Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1908-12-26

take her back, she and her children
though they are his. Let him go to a
hospital and stay there till he dies
Leave my husband" Laure said
with an incredulous look. "Oh, no! He
| cannot think | could do that! | will
| kneel at his feet and ask his pardon.
Now that | am mother l know how
! L have sinned against him. But desert
! my Observation-Disclosures, he cannot mean
that
: Eyes; he means it. my poor child!
And you, my Laurie, 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, l am so wretched
without your
Laure rose to her feet, her black eyes
sparkling and 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 starEe 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 stified Sob
eyes. Are they not handsome? And
so bright! Jacques is beginning to
read. and Pere Joseph teaches him
when his father is too Ill, and they say
he is going to be great scholar"
The grandmother pressed a kiss on
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 now!"
II must go now, Laure," she said at
last. "but | will come back again be-
fore long. have a thought will
talk it over with Pere Joseph tonight
as / go home, Whatever he tells you
to do tomorrow. you must obey him.
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
cheerily. aha. in the sulks still, mon
anil Six years in the sulks! 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 Tango
de paix' is tired of standing on your
threshold Happy New Year," H
Il hear you, and nobody knows New
Yearsbetter than do. Who are these
children. Pere JosephY'
t'Twe l picked up out of wretched
hovel, where there was nothing to eat,
and brought them to see how gay and
happy a 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
happy New Year"
The two pretty children did it, a little /
frightened at the stern old face which
bent to receive their caresses, but it
softened wonderfully as he lifted them
to his knee and stroked their soft
brown. curls.
Sand what is your name, my pretty
little girl?,' he said. ~
Helene she lisped.
"And yours?'' to the boy.
Jacques Lefebvre Wood he am
swered in his high, clear voice. 81 am
named after my grandpa, and Pere
Joseph said l was going to see him to-
day. / want to go to my grandpa,
slipping to the floor. II want to kiss.
him and love him and wish him hap
Ply New Year"
The old man had turned CHASTITY pale
and trembled in every limb, but there
was not the outburst of rage his wife
and Pera Joseph had expected. He
still held the little girl on his knee.