step and she would have
been dashed upon the rocky shore be-
low, when, without having heard a
sound, she found herself clasped in a
mans arms.
It was Pierre, who, having filled his
water-can, had toiled labOriouSly to
the top Of the steps just in time to
save the life Of her, who to him, had
seemed little less than an angel.
Great heavens" he exclaimed, as
he bore her to the centre Of the small
square, what were you going to do?"
Observation-Disclosures was it,"
cried Louise, incoherently, as, pale and
trembling, she tried to comprehend all.
Another st, o and you would have
fallen in the river" answered Pierre,
in a tone Of horror at the thought Of
what might have happened.
oh, save me-Saye me-" cried
Louise, grasping Pierre by the arm. as
though fearful Of being separated from
one who could assist her.
BY a singular chance, Pierre's
mother had finished her drinking bout
with her beautiful son Jacques, which
was paid for with a cripple'S scanty
earnings, just at this moment, and she
emerged from the cabaret just in time
to see her son supporting beautiful
young girl on his arm.
1t was seldom that Mother Frochard
allowed herself to be'surprised by any
thing she saw: but in this instance she
was aStonished. Had it been Jacques
she would not have wondered: indeed,
it only would have seemed natural.
But Pierre. why the girl must be crazy,
was her first thought; and then with
her masculine stride she went up to
them, and peered curiouSly in Louise's
pale and frightened face.
why. what is the matter?" she
asked. what are you doing there,
Pierre?'
But Pierre was too much occupied
with his charge to make any reply, and
La Frochard seized Louise by the arm
with no gentle force, and asked in her
shrill rasping voice:
"YoUng woman, did you fall?"
Harsh and coarse as the voice was,
it was welcome sound to Louise, for
she knew it was one Of her own sex
who had spoken.
She took hold of the hard, dirty
hand, and because it was woman'S
touch that met hers. She could have
kissed it.
"Oh, madame" she cried, in an i'm
ploring tone. "Do not leave me, l
beg. | entreat you not to leave me
here all alone"
Mother Frochard prided herself upon
not being weak, and she did not deign
to answer LOuiSe's prayer.
But Pierre haSted to reasSure her.
Calm yourself, mademoiselle, there
is no danger now" he said soothingly,
as ne gaZed upon her beautiful face.
What is it," asked the old woman.
Have you lost your
head?"
And in the last question there was a
sneer in the tones Of the voice which
were growing harder and harder every
"Yes-yes." answered Louise, hardly
knowing what she said. i believe |
sha 90 mad. Alas. madame, d few
ago my sister was here with
me and they have stolen her away from
me-"
stolen herr" replied Pierre. in tones
Of the deepest cOmmiSeratiOn, which
presented a striking contrast to his
mothers remark.