The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-21

his eyes. There was humming in his faxed, hopeless.
 The letter told him that La Belle Nivernaise was to be broken up at last. People had come to calculate the value of her poor old bones for firewood. They were looking at everything from the Crews boathoolS to the baby's cradle.
 Two days afterward there is no longer a question of the student Maugendre pass ing his examination. It Is solely a mat ter of saving the student Maugendre's life.
 It would be best, says the doctor to old Maugendre, that he be restored to his old country freedom-if he should re- cover.
 If he should reooveri Old Maugendre renounces his dream of having son who wears the green and silver uniform of the School of Forestry. He will give up every hope-only let the lad recoverl Let him but consent to live. to speak to him, to put an arm around his neck and say: "Fatherl I am getting well. now. Fa- therl''
 The old man, who has clutched his son as he had clutched gold, Is willing to make an almost complete surrender of him. Sitting at that bedside where 8 young life is striving with ancient Death, the man is stripping his misers skin.
 When the student Maugendre comes to himself after many weeks there are voices whispering near him. He hears footsteps as of people tiptoeing. He fan cies, ~eyen, that he hears a well-known stumping.
 Surely he must be on La Belle Niver- naise! Before his newly gathered senses can tell him otherwise, he cries. feebly enough: "Yo ho! Crew! To, hol'
 The curtains are withdrawn. The light of day dazzles him. In that binding radiance he sees all the dear ones on whom he has called so often in his fan tastic, wild, but ever longing dreams.
 Every arm is stretched toward him, every one of those good. brave, honest faces smile toward him.
 "But, but" says the voice of old Mau- gendre breaking in anxiously, "he must keep his arms under the bedclothes. he must keep quiet, he must not get excited"
 So anxious is old Maugendre that he speaks faster than he has spoken in many years. Think of it!" says he, looking now at Victor, then at Mother and Father Louveau, and Clara, and babies and Crew, but ever resting his eyes on Vic- tor. Think of it! The Principal had just told me that you were making such prog ress! You were working like machine. You may imagine how proud was! And just at that moment they rushed in to say that you were i'll. An! My dear lad, how i'll you were! I did not leave you for a moment. You kept raving about La Belle Nivernaise, about Clara,f about a new boat, and what not. Then I found Clara s letter and read it to see what had caused your trouble of mind. You may think then that I hurried to find these good friends of yours and mine, that might ease your mind as soon as you should be better They are now living with me, and shall stay there till we arrange their af- fairs. Is it not so, my friend Lodveau The two arms come out of the bed clothes, despite all the orders of all the doctors in the world, and Maugendre Is embr4ced-not only embraced. but he feels on his hard, withered cheek the kiss of son
 Then they chat over plans. Clara is to stay and nurse Victor till he is able to cone home. Mother Louveau will keep house temporarily for M. Maugendre while Francis superintends some work for him. Meantime Maugendre himself is go- | ing to Clamecy. He knows some people | there who will be delighted to give the command of barge to so clever barge ] man as Father Louveau.
 rt waa q month before the work ua z