The Indianapolis journal., 1903-02-08

,o,,cate sympathy that 1t seemed TO ease at
- the pain and loneliness that was
gnawfng at my heart
had lust left home and was on my first
,.-,ev alone into the great world OF
.,~angers TO earn my living. / was going
:, IN be English governess in family
- paris. and / sat staring blankly away
- the steamers side. straining my eyes
- latch a last glimpse OF the lights Of Eng
- and wrestling TO keep back the tears,
.-ber hand was laid on my shoulder and
,,oice with slight French accent, said:
..You are young to be travelling alone, my
cbfld and seem I'm trouble"
turned at the sound and found Sister
=, Mercy beside me looking out Of the
n,urly night into my face. The voice was so
full OF sympathy that my heart was
,ouched: and. after few minutes, L began
20 tell her my very simple story. She sat
down by my side, and the mere telling of
nv little woes of loneliness seemed TO COM
fort me. She did not say much herself, but
inst put in a word OF soothing comfort
now and again, and so led me gradually to
talk about the home had left, the people
was going to, and any subject that came
uppermost, meaning, as / saw, TO draw
away my thoughts from my sorrow. She
said she was known as Sister Marie. and
when she told me she was going through
paris to her home at Orleans, the Convent
of the Sacred Heart, 1 asked her to let me
travel with her.
The boat was very crowded. and on my
other side sat man for whom had con-
ceived an instructive dislike. His face was
sallow. dark hairy and cadaverous. with
bushy eyebrows and black beard. had
caught him looking at me several times
with an expression that angered me. lit
tie reflection made me regret, therefore, my
lack of caution in speaking so freely In his
hearing to the nun about my plans
Presently he began to try and join In the
conversation, and his accent showed me
that he was a foreigner also. He spoke IN a
high-pitched, thin, half-cracked voice.
snubbed him, and either pretended not TO
hear or answered sharply and shortly, but
he persisted until 1 asked the sister to
move TO another seat
'The boat is very full, miss. II yeu leave
your seat you will not find another" said
the man, oyerhearing my request.
Let us try, sister," said. pretending not
to hear him.
II would go IL 1 could, but fear that
what this gentleman says is true. we should
not find another place. and, alas! I cannot
stand for lolg, But go. my child. If you
would"
I was unwilling to lose her companion
ship. however, and thus remained where /
was and would not see the little smile of
triumph which he gave.
''You see my advice is best" he said
'T do not like this man, sister, whis-
pered. LET me change seats with you. i
am afraid OF him.
Willingly, child" she assented; and
when we had changed places and I felt
safer for having her as a buffer between
and the man, she added: But let me
give you word OF warning. You have your
way to make in the world. Be careful not
to Judge by appearances. and neither trust
nor mistrust at sight. 1t may lead you into
serious mistakes
ct cannot help my instincts" answered,
and added. laughing: II trusted you In
stinctively."
THAT is different. child. am-well. what
my dress denotes. and glad always to offer
the sympathy which my religion and my
calling bid me offer to the friendless.'
"It Is a noble calling. sister," said the
man.
mo calling is of itself noble. sir. except it
IS made noble by those who follow II. And
the best Of US can but do our duty"
Your young friend is suspicious" he
said. ~ bad thing in young girl
MY little friend is inexperienced, sir,
and that is saying everything that need be
said about her.
The rebuke was simply spoken, and with
such quiet dignity that it had Its effect
upon the man for the time.
Evidently the sister had not the same
opinion of the man as / had, and she ap-
peared rather to encourage him to speak
to Us, so that before we had reached Calais
they had had more than one little discus
sion.
At Calais 1 hoped to shake him off and
tried to lose him I'm the hurry of getting
OF the boat; but he refused to be lost, and
as Sister Marie could not move quickly, he
hung about close to my heels in way that
disgusted me. / wished she would have
sent him about his business, but she said
he might be of use to us. as he seemed an
experienced traveller.
On that myself gave him broad hint
You will want TO see about your luggage,
m sieur. / will not detain you," said.
L have no luggage more than my bag
here,' he replied, with a smile that TO me
was unpleasantly familiar. mine was a
sudden business summons. Permit me that
l offer you and the sister some coffee or
oouillon? Everybody takes it here while we
wait for the train to start"
L gave curt refusal; but to my chagrin
Sister Marie was much more complaisant.
Il must have some. my dear Miss Will
mott 1 cannot do the whole journey with
out something Of the kind" And thereupon
We went to the buffet. the man keeping
close TO my side.
1 did not like the position at ALL had
oeen warned OF the dangers OF travelling
alone, and IL seemed TO me very suspicious
that the man should be travelling without
luggage. had nothing of any value on me,
but was afraid of him and kept as close
10 the good sister as possible. refusing to
hear the silly compliments which he whis-
pered now and again into my ear.
The noise and confusion in the refresh
ment room bewildered me and rather
added to my fright. At first the man pressed
me 10 have some wine. and L had to be
positively rude to him before he would ac-
cept my refusal. would not touch thing.