The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1910-09-03

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| IN wonder, she knew that it was a fororn hope.
| had not she herself advised the child to seek a
| place that was less cold? And alas! on reaching
the river, she saw at glance that her advice had
been taken. The girl had gone, and gone whittier {?
| How could beggar-child and one, too, who was
probably homeless ever be found again in the will
derness of Paris streets?
Carlotta did not buoy herself up with false
hopes From the first she recognized that her case
was failure. There was nothing for her to do but
| to go home and confess what had happened. She
wondered miserably to herself what would be the
result. Madame a kind-hearted woman; but
even if she believed her story. would she forgive
such carelessness? Carlotta was boarded in, so
that her wages were merely nominal, and even if
Madame agreed to deduct the price of the lace
from them 1t would take months and months to
repay what was lost. Or, worse STILL perhaps it
was old lace that could not be replaced. If this
was the case then there nothing before Der but
dismissal And, to Carlotta, dismissal meant not
only going back to an aunt whom poverty and want
had made hardhearted almost to cruelty but it also
meant an end to all thoughts of some day becom-
ing the creator Of beautiful dresses such she had
dreamed of since Madame Delville had employed
her
Very slowly she made her way toward home.
She had been elated a little while ago at being
able to help one poorer than herself that now
this dreadful misfortune seemed doubly awful. 1t
was evident that there nothing to be done; she
must bear as best she could the penalties of her
forgetfulness and impulsveness
1t only as she drew near to the Church of
Notre Dame DIES Victories that faint hope sprang
up IN her heart. She knew what wonderful favOrs
Our Lady often obtains for those who pray to her
at this shrine, and she determined to add her petit
ton to the many that daily laid at the feet of
the Queen of Heaven There WERE as usual,
number of people praying before the statue and the
little messenger girl passed quietly up to where the
altar candles blazed 1t was warm there-warm
1,,1o IL i IL,
Why had not the beggar child come in to Our
Ladys Church to get warm? CarlottG looked
about, half expecting the answer to her prayer to
come to her in this way. But there was no familiar
figure amongst those around her, and she turned
her eyes back again to the statue and told the
Blessed Virgin all her trouble.
Her intention had been to confess at once to
Madame what had happened, but now she thought
she would give Our Lady time to find the lace be-
fore she owned that it was lost. Next morning, in
this case would be enough for her confession.
But when next morning came, she found herself
putting off from moment to moment her interview
with Madame. At dinner she would do it. She
had quite made up her mind to this when suddenly
voice the stairs reminded her that she had put
the matter off too long 1t was the owner of the
lace who was speaking to Madame. Now, when it
late Carlotta realized that, besides wishing
to give Our Lady time to answer her prayer she
had been glad of an excuse to put off her con-
fession.
The other girls went on with their sewing, talk
ing together mconcernedy, in half whispers; for
Madame allowed no loud voices III the worKroom
when she was interviewing customers. But Car
lotta could only sit and wait She was trembling so
much that she could not thread the needles that
were passed to her, and the workers threats that
they would complain to Madame of her idleness
fell on unheeding ears.
At last there came sounds denoting that the
interview in the "ittig room" drawing to a
Il +loc +,irc and
then Madame entered the workroom, carrying on
her arm the gown that had been trimmed with the
other part of the lace. Carlotta dared not look up
she scarcely dared to breathe But, to her amaze
ment Madame's words were not directed to her. |
The dress needed alterations, which she explained
to the forewoman; then, even before her was |
spoken, the messenger girl knew that she was about
to be addressed.
''Where is Carlotta2 2" said Madame, looking |
round; them catching sight of the little figure, she
added: "Come here, child, and let me look at you"
Carotta went forward like one in a dream. |
What did it mean? In Madames voice there was
no anger, questioning even, yet surely the lady |
must have spoken of the lost lace.
What had you on yesterday when you took |
Madame du Val her lace?" she asked. "She says
you looked like beggar girl.
For a moment Carlotta was silent. She was too
much astonshed to speak; and, besides, she did not
Then light dawned upon her Mad
anne du Val's name and address were on the par
eel and it had been left at her house by beggar
girl
1T seems impossible to please people nova
lays" went on Madame Delville "The only thing
is that [ must make some kind of coat for you to
wear when you are delivering parcels"
So Our Lady had heard her prayer. That was
Carlottas first thought And then she realized that
it would not be honest to leave Madame in igno-
rance of the real truth. Haltingly she told her
story and now it was Madame's turn to be amazed
To be sure, Carotta did not escape without
some sharp words over what might have been;
hough in her heart Madame Delville touched
" her little kindness. And she took care to i'm
,ress upon her that it the honesty of the beg
,ar child that had prevented her getting into seri-
JUS trouble.
When complaining of the shabbiness of her
the lady had told Madame Delville that
he had hidden the girl to come back to her in a
ew DAYS when she would have some clothes to