The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-12-07
NUMBER SO.

Il removed q considerable distance from whcr
Jeanne lay, but still only on tho border, he
course having been nearly parallel 70 tn
high road, though not visible from 1t. Her
she paused, and knecling by little spo
where the ground had been nowly disturbed
though careful covering OF moss and dca
leaves almost concealed the spot, she ben,
and, kissing the sod, murmurcd,
"Adieu, little angel; ie bon Dieu has give
inc one to replace thee!" Then, rising, sh
once more sped onward, and was soon out
sight.
1t was past midday when Jeanne awoke
with terrible dream Of the dark woman.
She knew, the instant she found her chill
gone, what had become fit; but that wa
small guide, nor greater comfort. VIII
and desperate, oil thought but that Of 10
covering her baby left her; she cared no
who might recognize her, who might know
her disgrace; could she by proclaiming In tn
streets Of Auny have brought back what sh,
had lost, willingly would she have paid sucf
price for its restoration. But what to d.
now? How to trace tho woman? In thu
horrible shock and confusion Of her senses
no definite plan at first presented itself; bu,
when, by violent and determined effort
sho collected them, she saw tho only chanc'
for her was to retraco her steps TO whcrc the
strollers had been assembled, and endcayor
from them to obtain some clue.
Turning backward, then, she rapidly trav'
ersed the ground she had 80 wcarily trodder
some hours before. "A wayfarcr, plodding
through the dust, paused TO look after the
DISTRACTED woman, and little boy herding
goats by the waysidc crossed himself with
mingled fear and pity.
She came at last to tho spot she sought
but II was vacant. Tho brands yet nouldercd
on the burnt turf, scraps Of rags, and dirty
paper, and straw Uttered the ground, the
gniss still lay crushed and tramplcd by the
dusty feet. But the wanderers were gone,
and Jeanne recollected. with feeling Of
agony, that little further on three roads
branched of in different directions, and that
unless sho could fall ON somc accidental trace
of their course the chances were two to one
against her taking the right one. She traced
the way back to where the roads separated.
The probabilities seemed altogether IN favor
Of their keeping the main road, which led To
Auray. In her despair she had just decided
on retracins her steps even thither, when
the figure of man in the distance, coming
from that direction, raised gleam Of hope.
Hastily joining him, she asked him If he had
met the party she described.
Tho man stared at her, took of his hat,
deliberately wiped his face with the dirty
handkerchief II contained restored tho hand.
kerchicf to the hat, and the hat to the head,
and then replied in the negative.
"Whcro had he come from? From far
From beyond Auray 10 Clocher7!
lie nodded.
"Then he must have seen them il they had
passed? 2"
probably"
"But there, were 20 many Of them, and
they locke, 70 different from ordinary travel.
lcrs; and they Ead d van, with white borss!
lilo ocould not be mistaken il he had sccn them
ut ALL"
The man shrugged hisshoulders. Voiia!
he had rested by tho way; he might have
slept; they might have passed him while he
was asleep"
jeanne could get nothing moro out of him,
but still, maddcning us was his stolidity, she
was disposed 10 gather from his replies that
the chances were against the travellers having
taken that route. Sho resolved to let chance
guide her steps. and therefore with an in
stinctivc shrinking from the glare Of the sun,
chose the more shady.
On, and on, and on, till her feet were bis
tered, and her knees trcmbled, and her head
throbbcd. On and on till sunset. On and
on till nightfall. No trace, no sign, no hope,
Then she lay down under bank by the way
side, and felt 20 utterly broken.hcartcd that
shc ionsed for death. But she was too young
and too strong for death to make 50 easy q
prey, and sheer exhaustion plunged her into
sleep that lasted till the chill Of the coming
dawn aroused her, stiff and sore, covered with
dust, damp with dew, but having no thought
beyond that of continuing tho search.
Thus for two days and nights more she
wandered in vain. Then, with what little
power of mind was still left her, she decided
to return to Aumy, and rather with the in.
stinct that directs dog on bomeward way
than by any moro reasonable process, she
traced her route back to the prosbyterc by
the evening Of tho fourth day.
In vain Pierrette questioned her; in vain
Claude crcpt to her side and timidly looked
up in her haggard face. She had no answer
to give, but shook her head and rocked her
sell'in her chair, or stared blankly into the
iirc. Tho cure had gno for gamc OF bill
liards to tho Marie, and Picrrctts could only
get her to 60 passiyoly to bcd-all attempts
TO induce her to touch food were vain-and
sit by her, till, to rid herself Of the well.in-
tentioned cares Of her cousin. Jeanne turned
her face to the wall, and pretended TO sleep.
Some weeks went by, and Jeanne had fall
len into her usual course Of duties; but quite
mechanically, and us and 10 whom nothing
in life could give moment of interest or c1.
citcment. Her state of mind was sort OF
dull, lifeless fatalism, that accepted oil things
as parts Of crushing, relentless destiny,
which she could neither comprehend nor re-
sist, and which she could only bow under -
long rs her strength lasted. But il was lated
that she should be reused from this condition
and in q startling manner.
She was arrested on chorge OF infanti.
eide.
At the trial the chain Of evidence was pain
fully conclusive, Her attachment to Eugene
Landry had been known, and her condition
had, for many weeks back, bcen more than
suspected in the village.
The widow Gaussct was the principal wit
ness against her. This woman happened to
be about tho house more than once at night
during the ensuing week; she had heard dis
tinctly. in the darkness and in tho silence,
the cries Of new born infant proceeding
from the house; she happened ngain, by an.
other Of the strange chances, 70 be in the
street, near tho probytere, not long after
midnight on the sixth night after the we'd.
ding; she had been surprised and startled by
hearing some ono come out Of the cures gar.
den; she had watched to sec who II might be
and, though tho night was dark. she had
been able TO distinguish woman, carrying
something In her arms, who aed on seeing
her. The Widow Gaussot, much surprised
at this circumstance, had gone the next day
TO the prosbyterc. TO relate ~hat she bad
.-:.u,..o.l ,i.,o,,;,,, 70 m I,,tv s.a In d0 Shc