The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-11-11
TIE MARK OF CAIN.
A French story.

a French story.
When a part of Morbihan rose dur
ing the hundred days, it was well
known that combat took place near
Auray between the insurgents and the
blues. The day after, at early morn,
woman went to the field with her sickle
on her arm. Intent upon the road she
followed, she yet looked with curiosity
on either hand. Around her the trees
were pierced with balls, the bushes
broken, and the earth trampled. Far
and wide the way was sown with but
tons, bits OF wooden twists torn from
epaulettes, cartridge papers, shreds of
Breton hats pierced by the lead or
bayonet, and pools of blood half stiff
fened. Everything indicated that are
cent and lively engagement mad taken
place in that spot. As to the dead
bodies, they had disappeared. The
peasants had come during the night to
give them burial; and the women
had run over the field of battle,
bag on their shoulder, robbing
by turns the dead of the enc
my, and saying prayer for their own.
People spoke even Of rich booty taken
by some, and could have believed the
young peasant thinking of it, too, on
seeing her preoccupatiOn and the sort
of attention with which her eyes search
ed the thickets on both sides OF the
road. She had finally come to d more
open place, almost entirely occupied
by bushy swamp, and was beginning
to retire, as if she had renowned all
hope, when she saw the marsh reeds
move; gun click wa heard, the point
of bayonet appeared, then a bloody
figure rose with effort. The Breton
stopped short. She did not utter the
least cry, but she clasped more firmly
the handle of her sickle However,
some gestures and words pronounced
IN the national Breton induced her TO
approach. She took two or three steps
in the heritage.
The wounded man had managed to
get upon his knees by leaning on his
gun, and the peasant saw from his blue
jacket, set thick with buttons, that he
was marine. She stopped again un-
decided, but he cried to her to ap-
proach, saying he wished to do her no
harm that he was besides, scarcely
able to stir. having had his leg broken
by ball. The peasant, emboldened,
advanced some steps.
"What do you wish ~ she asked
briefly.
Gar. the blues near here?"
"The blues are gone.
Gone! since when?'
"Slnce yesterday"
ct is impossible - cried the marine,
g for we were the strongest
The peasant made no reply. She re-
manned erect and impossible, as if she
heard nothing She was telling a lie,
however, for the blues were at Aurag.
The marine commenced his questions
again. She replied to them in man
ner to persuade him he was abandoned,
and without hope of relief Wounded
the evesing before, when he was firing
against the ChOuant, toward the close
of day, the unfortunate man had passed
the night in the reeds of the marshes.
without being able to male a move
ment, and tortured by terrible suffer-
ings. He had hoped the day would en-
able him to make known his situation
to his companions, but the news of
their departure threw him into despair.
Strength failed him to quit the place
where he was, and especially when he
would have met with assassination
he feared, on showing him
self 1t seemed to him then there was
no more hope, except in the Young
peasant whom he had just met. He
was himself of the country His faith
er and brothers, fishers at Lockmariak-
er, could save him. Would they come
and seek him. He employed the most
pressing suppGcations, tears, threats
even but the latter was insensible to
everything She cast an ardent glance
around her, then fixed it on the marine
at her feet Finally she approached
him swiftly, and with voice quick and
bold eff you wish me to go 70 Lock
mariaker," said she ''give me your
watch. And, in speaking thus, she
attempted to seize the cord which re-
tanned the latter; but the wounded man
threw himself forward, and made an
effort to push her back.
Afterwards, afterwards said he,
when you return | VIII give you my
watch and some silver VITA"
Have You any? ?" asked the peasant.
q have"
Where is it 2"
"There"
''Show it me ~
do You promise to save me after
ward r.
"Show me the money"
"You shall see it.
The trusting marine balanced him
self on his knapsack that he had de
tached and which was lying near him;
he began with both hands to unbuckle
with difficulty the straps. At the same
time the Breton maiden took step
back IN order to save room, and level
upon his head q blow of the sickle,
which opened his skull. He fell, his
face upon the knapsack. Then the
young maiden took the watch. silver
ana garments. TRANQUILITY she washed
her feet, which were covered with
blood, In the marsh. then went to the
field to cut her bunch of herbs, and re-
turned to the house. On arriving she
threw upon her chest all she had taken
from the marine, saying, Ihave found I
the body OF blue, and there is what
he had. They were in ecstacies over /
her good fortune, and so affairs nod. /
But the same evening, the body h ing
been found, was recognized by the fam /
lily. Soon several circumstances be-
trayed the young maiden and all was