The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-10-01
The TuO 0TDDaDS.
CHAPTER III.
THE OCTCAST.
BvDeEnncrv-


THE oUTCAST.
AS Pierre said the Normally coach
had just arrived; but the poor cripple
saw at a glance that his chance OF earn
ing a few sous was hopeless.
The only passengers that alighted
from the rickety Old coach were the
two young girls whom we have seen in
our first chapter.
They alighted in daZed sort OF
manner, as if the hustle and din Of the
great city had confused them, and
Henriette, leading Louise by the hand,
entered the open space in front OF the
coach-ofhce.
A bench (which. from the numerous
marks Of knives anu pencils upon 1t,
showed that it served as a resting place
for the loungerS who always cluster
round places of this kind and talk
horSey slang while admiring the noble
brutes that form the establishment OF
the proprietor) was just outside the
Office door, and it was 10 this Henr,ette
led her blind sister,
"Sit here, Louise she said, in a
low, sweet voice, which told all the
love she felt for the afflicted girl.
Henriette looked vainly round for
the relative whom they expected to
meet: but not d person was TO be seen.
She could not repreSS feeling Of
anxiety: but she bravely Stroye to hide
her feelings from Louise.
But the blind girl was anxious as
well as Henriette.
IT am surprised that Monsieur Mar
tin is not here to meet US she said.
half to herself.
Henriette's quick ear caught the
murmur, and she endeavored to divert
her sisters mind.
"Oh, he'll come soon.' she said. re-
assuringly. Then, to occupy the blind
girls mind with other matters than
their own condition, she added: "Oh,
Louise Paris is so beautiful, Oh, my
poor sister, if you could only see its
wonders.
"Tell me what you see. Where are
We?" asked Louise, eXcitedly.
SIN an open square at the end OF d
beautiful bridge" answered Henriette,
looking round her, (which has a
magnificent statue in the middle"
'EThat must be the Pont Neuf,'' said
Louise, as she remembered the picture
Henriette had called up to her mind
Papa used to speak OF it."
'sAnd on this Side can see Two great
towers" continued the beautiful girl,
who was thus supplying the place OF
her sisters sight. 1T must be Notre
Dame"
''Notre Dame" repeated Louise,
sadly, sshe arose from her seat. How
wish could see it. 1t was on that
spot, that I, a helpless infant was left
to perish" and as the blind girl thus
recalled the thoughts Of the past, the
tears, unbi66en, came to her eyes, and
the sight less orbS were turned toward
the spot she would see, as if they would
burst their fllmy veil, and forced by
her grief, gaze upon the spot where
she had been left to die OF cold or
starvation. ''It was there your dear
father found me. But for him should
have died-perhapS-perhapS that
would have been BETTER" she added, in
a tone of anguish that was almost a
wall, so much misery was there en-
bodied in il.
'sMy darling sister, exclaimed
Henriette, why do you say that?"
Because" replied Louise. IN the
same sad tone, Il should not have Ilv-
ed to become blind and unhappy"
Louise, do not speak thus" said
Henriette, as she claSped her sister IN
her arms. "Our dear parents loved US
both alike-you were their consolation
and happiness, as it was their first
grief when Heaven deprived you OF
your sight"
Misfortune pursues me, sister,"
said Louise, refusing to be comforted,
'for scarcely had this atflictlon be-
fallen me when we were left orphans,
without help or friends ;,
Mono, dear Louise" interrupted
Henriette, mot without friends, |
hope. have turned all we possessed
into money, and we are in this great
Paris, where there are skillful doctors
who will soon restore my poor Louise 5
eyes to their old time Brightness
and there was in Henriette'S voice
something which ever had the power
to cheer her afflicted sister.
''Heaven grant that your hopes may
be realized" said Louise, more hope
fully. Then thinking Of their present
situation again, she asked:
"But where can Monsieur Martin be?
Why does he not come for u.s.
For a moment Henriette had forgot
ten the forsaken condition in which
they were. Alone III Paris, without
friends, or even acquaintanceS, and
unless the relative whom they were eX-
pecting should come for them, what
could they do?
Henriette hardly dared to think OF
such an alternative, and more to satisfy
her sister than from any expectation
Of finding him, she proposed to go and
look for N. Martin.
AS Henriette went to look for ".
Martin, young woman OF about
twenty years Of age entered the open
space in front Of the cabaret. and stood
gazing sadly at the Swift-running
river.
Her face was that Of a woman who
had once been beautiful; but who was
now pursued by remorSe and sorrow.
Her garments were scrupul0uS!y clean
and neat but with no attempt al dis
play, and she was Wandered about like
one having no aim or purpose save TO
escape from her own thoughts.
She stood silent and mOti0nlesS. as II
she were some quaint figure OF wood or
stone, rather than 4 woman in whose
breast love and hate could wage eternal
conflict; 50 absorbed was she IN her
bitter thoughts, that her face express,
ed her feelings as we'll Is words could
have done.
Henriettec returned to her sister
with the information that their reIa-
tive could not be seen, and Just 1T that
moment a burst OF laughter and music
came from the ha!f open door Of the
cabaret, which prevented Tie wandcrer
from hearing Henriette'> approach or
her voice.
Among the voices which could. be
heard from the drinking saloon. JAG
uues Frochard's coarse, brutal tones
could be distinguished: and as She
heard it, the poor woman started as
though stung by viper.