The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1908-07-25

present: And you. madam, are you
quite free OF our modern maniasi
Have YOU not single little nervous
habit to confessr"
She appeared 10 search ner memory
IN all sincerity. She made sign with
Der head. mo. no."
Doubtless her modesty feared tina
boast OF so complete an indemnity
when every one around her had nc
knowledged all sorts OF little troubles.
She corrected herself.
'Good heayensl can't say that
1 habltually add up the cab numbers or
that l make an inventory Of all my
dresses before going 10 bed. Still. the
other day ! experienced something
! that sufficiently resembles what you
have been describing. II | have under
stood you quite--a kind OF interior ilN,
pulsion, force which compels you 10
/ accomplish an indifferent act on the
spot, as II II We're matter OF life or
death" NiN
We insisted on hearing the story, and
she told IL most graciously
I'm a few words this 10 what hap
: pened 10 me: Five or six days ago
had gone out with my little girl Suzon
you know her; she is eight ! was
taking her TO her class, for this big
girl already follows classes. AS IL
was very fine. we had decided on go
ing on foot by the Champs Elysees and
the boulevards from my house 70 tho
/ Rue Lafitte. And so we were walk
Ing along quite gay. chattering togeth-
err when at the top OF the Rond Point
a lame man, rather young. limped up to
/ us. holding out his hand without say.
ing anything. l carried my parasoi
In my right hand. With my left hand
held up my skirts. confess l had
not the patience to stop and hunt for
my purse. went on and gave moth
Ing TO the beggar
! "Suzon and continued TO walk
along the Champs Elysees. The little
! one had suddenly ceased 10 talk. and
also. without quite knowing why. no
longer felt any wish TO talk. We were
at the Place de la Concorde, and yet
we had neither OF us opened our lips
since we had passed the beggar. And
little by little felt STIR and increase, O
kind OF inward disquIetude. an uneasi
ness. the feeling OF having accomplish
ed an irreparable action, OF being
threatened. for that very reason with
vague peril In the future. In general
strive 10 see clearly within myself
as far as possible and thus, all In
+, Walking. began 70 examine my con
science: cs;Ss:sss g gwts.r
''Let US see,' said TO myself; have
sinned very grievously against char
ity In giving nothing TO that beggarf
never pretend to regard II as my
duty TO give TO every beggar meet l
VIII be more generous with the next;
that is all
But all my arguments did not sue
coed In convincing me. and my inward
f, discomfort Increased, became sort
/ OF anguish, so that ten times felt a
wish to turn back TO the spot where
we hdd met that man. Will you be-
lieve It! 1t was Q false sentiment OF
human respect that withheld me from
doing SO In the presence OF my littla
daughter. We are really worth moth
Ing the moment we act In view OF the
Judgment of others.
eve had nearly come TO the end OF
our walk. and we were going to turn
the corner of the Rue LATTE, when
suzon pulled gently Mt my dress to
stop me.
Mammal she cried.
"'what do you want darllngr
"She fixed her great blue eyes on
the and said gravely:
Mamma, why did you give moth
Ing 10 that poor man In the Champs
Eiyseesy
Like me, she had thought OF moth
Ing else since our meeting with that
man. Her heart was oppressed like
mine, only, better than her mother. or
more sincere, she confessed enite sim
ply her uneasiness.
1T did not hesitate an instant You
are right, dearest. said to her.
I'VE had walked more quickly than
usual under the obsession OF our fixed
idea Twenty minutes or 80 still re
manned before the class hour
called cab jumped into II with
Suzon. and the driver went up .bs
Champs Elysees at quick pace under
promise OF a generous tip.
! "Suzon and held each others HAND
= and beg you TO believe that we were
! Tar from treasured. II the beggnl
should have gone awayl Suppose We
could not find him againf Arrived a
the Rond Point. we jumped TO th'
: ground. We examined the avenue
! There was no beggar. qucstione'
. one OF the chair hirers. She remem
bered having seen him. He was mol
! she said. one OF the habitual beggnr
OF the Rond Point. She did not know
what side he had taken. We wer
!, pressed for time. We were goinl
: away quite distressed. when all
: once suzon perceived the man sittinl
on his heels behind a tree. He wa
III A. -. Aa|