Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-12-02

had carried 1t across her shoulder, as
did Gladys. But she was plainly quite
unconscious that she was causing a
commotion; and thus it came to pass
that this particular loaf Of bread
swung around like an over-sensitive
wind-vane and distributed bumps
north, east, south and west in reckless
profusion. OF course everybody laugh
ed, for all the victims were polite and
good-natured, and besides, the 'petite"
excused herself so prettily in French
that some Of the most amused onlook-
ers feigned to be hit when they actual
ly were not. But when Gladys turned
to ask pardon Of woman who clapped
her hands to her hat and cried "Ohw
the far end Of the loaf would whirl in
front of Frenchmans eyes, and he
would cry 'Ah!' And when she
wheeled about to ask pardon Of this
Frenchman who cried ABR that same
crusty end would swing perilously
near as many hats and chins as it
could possibly encounter in half cir
Gle. Indeed, there is no telling how
the petite" ever would have caught
up with her list of excuses had l not
recognized my little countrywoman
and rescued her and the bread from
further difficulties.
''Oh, is it you? 1 am so glad!' was
her hearty greeting. "And, oh, now
needn't go back home for Marie, for
you will take her place, and go with
me-won't you, please? 1t is only a
little way from here"
cheerfully consented to serve as
nurse and guardian for the little
way" and as we both hurried from
the cathedral swarms toward the mar
row streets on the other side Of the
river-and we hurried to keep warm,
for 1t was an extremely cold morning
Gladys conided to me her secret,
which up to that time she had not
mentioned to any one.
1t seems that, on the day before, a
tiny French girl had posed in her faith
er's studio, and that after the child
had left for her home Gladys inquired
why it was that all little girls do not
have round, plump, rosy cheeks like
her own. For the first time Gladys
learned that all little girls do not have
the nourishing food which helps to
make round, plump, rosy cheeks. This
explanation set her little brain to
thinking and reminded her Of "tall,
tall loaf" of bread which she had seen
freshly displayed that very afternoon.
It was in the window Of bakery just
across the square from the great cathe-
dral, and only three blocks distant
from her fathers studio. So the next
morning Immediately after breakfast
she had started out and bought the
tall, tall loaf" It was while burdened
with this great length Of bread that
discovered her in front of Notre Dame,
and then 1 carried the loaf for her to
the dingy quarters we were soon enter
ing. After a breathless climb up two
dark flights Of stairs the little model
who had posed on the previous day re-
sponded to our knocking, and Gladys
handed her the bread and said some
thing in French to her mother, which
1 fancy must have referred to round,
plump, rosy cheeks, for the woman
lifted the corner Of a shawl to her
eyes as though wiping away tears.
It is a common sight in Paris to see
working people carrying long loaves Of
bread, but this one that Gladys pur-
chased was the longest ever saw, and
must certainly have measured six feet
in length.
thought Of Gladys and her gener-
Gus GRAND that night as looked from
my own studio window across to the
great snow-covered roof of Notre
Dame cleaning cold under the wintry
stars.-Meredith Nugent, in st. Mich
olas.