The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1870-06-09
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VILLAGE ON. THE CLIFF.
BY. MISS THACKERAY.
:
CHAPTER Xxx.
NEVER, NEVER.

l. NEVER, NEVER.
Pe'itpcrc looked up and smiled, an
shook his head a moment after, as h
began tho recital Of all that had be
fallen them since Reine had been away
1t vas too true that sad and terribl
things had happened, and yet tobacc
and gossip were not the less sweet be
cause storms had ragged and misfor.
tunes thickened and the old fellow
pufed Ills pipe, and leisurely recountet
his story. "tHe! poor boy, who woult
have thought. it ?" said old Chretien, a.
he finished the little tragedy. "H.
ought to be alive at this moment, ane
there he was in the climetiere, while
two old fellows were still in thei,
sabots:," Strangely enough, poor Fon.
taine had signed his will that very morn.
ing, in the presence of M. le Cure aud
his gardener, SO. .Barbeau reported. Il
was not known &r certain, but it was
said that be had: left every thing to his
widow for her life and appointed her
sole guardian to his boy. Poor little
woman, it was rude shock for her.
People talked Of her return to England.
Then Pere Chretien went on to other
things. The white COW was ill it had
been hurt IN the'nostril !; Barbeau had
examined tho wound he thought
badly oft and, by tho way, what was
the matter with Madame Ia Comtesse?
She had been up at the farm asking
all manner of questions, fcrreting here
and everywhere. "She didn't discover
much," said old Chretien, with a
chuckle; "but take care, my girl she
looked malicious, I could see it plain
enough" Barbeau, too, had comment
ed upon the circumstance. "Thoy
don't like the Euglishman to come too
often, that is not hard to divine. Only
this morning I had to send him off
very short" said Petitpere, compla-
ccntly. That sort Of person it comes,
and goes, and amuses itself, and thinks
itself Of consequences. He might have
broken his head in the sea in the place
ofpoor Fontaine for all he cared. 'Voila,' ,
the old fellow concluded philosophically,
"Barbeau says there is no dcpending"-
"Oh, don't, don't, Petitpere," cried
poor Refine flingipg herself down upon
the oak bench against the WALL. and
beginning to cry. "Poor Fontaine,
poor friend, poor Catharine Oh, what
sad world Oh, how bitter was life !"
she cried, in her pathetic voice, hiding
her face in her hands, while the Sob
came faster and faster. "Fonta;ue dead;
that kind creature, so alive, so full Of
gentleness. and goodness" Poor soul,
was it only for Fontaine that she was
mourning, and did her tears flow for oil
sad hearts, all future troubles, all posi-.
BILE separation ?
She was sitting there still !; the old
man had put down his pipe, and was
patting her on the shoulder with his
horny old fingers, and doing his besl
to console her.
"Now then, now then" said be, "you
are not widow to give way to desolation
like this. Hush there il some enc
| coming. 1t is perhaps Ba1beau -
! But even the hated name of Barbeau
| not rouse poor Refine as did the ster
| upon the tiled floor Of the kitchen, and
| the voice which gladly exclaimed aud
called her by her name, and then the
| sweet tear-stained face looked up, and
the pathetic eyes met Dicks prout
glad glance. For minute Refine for
got all her doubts, jealousy, hard re
| solvcs-forgot every thing but Dicl
| for a minute, as he stood before her
| holding both her hands in his, and the1
he spoke.
"You have have been badly wanted
dear Refine. have come for you.
promised that poor little woman t,
bring you back to her. I knew
should find you this time -
Why did he speak ? All! why, i
this was all he had to say? The ten
der heart seemed suddenly to grow
hard and rough, the light died out o.
the wistful eyes. Why did he speak
| if his first words were to be of Cath
arine? 1t was in vain that the cir
tried to hush the, devilish voice, tn,
hateful thought away. RENE stood
with dry eyes and pale face, glancin9
from Dick to Petitperc, who was onc'
again sitting doubled up over the fire
shaking his head doubttu]ly every nov
land then. sy . /.
Gould You come now z persisted
DieE.
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