The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1904-07-30

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"Mademoiselle!" he cried angrily.
Get up and open the door, or I will
burst II I'M" He reflected for . mo-
ment. and then added. "Think-the
whole house will know!"
He heard q movement as OF some
one slowly rising. and groans. my
head! my head!" Then heavy fall
to the floor.
At that, exerting all his strength. he
struck the lock with his foot, the door
flew open and thick. white smoke, a.
from . wood IRE. cufled out toward
him. stifling him.
From the clearness Of some part Of
the room he believed the fire had not
been long burning.
Quickly lifting tie girl from beside
the bed, he bore her into his own
room. where, placing her on couch
near the open window, he douched her
head and throat with cold water. He
was on the point of running for help,
when her bosom fiuttered. the lips
twitched, and the eyelids slowly
opened.
She gazed into his tender eyes for
a moment as II she did not recognize
him; then, turning, she burst into pas
sionate tears. AS her hands leaped to
cover her face he noticed wedding
ring upon her finger. 1t had never
been there before.
When he had helped her into her
room, which was now cleared of smoke,
he said, little brusquely: 'Mademoi-
sella, you will promise to do nothing
rash again."
II will promise you, yes" she said,
almost humbly, her eyes dropping be-
fore his.
Whatever may be troubling you,"
he went on, you can always depend
on me to help you"
AS they sat at tea, he tried by cheer
full talk to bring her mind away from
brooding, and after the meal she was
betrayed into some brightness on see
ing him wash up the tea-things, and
wished, against his laughing protesta-
tions, to do 1t for him.
Suddenly, in the midst of their al
most gay talk, she became silent, the
face clouded. and shining drops started
from her eyes.
II never dreamed you were so kind"
she said. looking at him, the tears
falling down her face. II always
thought you were so stern and cold.
/ called you in my mind the man with
the hard eyes
20, but you mustn't trust to APP
pearances!" he replied, cheerfully.
1--WE often thought you were in trouble
-and-and hadn't many friends, per-
haps."
IL have no friends since my poor
father died, year ago." she said
sadly, when she had wiped her eyes
and could speak quietly. HE had a
concession which he thought some
rich men here would pay him for
but they took 1t and gave him worth
less papers. When he died, disap-
| pointed, tried to keep myself. All
our friends seemed to have hidden
themselves. have suffered many
| things. but cannot starve. 1t is SC
base. Oh, monsieur, know you de-
spise me for being a coward today
but"
Don't say that" replied Stephen
None of us know how weak we may
be when the time comes. But now
listen! You must begin again. YOU
must let me lend you some money tc
go on with, and we must look about
and see what work you can get. VIII
you do that?'
She shook her head. putting his Offer
from her with quick forward ges.
ture Of her hands, which seemed to him
both pretty and pitiable.
Co." she said with trembling voice
II almost wish you had not-not found
me to-day" Then, with a sudden
quickness in look and tone, she said
How, monsieur, did you come to sus-
pect 30 soon what was doing?
thought you had gone out"
Never mind that now" he said
brusquely. "You must take my offer
1t will only be loan which you can
repay when you have work."
Thank you, monsieur" she replied
in cold tones. II will take the money
as loan"
!. He passed some gold to her across
the table and her face went proud and
pallid as she murmured thanks. Then
hot at the thought Of what might BIZ
in her mind, he tore a leaf from his
note book, made out an II. o. u" and
handed it to her, with his pen.
She signed the paper In silence. Tt
him the fiimsy page seemed wall Of
ice between them that, for his part
he swore to himself he would never
break; down.
Next evening she came to tell him
| of the efforts she had made that day
to obtain work. Her manner was some
what distant, with, at the end o.
their talk, checked fash Of warmth
He noticed there was now no rint
upon her finger. and wondered wha
was her story. N
Three weeks passed. He could mo-
but confess the quiet perseverance
with which she tramped Londor
through and through In her efforts
to get work. She had procured one OF
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