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

was with some difficulty that found
porter and made my way through
the hustle i'm the booking-Office to the
other platform where the Midi train
had just drawn up. 1t is possibier-
but only just possible-to travel third
class In France, If you are solitary
woman. have done it, at a pinch,
for the sake of economy, but con-
gratulated myself was not doing it
TODAY as watched the surging sea OF
the heads below, struggling at the
doors of the long third-class compart-
ments. Wet umbrellas, wet market
baskets-Worst of all, wet marketers
and heavy atmosphere of garlic,
the "ail'' beloved of Tarasconnals; TO
say nothing of the fllmeG OF DlacK
"caporal,' waited from the smoking
carriages. vtt
Among the pushing, excited crowd !
noticed a girl of about fifteen, fair
haired, slender, her pretty, delicate
face rather pale and tear-stalned, car
rying what was evidently her entire
baggage in a large bundle tied UP ID
big blue and white handkerchief.
She seemed doubtful as to whether
to enter the train or not, but every
ime she passed the door she looked
wistfully into my face. She was not
alone, however. Escorting her was
tall, slim, well.set-up boy OF aDouI
nineteen, as dark as she was talr'
his black hair curling crisply beneath
his broad felt hat; his handsome rs
brown face, OF the true Roman type
so frequently seen in the valley 81
the Rhone, bright and alert, though
his eyes, as he bent them on his com
panion, were as respectful as they
were tender. ,Hue
I watched them, specializing lazily
as to their probable relationship. They
we're certainly too young to be hus-
band and wife, This girl, with her
fair hair coiled in great plaits round
her bare head, was mere child. Thsir
manner too, was not that of a mar
ried couple, They seemed to treat
each other with a curious sort OF
rather stiff poiiteness. Brother and
sister? No-that was equally impos-
sible. In the peasant class, to which
| both evidently belonged, brothers do
not hang over their sisters as if they
were some precious possession to be
| safely guarded from the jostling Ell,
bows of the crowd, nor do they show
the intense respect, almost reverence
visible in every movement, every
glance, of this Proyencal boy. Lovers
then? No-that, too, was out OF the
question. They we're far too cere
monious and distant with each other
gave it up as they passed me the
third time-the young man on this oc
casion having scrutinized my face as
intently as the girl-and had just
opened "Tartarin" again when the
door was flung wide and the girl en-
tered with her blue bundle, climbing
carefully up the steep steps, followed
by the young man.
She sat down opposite me, and
saw at a glance that though she was
certainly not much more than fifteen
though her blue eyes were heavy viii
sleep and tears, SO that she lookeL
even younger than she really was, hel
| firm, well-cut mouth and decided little
chin betrayed certain strength oil
character which indicated that she
was able to take care of herself. The
young man, now | saw him at close
quarters as he sat down beside her
was extraordinarily handsome. He
looked like shepherd from the Ro
man Campagna AS he leaned towards
the girl and said something in low
voice, | thought / had never seen a
more attractive pair of children. -
The girl nodded, looking shyly, nd
at him but at me. The boy leaned
forward, and taking off his hat asked
if | was going as far as Mines. AS
far as Montpelier, l told him, beyond
Mines.
/ "Then, if it is not too much to ask
would madame object to undertaking
the charge of this young girl, who i!
alone, and who is making a long ant
difficult journey? She has to chang,
at Mines, and | am anxious abou
her"
"But certainly, monsieur; it vii
give me great pleasure. / will Sc,
you are all right at Mines" | adde,
to the girl, whose eyes, always fxe,
on me, slowly frightened with smile
He turned to her, Then, mademois
ellie, in that case | will say adieu.
leave you in good company
She looked towards him, not at him
as he took her small, rough hand Il
his strong, brown fingers. Il will sa
adieu, mademoiselle."
"Adieu, monsieur. l thank you TO
your courtesy" she said, lifting he
1 eyes for single instant to his dar
ones.
The next moment he had opene
the door and leaped out of the cal
riage, only just in time, for the trail
was already moving and the huddle
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