The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1908-12-30

take her back, she and her children
though they are his. Let him 80 to u
hospital and stay there till he dies "
Leave my husbandw Laure said.
! with an increGulous look. "Oh, no! IL.
cannot think l could do that. will
kneel at his feet and ask his pardon
Now that l am q mother l know how
have sinned against him. But desert
my husband-mamma, he cannot mean
thatv
"Yes; he means it, my poor child!
And you, my Laure, you who were so
pretty and bright, you are an old wom-
an, and you are weak and sick, and
soon you cannot help him, and then
you will both die. Come back to us,
my daughter! Oh, 1 am so wretched
without your
Laure rose to her feet, her black eyes
sparkling and a bright red spot on her
thin cheeks.
Mamma, look there" she said.
There he lies, helpless, who worked
for me and loves me and to whom
am necessary. l will stay with him
to starve and die perhaps-who knows?
but happier so than to desert him
and live in comfort in my fathers
house. But you have not seen my chill.
dren. Come and look at them. That
is Jacques, that is Helene, and this
little one at the foot of the bed Is
Aimee"
You named the two eldest after
your father and me?" the grandmother
said, with stined sob.
"Yes. Are they not handsome? And
so bright! Jacques is beginning to
read, and Pere Joseph teaches him
when his father is too i'll, and they say
he is going to be a great scholar"
The grandmother pressed a kiss OF
each round cheek and stood looking at
them, lost in thought.
IF he could only see them" she
murmured. "He loves children so
much, even noww
II must go now, Laure," she said at
last "but will come back again be-
fore long. have thought. l will
talk it over with Pere Joseph tonight
rs go home. Whatever he tells you
y
The next morning Pere Joseph en-
tered the room where old Lefebvre
was sitting, leading two children. No
one, not even that moody man, thought
of barring out the good cure who had
lived from youth to old age among his
people at Cote Blanche.
Happy New Year! he called out
nI Go IN ba cfiI
ami. Six years in the sulksl Too
long, too long, for a man over sixty,
who hasn't many more New Years to
be sorry or glad in. I'm afraid Tange
de paiX' is tired of standing on your
threshold. Happy New Year,
II hear you, and nobody knows New
Year better than i do. Who are these
children, Pcre JosephTe
"Two l picked up out of wretched
hovel, where there was nothing to eat
and brought them to see how gay and
happy rich man can be on New
Years day. You know, poor people al
ways think where there is money there
is happiness. Go to monsieur, my chill
dren, and kiss him and wish him Il
happy New Year"
The two pretty children did 1t, little
frightened at the stern old face which
bent to receive their caresses, but II
softened wonderfully as he lifted them
10 his knee and stroked their soft
brown curls.
"And what is your name, my pretty
little girl?" he said.
Helene" she lisped.
"And yours?' to the boy.
jacques Lefebvre Wood" he an
swered in his high, clear voice. II am
named after my grandpa, and Pere
Joseph said / was going to see him to-
day. want to go to my grandpa
slipping TO the floor. Il want to kiss
him and love him and wish him hap
py New Year"
The old man had turned ghastly pale
and trembled in every limb, but there
was not the outburst Of rage his wife
and Pere Joseph had expected. Ht
still held the little girl on his knee
unconsciously, perhaps, and she put u
her little soft hand and stroked hi
face, which was working convulsively
Don't ky" she lisped. Helene
solly for co."
He looked from her pretty face t
the brave, clear eyes of the little boy
which were fixed wonderingly upo
him, and then his white head sank o.
his breast, and tears rolled down hi
cheeks.
"L'ange de paix' has conquered!
revcrently murmured the good ole
priest. "Yes, Jacques, that is right
kiss them, for they are your own fles
and blood. Open the shutters an
let in the sun to warm your old hear
; and thank God, you old sinner, tina
J you have had time to repent" II
: marched out, his own heart full of JOY
| and, barring his head, stood gazing Il
J as if the visible presence of the angC
; he had invoked was before him.