Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-06-08
THE OLD BOOKSELLER.

Gibert's second hand bookstore to delve
and rummage about among the piled up
musty volumes in its dark recesses, al
ways being rewarded for my search by
the discovery of some treasure. Some
times / would sit for hours trying to de-
cipher a half-effaced manuscripts, some
volume of ancient Languedoc or other
dead and forgotten tongue.
Claire always helped me in my explora-
tions, dashing to attend to any occasional
buyer who might drop in. But, as |
chose the late afternoon hours for my
visits, we were rarely disturbed.
| fell into the pleasant habit OF saun-
tering out to the small paved courtyard,
in the rear of the shop; there to sit and
chat with Pere Gilbert in neighborly fash
ion. When night fell, and the shop was
closed, Claire would join us. In summer
time the scent of her box flowers filled
the air and the stars coming out looked
down curiously at us. In winter. when
it was too cold to linger out of doors, |
was a willing guest at their fireside in
| the little room made bright by Claire's
presence,
why did you name her Claire?" I
asked Pere Gilbert one evening when we
both sat watching her while she watered
| her flowers and the pretty vine which
grew purple bells high up against the
enclosing walls.
Because / asked her her name the
winter night when | found her wander
! ing on the river bank, chill and terrified
and she said something that sounded like
Claire 1t was the indistinct prattle Of
n sobbing infant"
Yours was a most Christian deed" I
said, watching the happy look of the
| young girl and her singular beauty.
No! MOI" disclaimed the old disbeliev-
er in creeds. "Who would not bring from
the streets and shelter a stray bird or
wandering dog? Who that had ever
known the pangs of hunger and the aw
| full cruelties of the world would refuse to
care for and shield a poor little atom of
humanity, left by accident and cruel
| fate homeless and defenseIess?"
by iove! that is a handsome woman"
! Dave Cummings whispered to me one
| afternoon when he sauntered in to look
me up as was getting some notes in
Pere Gibert's bookstore-data on early
ecclesiastical history OF course, Claire
was helping me, for her good memory
land thorough familiarity with every book
and pamphlet around was invaluable.
| Dave was good fellow, honorable, but
no genius. | must say his sudden devel-
opment into a rabd bibliophile, while it
| surprised did not please me-
In fact, | had always known Dave to
be dull and persstently averse to read
ing still more so to study. He had igno-
miniousiy failed in mis- examination at
Yale, and only his millions and imper
turbable good tempepzihade him the pop
ular clubman which he was.
| Dawes tactics were primitive, but eff
| fective. He would get up list of an
cient and impossible books of which he
| knew nothing and cared less Then he
would 90 down to Pere Gibert's and be-
| gin rummaging vigorously among the
books but he would soon stop. perch
himself on Il dilapidated stool. or on the
steps of the small ladder He would
sometimes reach up to the top shelves
and pretend to be much absorbed i'll the
dusty volumes. then he would get down
and start chatting with Claire, regard
less of time, in his good natured. straight
| forward way. offering his services ii he
could be of any use to Pere Gilbert, which
always made Claire's eyes grow soft and
a pretty flush of gratitude rise to her
| face
Then If il were late and no one was
there Dave would beg her to sing for
him. And in return for his kind atten-
| ton to Pere Gilbert, Claire would sing
! in 81 low voice, so as not to disturb the
drowsy slumbers of the invalid by the
fireside in the little parlor, some quaint
ditties or Spanish love songs, of which
she had an inCxhaustible store.
Perhaps you don't go about it in the
fright way" | said slowly to Dave one
evening when he was tramping up and
down my room in anxious distress. The
child has fine nature and far more cul-
tTe than most girls of her age in the
! highest circles. You have no CLOSE rela
| tions who might object to hen on the
score of her unknown parentage. If you
are so infatuated and are sure YOU can
make her happy will plead your cause
| for YOU. | will try to induce her to mar
Try YOU She is woman any man
should be proud of. she is very unworld,
| ~ and knows nothing of your extensive
! possessions. Ii You are convinced you
can make her happy win use my
Friendship with Pere Gilbert TO help You
Ialoug.'
made the offer with bitter reluctance,
! But looking toward the uncertain flu
ture, 60 the clouds gathering over that
defenseless young head. l deemed it the
Ipart Of true affection to ward off dan
gerous eventualtics by urging the child
ito accept the haven offered her. where
! neither care nor anxiety could enter,
Then again Dave was handsome fellow
and had a simple, manly way with him
/ very attractive to women.
How much did Claire care for him? A
Young girls heart is an inscrutable mys-
Itery. But still thought | knew.
OF course, my own mpretcntious home
would open wide ITS doors to receive
Claire and my heart would give her
| glowing and exujtant welcome. for she
had creTt in and now reigned supreme
to the exclusion of aught else. God help
me,