The Son Of Monte Cristo Part 33 (1/2)

THE MARQUISE

Forty-eight hours have elapsed since the scenes we have described in the last chapter, and the day is Mardi Gras Opposite the Cafe Turc, which in 1824 had a European reputation, stood a house of squalid appearance, inhabited, because of the low rent at which rooms could be obtained, by a nureater part of the year carried on the nu this picturesque corner of old Paris, unknown to the present generation, ill enter this house to which we have alluded, and which bore the number 42 of the Boulevard du Teirl as called the Marquise was finishi+ng her toilette before the h, with its faded wall paper, its narrow bed pushed into the corner, its two chairs and pine table Theclosed but imperfectly, and the wind blew out the curtain like a sail Colored prints were fastened against the wall, and everything was exquisitely clean A white napkin was spread upon the table, and the bed had snowy curtains The mirror at this moment orthGreuze-like face

The singer isting up her rebellious curls, and endeavoring to bring her hair into so dark eyes were full of sunshi+ne, and her lips were beautiful and fresh She fastened on her raceful hands fluttered about her dress arranging that also

Suddenly a deep sigh, apparently from the next roo door, and, opening it cautiously, looked in

”Poor woman!” she said to herself, ”she is awake I wonder if she suffers still”

Then a voice called, ”Cinette! little Cinette!”

”How strange!” said the girl, ”when I hear her speak that name, it seems to me the voice is fairl entered the roo to raise herself in her bed

Her face was hideously scarred and seared, while the bloodshot eyes could not endure the light It was clear that the poor creature had been the victim of a horrible accident

”I am thirsty,” she faintly articulated

”Yes, irl as called Cinette

And the woman smiled She was mad in addition to her helplessness No one kneho she was, nor whence she cairl who ministered to her needs, little Cinette, the child of Sih those subterranean vaults when she lost Jacques, and finally escaped from the labyrinth to fall into the hands of those people whoo has immortalized

These people--a husband, wife and children--were pillaging the dead on a battle-field, but when Cinette appeared they sive no explanation as to why she was thus alone and deserted To all questions she could only reply by the words ”papa Simon,” and ”mamma Francoise” Of course this was too indefinite for these people to act upon; besides, at that time they had much to do--the invasion promised them much spoil They took Cinette away, and after the peace they continued to keep her They had aht a farm in Blaisois Cinette was happy in these days, for she was too young to ree there was an old soldier whose violin and songs had often enlivened the bivouac He soon discovered that Cinette, for she still went by that name, possessed a wonderful voice He took it into his head to start a musical school; he had three pupils, only two of which paid a sou; on the third, Cinette, he built ee, when an epideirl was left alone in the world

The ”Good Sisters” offered her a home in the convent, but she had always been accustomed to the open air, to flowers that nodded a welcome to her as she passed, and to sunshi+ne, and was afraid of the cloister, of its dimness, and of watchful eyes

She finally took her departure, and begged her way to Paris Souitar that had been left behind by so eyes She escaped the many snares that were laid for her, and finally found shelter in a house where only the very poor lived, but they were all honest, industrious people She obtained the necessary per on the street, and then had another idea In the part of the city where she lived there was a great deal of poverty, and she undertook the care of a poor woman, she was so confident in her ability to make money

”But the person you propose to take care of has been dreadfully disfigured, and is unpleasant to look upon,” said one of the neighbors

The child asked to be told all that was known of the unfortunate creature

She had been found a before, and the people who had found her were dead, but she was still taken care of by these kind, good creatures who, however, found the burthen a heavy one

Francine went to see this poor creature There was a long silence, the girl seemed to hesitate, then, suddenly, she stooped and kissed her

”Will you go with me, mamma?” she said

Why did she use the word mamma? She could not have told herself, and yet this woman was really her mother Yes, this unfortunate, this ony of that fearful night, she lost her memory and her reason She did not kno she had escaped, and yet she was here and restored to her child Fate had brought the two together Mother and daughter were alike victims of the Talizacs

Francine took this woman, whom she had volunteered to support, and installed her next her own rooht she watched over her with a solicitude that was absolutely filial

The elder woirl ay, she repeated the name over and over