The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-09-26

heart; that we would get into your
carriage, and if-if-''
IF he continued to approve of me,
interposed, laughing.
"Bien, madame, he said if you seem.
ed respectable he would ask you to
take charge of me-"
laughed outright. Such compli-
ments were rare!
Then he was satisfied? And your"
ooh, yes, madame. Naturally,
would rather travel with lady than
with a strange man. Though he was
very kind" she added, thoughtfully.
The time had arrived for the lecture,
which l promptly delivered. She must
promise me never, never to speak to
any stranger, man or woman, especial
| ly man! The only person of whom
she might accept help or advice were
the employees of the railway. She
might speak to any official in cap
with gold braid, or to porter in
blue blouse Also to the old woman
in charge of the waiting-room. Not
to any one else. Not to the most
courteous, polite, chivalrous young
man who might address her. Ii any
one spoke to her she was to pay no
attention. And she must travel in
carriage full of people, and not alone
with any single person. At Mines
she must wait, as told her, until the
departure of her train was announced,
and not stir from the waiting-room.
Did she understand?
She did. She listened very quietly
nodding from time to time.
Il know. My mother told me" she
said. "But he was so kind-and what
was to do?"
l had not the heart to tell her she
should have taken no notice OF him,
as it had all ended so well. More
over, felt that that young man was
one of those simple-hearted gentlemen
one still may meet among the Italian
and French peasantry, with the soul
of an angel and the chivalry OF a
knight of old. But l did not say so.
told her I was very thankful | had
been in the train; gave her final direc-
lions as the train roared into Mines;
and finally, scribbling the address of
my hotel on a picture postcard, which
| stamped, told her to post it to me
the moment she got to the good Sis
tiers of ST. Joseph, with line to say
that she was safe and well. Then a
thought occurred to me.
Did he-that young man who was
so kind-did he know your address
where you were going?" asked.
She looked up innocently But yes,
madame. I gave him the paper
showed you. He must have seen it."
did he ask you for it-for the adj
dress, l mean?"
She did not hear, for she was get.
ting down her bundle. as the train
drew up with clatter Of brakes, be-
side the long, half-uncovered platform
, at Mines. Our carriage was nearly al
the end of the train. But l wanted to
know!
She climbed out carefully, and
handed her the blue bundle. "You
will be quite safe now" l told her, ''if
: you remember what / have said.
will put you in st. Joseph's care now
l know he will see you through
She smiled gratefully and held out
her hand. Il thank you, madame, for
, all your kindness, and, yes, will re
member all you said
l held her hand for moment. ''Did
he ask for the address, | said, look
ing into her pretty face.
She flushed little, but looked at
me quite gravely-almost reprovingly
Madame, he asked for my itinerary
that he might see me into the right
train," she answered.
l watched her run through the rain
into the waiting-room, poor little lone
ly Corsican exile. Still, if she was
careful she could not go wrong now
for her journey was more than hall
over
Two days later l got the postcard
On it was written in very neat, prim
hand:
. Madame:-I arrived here quite safe
. ly. | did not speak to any one but
employees of the railway. l am pleased
to be here The nuns are very kind
They do not make very good silk
Accept the assurance of my profound
respect.
Your obedient,
: MARGUERITE BELPART.
Poor little Marguerite! Her five
years are not up yet. But sometimes
wonder if she will really go back tc
Corsica after all. Perhaps she will
only get as far as Tarascon. For
after all-and it is very pleasant tt
= remember it-her knight-errant die
know her address,