Orphans of the Storm.
by Henry MacMahon.
CHAPTER I
TWO GIRLS OF NORMANDY
In all the countryside of Evreux, nay in all the beauteous old-time Normandy of the period of 1789, there were no lovelier _filles du peuple_ than Henriette and Louise Girard.
Their romantic story was often whispered by country gossips. In infancy foundlings on the church steps of Notre Dame, then brought to this quiet Norman backwater by the Girards and raised as sisters, they had lost both their protectors by death. The same visitation of the dread plague had cost poor little Louise her eyesight.
Since the orphaning and especially since the blindness of Louise, Henriette cared for her with a love overwhelming as that of a mother for her helpless baby. She looked forward eagerly to the day when they might leave the kinswoman"s where they were staying and go to Paris.
A local doctor had imparted a precious ray of hope.
"As for me, voila! I can do nothing," he said. "Mais, is it not that there are learned faculties in Paris--men skilled in chirurgery even to the taking off of cataracts and the restoration of sight? Of a truth, yes! En avant, mes enfants! Let Monsieur Martin, your ancient cousin in Paris, have the care of you whilst the chirurgeons exert their skill--presto! if all goes well, the little one shall yet see!"
Henriette"s heart thumped with joy o"er the cheering prospect. She kissed and fondled Louise and even teased her. Reading or chatting to the blind girl, sewing her frocks or performing a thousand and one kindly services, her sole thought was to distract and enliven the prisoned soul behind the darkened windows.
And so a broad smile crossed the lovely sightless features and even the dulled orbs radiated a little as Henriette excitedly told the details of the proposed trip, and teased:
"--And, oh, yes--I forgot--when Miss Baby"s eyes are quite well, I shall sit down like a lady--and you"ll do all the work!"
They were quite in a fever of delighted ardor over the preparations for the journey.
Elder sister, attending to everything, p.r.o.nounced it perfect with gay little pats of quaint panniered costumes, fitting of banded sailor hats o"er white coifs, recurling of ringlets, and dainty polishing of slippers. The graceful little figures seemed elfin and fairy-like in the half sleeves and low corsages of tight bodices from which depended enormously full skirts set off by cute pinafores.
Round boxes, baskets or bags on either arm and even the rainy-day umbrella, they waited in delicious expectancy the serving man fetching the bra.s.s-studded cowhide trunk, to the very last moment when to Henriette"s surprise the blind girl pouted and drew back!
She groped until her fingers touched a chair, then sat down--kerplump!
"I won"t go!" announced Louise firmly. "Y-you"ll meet somebody or other in Paris--get married--and--and--I"ll be left _all alone_!"
The little general of the expedition paced hurriedly up and down the floor like a Napoleon at Elba. Shocked surprise at Louise"s awful insinuation struggled with panic fear. At last Henriette faced her sister squarely. She came over and knelt beside her chair, raising a small hand to high Heaven.
"Desert you for a Man!" said Henriette, breathlessly. "Why, the very idea that I could ever think such a thing. Dear, here is my right hand; take it and bear witness: I solemnly swear _never to marry till you yourself can see and approve my husband_!"
The left hand of Louise traveled up till it met and lay flat on the other"s upraised palm. An expression of happiness overspread the blind girl"s face. She leaned over and kissed her sister. The two girls rose and left the old home of Evreux.
CHAPTER II
THE JOURNEY TO PARIS
Locomotion in those pre-railroad days was by stage coach except for the rich and n.o.ble who rode in their chaises. The way of the diligence led past winding streams and bright meadows busy with haymakers; past picturesque water mills and stone chateaux, anon along tree-shaded avenues grateful in their coolness.
Hard as the leathern seats were and however wearisome the ride, the girls forgot discomfort in Henriette"s description of the sights and scenes and Louise"s just as eager listening. Then at the stops the young women would get out and stretch their weary limbs whereof they suddenly became aware as the motion ceased. They were the only pa.s.sengers, with unlimited time for the naive confidences which girlhood loves.
"Are you sure that Cousin Martin will really meet us at the Paris coach house?" asked the blind sister anxiously.
"I wrote him that we were coming," replied Henriette simply. "Of course he will be there and awaiting our arrival."
"But if he should not--"
"Then, we have his address and will go to his house. Never fear, little sister, it will be all right...."
The lumbering coach-and-six did its hundred miles a day, bad roads or good roads. But within a few miles of Paris a whiffletree broke, the ungainly vehicle stopped, and the men jumped off to hold the horses and repair the damage. Henriette and Louise soon left the hard seats for a few minutes too.
Down the other side of the narrow turn of the road where the accident had occurred, thundered the beautiful carved and gilded chaise of a famous n.o.bleman, Marquis de Praille, accompanied by gallant outriders and backed by liveried footmen on the high rear seats. Inside the equipage were the Marquis and his commissionaire La Fleur.
The black and dusty old stage coach blocked the way.
As the aristocrat"s journey rudely stopped, with the chaise horses thrown back on their haunches, a bewigged and powdered head was thrust out of the window, roaring:
"What is the meaning of this?"
Descending presently with his follower to survey the scene, the n.o.ble Marquis enraged at the blocking of his day"s pleasuring belabored the chief ostler with his cane. Smartly the blows rained down on the cowering sufferer, alternate right and left in rhythmic strokes that touched each and several part of the canaille anatomy.
This gentle exercise finished, the Marquis espied around the corner of the coach the two young pa.s.sengers. Another side of the Grand Seigneur"s nature disclosed itself.
Mon Dieu, what a vision! Blue eyes, yellow ringlets framing most kissable features, dainty form, twinkling feet, flower-like elegance--a rustic Psyche far more to be desired than the ladies of the Court! The Marquis hardly looked twice at the blind girl. All his glances were for Henriette.
Self-conscious, the n.o.ble gentleman plumed and preened. Patting down his somewhat ruffled apparel, adjusting his fashionable wig and peruke, and touching up his mouth with the lipstick that the dandies of that age carried, he advanced elegantly upon the young women, cane in one hand and the other toying delicately with a hand m.u.f.f.
Henriette curtsied and smiled, and bade Louise do the same. They knew not the ways of Courts, but native courtesy and naive simplicity were theirs. Presently the elder girl found herself telling the distinguished personage all the details of their trip, the appointment with M. Martin, and the hope of curing Louise by a visit to the Faculty.
The gallant de Praille, all bows and smirks, was offering them the hospitality of the chaise. What a grand stranger, truly! A regal caress of Henriette"s fingers in the handclasp. Most patronizing (or was it odious familiarity?) his dainty touch of her bare arms; the jeweled hand that toyed with her ringlets; the dexterous move as if to encircle her waist; the playing--in the airiest, most fluttering manner imaginable--with the lace that draped her adorable little bosom!
Quietly Henriette replied to his overtures:
"No, monsieur, I think it is best that we go in our own coach!"
The chastiser of canaille and charmer of ladies did not seem a whit abashed. Paying them ceremonious farewell, he withdrew and repaired to his equipage, the road for which was now clear. The girls stood a minute giggling at his mannerisms, as Henriette described his finery and imitated his peac.o.c.k airs.
The girls would not have smiled had they understood. La Fleur, whom they had scarcely noticed, was the pander of the Marquis"s vices. The two were deep in plot. "Twas whispered talk, but a chance bystander might at least have overheard the words:
"... At my fete of Bel-Air--make no mistake, La Fleur--I rely on you.
One hundred louis, the reward...."
Or another scene that marked de Praille"s entry into Paris, might have interested them. Driving recklessly to make up time lost in the blockade, the n.o.bleman"s equipage knocked down and ran over a luckless denizen of the faubourgs. Carelessly flinging out gold to the relatives of the dead woman who were sobbing or cursing him, he leaned forward and inquired most solicitously of the driver:
"_But--are the horses hurt?_"
Indeed the n.o.bles of that time regarded the ma.s.ses as little if any superior to cattle or any other of their possessions.