Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-25
CHAPTER III.
The Gamin and the Ross

Refused the passport" Mr.. Rossiter's
| face expressed his indignation.
| Elinor slowly drew off her gloves. THE
man said 1t was customary to investigate
! all applications"
! TT is an outrage"
"One more day won't matter" she an
| swered. looking down. ''And-and I'll call
again tomorrow"
| She did not tell him of the reception &C
corded her at the prefecture: how she had
| been obliged to stand In a room filed with
| tobacco smoke in the presence of several
| officers and a rough-looking man In civilian
| attire; how the former had stared at her
| and the latter had insolently questioned her
without removing the pipe from his lips,
| until the blood had flushed her cheeks and
her dark eyes had lighted with angry fire.
| They were bright now. but her face was
pale as she bent herself to the task of APP
pearing Indifferent, assured.
Mr. Rossiter. however. was not easily
| Gained and Elinor with difficulty persuaded
| him to forego his intention of visiting per-
sonally the authorities. Propping him up
in the chair she set herself to- the task of
| diverting him from the consideration of the
vexations or perils of their surroundings.
| A new book by Disraeli-.'Lothair''- she
| brought forth from the top of her trunk
| and opened with show of interest.
| Every one is reading it, papa, and now
| is our opportunity she said and began to
| read aloud
| "A very ordinary book. my dearr' be re-
| marked when she had finished the second
| chapter. ITO my mind, quite inferior to his
| other works.
She laid it down. "WeI then. Well talk"
| she said. with assumed cheerfulness. you
| can tell me about Paris-your Paris
| MY Paris" remarked Mr.. Rossiter, did
| not detain you forcibly within it's walls.
| My Paris was smiling, beautiful-not coarse,
brutal
| She did not controvert him. only gazed
wifi hnyf
! That night desultory bombardment of
! the city began a brief demonstration. and
| stiffness again reigned
| But for Elinor sleep seemed out Of the
I question. Toward midnight her father
dozed and noiselessly she stole out of his
chamber into the sitting room. chill air
| had descended on the city, and with
| shiver. she drew her wrapper closer then
| STOPPING before the hearth touched a match
| 70 the pine cones in the CRATE. Tiny flames
| sprang up, played upon the COAL and a loud
! cracking filled the room. She closed the
| door SO that the noise might not awaken
! her father and then, sinking into a chair
| sat with widely opened eyes before the fire
| her mind was unusually active, reviewing
| the events or their trip and sotOurn abroad.
| her fathers illness and the attendant cares.
| the months of self-repression AS her
| thoughts swept further back her foot
i moved nervousiy to and fro. She recalled
| nerseif as she had been toward Richard
| Strong-imperious capricous, inconsistent.
| She did not feel at all capricious at pres
ent- She wondered what he was doing;
| II he ever thought of her OF course not
| unless-her hands clasped together and Ionr
| she looked at the fire until into her ewes
| came mist which threatened to blind her
! Inc next day she could not even reach
| the office of the prefecture. as the thor-
| oughfares in that neighborhood had hean
I turned INTO camps and the guards refused
| 10 allow her to pass. But one course was
open FOR her. and. returning to the house,
| she addressed letter to the authorities
/
| ever. like those of the gods. ground
| slowly, and day after day passed
W1tno1t reply. until in the order of events
sulated by the possibility of a second siege
| prices had scared higher and higher. and
nnn t6 arter meeting the doctors bill, the
mands. found she had fairly exhausted the
funds they had brought with them This
at f1rst gave her no apprehension for she
had written to Mr.. Rossiter's Iondon
| banker for more money, but one day the
| ed1ct went forth that no letters or fell
egIams should be delivered in Paris
] face on the matter.
| Well here we are fairly marooned papa,
We might as we'll be on desert island
! But TO the woman she said later, not
| without anxiety: IF no letters are deliy-
| cred how can pay your"
| The others heavy face expressed a trace
| of emotion.
| Perhaps you would-trust us?,
| 1T costs money to trust was the de-
| liberate reply. Il haven't any"
|. You mean that you-you would turn us
| out?"
| There is the Mont-de-Piete." coldly.
| The pawnshOp! Fortunately a branch
| of that useful establishment, conducted by
| the government, lay within a district Eli
nor could reach without being stopped by
| the guards, and perforce acting upon the
| womans suggestion, the girl at once set
: out as cheerfully as she might upon her
novel errand
Arriving at her destination, she was
| again obliged to exercise her patience, for
| the place was crowded; on every side pale.
| wan faces speaking Of misery and want.
| Among these people she waited she knew
| not how long, but finally a sharp-eyed, not
unkindly looking man behind a desk mo-
toned to her and she approached opening
a small bag she carried and displaying sun
| dry little relics and heirlooms
You must leave these to be appraised
by the committee" said the man. Then
We VIII advance fOur-fifths Of their value"
| II should prefer the money at once
| whatever you please-only I must have 1t
| now!' she returned quickly.
He studied the pale, refined face, behind
| the dark veil.
We'll will take the responsibility of a
| small advance" he answered after mo-
| ment
A brooch that had belonged to some fore
| mother of Maiden Lane. or Maids Path.
| IN old New York. brought Elnor only thu
small sum Of thirty francs. A locket COLI
| tanning portrait OF a lady attired in a
petticoat Of lnsey-woolsey beneath-fared
| little better. but an antique bracelet
| set with rubies. was awarded a sum SO
large by the critical examiner that Elinor
forthwith returned the rest OF her wares to
the little bag.
You can redeem these articles" said the
man. courteously. ANY time within four
teen months. After that they will be Sold"
Thanking him. she thrust the notes gladly
Into her dress. and. folding up the receipt
which he handed her. escaped as quickly
as might be from that scene Of penury and
distress But the effect Of 1t fingered. one
| fgure-that of a poor old man-especially
haunting her. Now she experienced sud-
den conjunction that she had forgotten
him IN her new-found affiuence. and hesi-
| tating. she was hah-minded to return.
when q carriage. driving by near the curb.
attracted her attention and arrested her
purpose In the vehicle, which was drawn
by superb pair of horses. recliued wom-
an who smiled upon the throng
la belle Zoldene!' cried q street urchln.
running toward the eQuipage.
The woman In the carriage laughed and
threw a flower to the boy.
.Zoldene! Zoldener' repeated number
OF people.
Quickly Elinor looked up-as quickly drew