The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-02-06


quite small That poor Pigon, l had
no idea!
THE bailiffs behaved very well.
"'Well,' said the biggest, you can have
twenty four hours to find this money;
my mate can camp out here in the shop
we don't want to be hard on you'll
II helped madame to sOothe the chill
dren.
eff had the money! I said it should
be at your service, madame-in each we'll
born heart there should exist humanity;
but [ have no money. Try and think
whether you have no friends to help
YOU
none. Have [ had time to make friends
I, with seven children2'
I" But in France, madame?
"'None, monsieur. [ have quarreled
with my family; and refect-it is now
and then only because no one would help
u.s. That seemed to me bad, but what
could L do? l could only say
"'Hope always, madame-trust in me-
Il went away. All day long I thought
how calm she was magnificent! And I
kept saying to myself: Come, tap your
be done!' But nothing came.
''The next morning it was my day to
90 to that precious institution, and l
started off still thinking what on earth
could be done for the poor woman; it
was as if the little ones had got hold
of my legs and were dragging at me. |
arrived late, and, to make up time, [
shaved them as [ have never shaved
them; a hot morning. perspired! Ten
for penny Ten for penny. | thought
[ finished and sat down. [ thought to
myself: It's too strong! Why do you
do it? It's stupid! You are wasting
yourself!' And my idea came to me. |
asked for the manager.
Monsieur l said, it is impossible
for me to come here again
"'What do you mean?' says lie.
II have had enough of your-'ten for
a penny"-I am going to get married; I
can't afford to come here any Logger.
lose too much flesh for the money!
"'What?' he says, you're a lucky man
if you can afford to throw away your
money like this!'
Throw away my money! Pardon,
monsieur, but look at mel was still
very hot-'for every penny I make lose
threepence, not counting the boot leather
to and fro. While l was still bachelor,
monsieur, it was my own AFFAIR." could
afford these eXtravagances; but nOw-it
must finish-I have the honor, mon
sieur'
81 left him, and walked away. 1 went
to the Pigeons shop. The bailiff was
still there-Pfui! He must have been
smoking all the time.
81 can't give them much longer he
said to me.
cit is of no Importance I replied;
and [ knocked and went into the back
room.
"The children were playing in the
corner, that little girl, heart of gold
watching them like a mother; and
madam at the table with a pair of old
black gloves on her hands. My friend,
| have never seen such a face-calm, but
so pale, so frightfully discouraged, so
overwhelmed. One would say she was
waiting for her death. It was bad, it
was bad-with the winter coming on!
"'Good morning, madam said. What
news? Have you been able to arrange
anvthing?'
No, monsieur. And your
MOI And looked at her agaln-a
fine woman ah! fine woman.
But l said, AN idea has come to me
in the night. Now, what would you say
if l asked you to marry me? 1t might
possibly be better than nothing
"She regarded me with her black eyes
and answered:
"'But willingly, monsieur!' and then,
comrade, and not till then, she cried"
The little Frenchman stopped, and
looked hard at me.
"H'm!" | said at last, ''you have cour
age!"
He looked at me again; his eyes were
troubled, as if L had paid him a bad
compliment.
"You think 500" he said. I nodded,
and | saw that the thought was gnawing
him, as if I had turned the light on
some desperate, dark feeling in his
heart.
''Yes!" he said after a pause, while his
yellow face seemed to grow more wrin-
kled and each wrinkle seemed to dark
en-. Il was afraid of it at the time Sew
en- children! And since" Again he
looked at me. "And since-sometimes-
sometimes could" he broke off, then
burst out again: "Life is hard! But
what would you have? I knew her hus-
band Could leave her to the streets"
John Galsworthv in The Sketch.