Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-03
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w oman and Home
The Morning Story
THE LITTLE FRENCH GIRL.
By Dorothy HlRckmorc.

81, Raymondc Rousseau was trail.
!. pretty little French artist, who lived
s. IN II tiny studio in great building.
She made her living by paiutius Won
: dcrful water color dance orders. d!u-
ner cards. holiday greetings and fanci-
TIL conccits for social entertainments
Of all sorts. Also, shc added TO her
income by singing In the choir OF a
: big church
- Until Tie European war had broken
out Raymonde's brother, Jacque. had
, lived with her. but when his country
s-entcred the conflict he was called to
=, join his colors. Rayrnoudc cried for
g days after her brother sailed for
!. France. but she knew she would have
= been ashamed OF Jacquo had he been
UNIV Hing To 80.
r. The approach OF Easter brought
much work to Raymondc, and the
lights In her studio burned late every
night as she sat over her desk making
water colors. She looked very much
like French print herself in tho
quaint costumes she always designed
.>for her own wear. Her straight, black
hair and her ivory skin and scarlet
lips made her conspicuous beauty
: anywhere. Added TO this her unique
:" taste in dress made her more than
" attract!vc
= Perhaps it was her continental man
: ucr perhaps merely her natural DIFF
- ference, that made her difficult Of APP
Nrproach. But she was admired by every
Honc who came III contact with her.
i;'and in tho choir where she sang she
had many friends. even though she
Ibid not perhaps realize it.
Choir rchcarsals for Easter music
made her attendance necessary, ard
she found herself hurryinS from her
studio 10 the church without taking
proper time 10 cat nuuriShnS meals
Raymondc was very conscientious, and
f. she did not want 10 neglect either hor
d. hitting or her choir work
---,,, 1t was the week between Palm sun
,~day and Easter day that found the
nttle French girl nearly exhausted
l boat had arrived bringing her letters
and papers from her home In the
suburbs of Paris. she picked up her
mall and went to church for a rehearsal
without so much as getting bite OF
dinner. She feared being late and con-
spicuous in entering the choir stalls
Instead OF being late. Raymonde
found herself there before any OF the
others and she was glad of few
quiet moments In which to read her
mail. She looked ut her home letters,
and then opened up Il newspaper from
the suburb in which sho lived. Her
face suddenly became as SGT rs the
race Of an ivory imaSc--sho had seen
lter brothers name among tho. list OF
soldiers who had failed to return with
their regiments.
"Jacuue, Jacquc" she bcrated, just
rs Il merry group of choristers came
Upon her in the dimly-lis htcd church.
"Why-it's little Miss Rousseau
she's faintcd.'
:, Ono OF the girls bent over her, and.
as they laid her the broad church
seat and administered restorativcs, Il
rsnan, who had taken more than u
passing interest in the little French
girl and knew something OF her life.
t-picked up the paper she had dropped
from her hand.
~ Its her brothcr--hes among those
reported dead in battle. Poor little
.Strl"' Trenton Knox had always felt
IN. sort OF indciinable sympathy for the
LITTLE soprano.
,iE can't be true-cnn it," she asked.
searching the faces of those about
her p!tifully.
(, Trenton Knox bent over her. This
paper is two weeks old-it should never
have reached you," he said kindly.
But WHY" she asked in agonizcd
tones and pushing back the straight
wisps of hair.
1.-THE reports haven't been confirmed
or you would have heard" he said.
The girls helped her TO become calm;
and comfortable again, and though she
sat through the rehearsal she was I'M
able to bring note from her throat.
for the lump that seemed TO be chok-
Ing her.
y you'll let ME walk home with you
gently
Raymondc smiled wan little smile.
and there was none OF the usual sparkle
in her brown eyes. 1T would be
good OF you--I-2. have hccn foolish and
weak to faint; bul L"
You have been overriding il. and
you look as il you hadG't taken timo
to rest and eat" the a.. tenor said
as ne guided her from the church
On the way home they stopped and
1,ol "a "a I'm of In or
rant near Raynonde's studio, and there,
out OF sheer WEAKNESS, she permitted
her veil OF reserve TO drop before the
man who had always been SO kind 20
her.
AS they walked around the corner
to the studio building she leaned or
his arm and he felt as Ii he could
never leave he" alone again.
The elevator hoy handed her mes
cage. She took It with trembling
hands. Gently. but firmly. Trenton
took it from her lie saw that 1t was
upstairs wen open it, he said.
And Il was he. not RaymoEdc. who
tore ii open and read the words:
Jacque wounded, but safe at home
Love" II was unsigned. but Ray
monde knew il Was from her family,
and She knew. too. that they realized
that she might have received the paper
with the awful mistake printed in II
she said 20 Trenton as she sank into
studio chair by the small hard-coal
fire She always kept burning. You
are 30 good 10 me"
Good? Good?" he said And then
after a minute in which he seemed
10 be bordering his subject Ray
monde. won't YOU let me take care OF
YOU? ! sec Tonight how much you
need some one, and love you? |
have loved YOU for long, but YOU never
lei me tell YOU so till now"
Tears sticamcd down the little
sEfench girls pale cheeks. The nights
Fgamut OF emotions had been too much
.-for her overwrought nerves 1--WE felt
$3.50 different from you all" she man
aged TO say. $3.50 alone"
Trenton leaned ever her Don't
say alone again, Rayinonde-if-!f you
love me-
on" she broathed, Il dol do
And youll marry mo after Easter
and we'll have the whole blessed choir
: here In your studio TO wish us JOY