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

the brown flood was racing with suck ing eddies
 Father and Mother Louveau were on shore chaffering with a buyer, when suddenly a great barge tore from its fastenings, whirled against a stone quay and split from stem to stern. The next moment the tossing wreck struck La Belle Nivernaise and snapped her shore lines. Broadside on she swept into the flood and was dragged toward the threatening bridge.
 My babiesl" shrieked Mother Lou veau. They were all aboard the barge. They had to hold her and Father Lou veau to prevent them from leaping into the wild stream.
 The barge swept toward the stone arch. Mother Louveau shut her eyes When she opened them again she saw Victor standing tall and still at the huge rudder. she saw La Belle straighten out. she saw the boat dart into the roaring darkness of the arch and in another instant a wild cheer told her that her dear ones were safe.
 You know 1t was lige this" Francis said excitedly for weeks afterward, stop ping all who would listen. "You see, the boat was doomed She was adriftl Then he, victor-ah, what a chap that is
 At home in the cabin the good fellow would smile from ear to ear and say every few minutes: "IIal Shall take him back to the magfstrate's7" And Mother and ], Father Louveau would reach across the | af1
 Soon afterward Louveau received orders to appear before the commissary of po- lice. He returned gloomy and sullen and refused to say what they had wanted ! from him. From that day he was a changed man. He quarreled with the Crew. He could not eatcmfwypetaoinp He even answered back to his wife
 When the barge reached Corbingy on. hat trip, Victor and Clara said that they would call on Maugendre. At that Lou veau flew into a great passion and de- clared that he wished to have nothing to 1 do with the man and desired never to hear his name again.
 Maugendre Maugendre was not worth considering! He doubted if Maugendre treated him fairly in bargains. At any rate, he would not deal with him any more And he stuck to 1t. despite the commands of Mother Louveau. When Maugendre learned that Louveau had left him he called He looked much older and was gray. He walked slowly with a stick After short talk, during which Louveau responded sullenly, he said:
 -toI, boua roouav rIaptv of money. What is the good of 1t? cannot buy back the happiness l have lost"
 In spite of himself his eyes turned to ward Victor and Clara.
 I,ouveau did not speak a word all even ing after Maugendre had gone. He walked up and down the deck, up and down. Be fore dawn he arose from bed without say ing a word and started away. He went traight to the vicar. "Th' police magistrate has informed me whc Victor is." said he, hurrying his words lest he should change his resolution "The couple that left him on the street were not his parents. The woman die' recently in a hospital and confessed that she had been intrusted with tn child by his mother to carry him t his father, and that she had kept th infant, expecting to teach 1t to bet when 1t grew up. She said that tn mother was named Maugendre!" ! The vicar looked at Louveau. H stepped toward him and said:
 T quite understand what you feel You have done right to make up you mind not to keep this secret. Come witt me now to Maugendre"
 Not today, Your Reverence" i'm plored Louveau.
 Observing the bargeman's grief, tn