Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-05-25

| reaQlng, Al 100 busy. You suppose
I'm going to sit down at home reading
books, while you are blowing and la
boring? Not much."
Nine. FRANCHISE. who was periodical
Is afflicted with rheumatism, came IN
grumbling 10 clear away the supper
things, and Aurore fell into a lively
discussion while helping her, using
Aeadian patois with much fiuency, GER
tain intonations and infections discoy-
cred with the mellow richness OF her
voice.
How old are you, sis2" Allen asked
suddenly, a question evolved BY his
gloomy reflections, evidently.
why. don't you know, Al? I'll be
Is next June. Do | look IL? I'll be
quite grown up soon, won't I?'
Allen suppressed a sigh as he got up
and reached for an iron key hanging
behind the door, the key of the mule
stable Taking the lantern from a
closet set in the wall, he lit il and.
telling Aurore the would be back soon,
he went out TO stable the mules and
lock up the feedhouse, duties which
Geyolyed upon him nightly
The daily grind OF routine and man
ual work was absorbing, and the years
were slipping by and Allen was
startled to realize that Aurore. With
all her sweet, fresh beauty, her en-
ergy and generous impulses, was
growing up to lack an indehnabla
something he remembered his mother
had possessed, as he recalled her in
those early years Of his childhood In
their far-away beautiful home, now In
other hands
Allen attended mechanically 10 the
feeding OF the stock, saw that the door
was secure and the cattle housed. and
an the while he was approaching him
self keenly that he could do so little
for Aurore that he could not give her
advantages she ought to have and op-
portunities OF education. and contact
with other girls of her age and class
in some big city
Allen recalled with a pang, Aurore's
the daily cares of her life and her in-
difference 10 books and reading, and
Allen foresaw how with all her beauty
she would narrow down into peasant
ways and peasant interests, and would
drift away from all things intellectual
What was he TO do? Send her away
to some big college, before a distaste
for mental effort dulled her younE
mind? Allen knew by experience how
arduous a task it was to plod over
studies. when the mind and body were
alike jaded by a hard days labor.
How could he expect Aurore, sweet,
bright, little Aurore, to have the stern
energy Of man, and take up study and
book learning as a pastime? No, Al
len very plainly saw that unless he
could find the means TO send Aurore
away from the restricted country life
she was leading, one filed with sweet
content and pleasant busy hours but
devoid of all ambitions, she would not
be for all her beauty. what her mother
had been, a woman of fastidious re
inement. high education and polish
How distinctly he remembered her.
He himself was an uneouth fellow
Allen thought. From the age OF IA
he had done hard manual work Had
driven cattle, MIXED COWS, hoed in
the garden, chopped wood, done car
penter's work, plowed and worked in
the blacksmith's shop shoeing horses
and mending broken implements. AS
carpenter how many wagons had he
repaired.
And during the grinding season he
was cane weigher, or timekeeper for
the plantation.
That he had studied hard, az night
with scholarly Father Perrier's help.
and had acquired a certain amount of
knowledge, a good deal OF late and an
cient literature, and had read the great
authors of modern times, was good at
mathematics, and was a French
scholar, were not sufficient reasons.
Allen said TO himself. for him TO have
the air and polish his father had.
No, both he and Aurore would be at
a disadvantage among college-bred
men and women, and while Allen cared
for knowledge for himself only in the
hope of being able TO utilize It some
day to emerge from the slough Of pow
erty into which cruel circumstances
had plunged them, his heart burned
within him at the thought Of Aurores
growing up TO womanhood shy, beauti-
full and unlettered, like Heloise, old
Nine. Franchises granddaughter.
Allen came back, Aurore was In the
kitchen preparing the bread for the
next day. Then she and FRANCHISE dis
appeared.
Where have you been, Sis?" Allen
asked putting down his book, when she
came in with her work basket and be-
gan to sew diligently.
I'VE went to see If the turkey had
gone TO rOost in the oak tree" she
said brightly, then ran on about corn
for the chickens and seed for the gar
den.
You incorrigable little worker. Do