Child of a Century, Complete

ply and veiled so that I could not see her face; but her form and her carriage seemed so charming that I followed her with my eyes for some time. As she was crossing a fie

ehension; he was afraid to take the branch from my hand. His mistress made him a sign as if to encourage him, but he looked at her with

in the house, an old woman who was very religious, and a young woman whose name was Madame Pierson. It was she I had seen. I asked him who she was, and if she ever came to see my father. H

proaching me. I arose from my seat, and, for distraction, I followed th

and bread. Drops of rain began to splash at my feet, announcing a thunder-shower which I was anxious to escape. Although there was a light in the place, and I could he

ng near his bed; I knocked on the window-pane and called to him. Just then the do

he storm should pass. I could not imagine what she was doing at such an hour in this deserted spot; suddenly I heard a

bowed with sorrow; she made me a sign to make no noise as the sick woma

upon my knee, said that she had been coming every night since the mother's illness. She performed the duties of a sister

Rose," said the child

w voice. "Why do you ca

nless it was because she had been

he sick woman who had awakened. She appeared to be pale and thin; her hair was ashen blond. Her beauty was not of the regular type. How shall I express it? Her large dark eyes were fixed

he wretched bed, at the broken windows, the puffs of smoke forced from the fire by the tempest; I observed the helpless despair of the farmer, the superstitious terror of the children, the fury of the elements besieging the bed of death; and in the midst of all, seeing that gentle, pale-faced woman going and coming

d these mountains and valleys through storm and fair weather, she goes hither and thither bearing life and hope wherever they fail, holding in her hand that fragile cup, caressing her goat as she passes. And this is what has been going on in this valley w

seemed to me that if I had tried to assist her, if I had reached out my hand to spare her

e felt better, that the medicine she had taken had done her good. The children ran to the beds

who had not stirred from his seat, "for we have h

ierson; her swollen eyes, her pallor, her attitude, all cl

id the farmer's wife,

he stupidity of these brutes who were capable of cre

treat them as they deserved, when Madame Pierson took

our mother, for

hen I heard

t heart painted in such beauty on so sweet a face. Fatigu

ced to offer my services; I told her that it was useless to awaken the boy as I was going in the same dire

er. It struck me as strange that she should smile at that quest

rain from the boughs. Some distant flashes of lightning could still be seen; the perfume of

fore. She had accepted me as her escort on account of the name I bore, and leaned on my arm with quiet confidence. In spite of her distraught air it seemed to me that thi

er, and always in the same tone I had noted when I first revealed my name-that is, cheerfully, almost gayly. By degrees I thought I understood why she did this, observing that she sp

seen more of my father than she, as they had sometimes played cards t

y foliage had protected from the rain. I stood before her and watched the pale light of the moon

ing? It is time for us

eated you, and I was saying to myself tha

oming from you, I can not look

" I a

appear to b

d, "that one is older than th

ometimes happens that one is younger t

o faith in

n give to their follies and their disappo

men; they go wherever they please, and no barrier restrains them; they test life in all its phases. When inspired by hope, they press forward to achiev

d tendency, began to trip lightly down the incline. Without knowing why, I did the same, and we ran down the hill, arm in arm, th

, believe me," she added, with a charming smile, "you should treat your experience as I have