Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-11-09
THE MARK OF CAIN

\ FF"ntn Story
When part of Morbihan rose dur
ing the hundred days, it was we'll
known that % combat took place near
Auray between the insurgents and the
blues. The day after, at early morn, ii
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
wero pierced with balls, the bushes
broken, and the earth trampled Far
and wide the way was sown with but
toms, bits of wooden twists torn from
spaulettes, cartridge papers, shreds of
Breton hats pierced by the lead or
bayonet and pools of blood half stiff
tened. Everything indicated that a re-
cent and lively engagement had taken
place in that snot As TO the dead
bodies, they had disappeared. The
peasants had come during the night to
give them burial ana the women
had run over the field of battle,
bag on their shoulder robbing
by turns the dead of the enc
my, and saying a prayer foc 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
cd the thlckcts on both sides of the
road. She had finally come 10 n more
open place, almost entirely occupied
by bushy swamp, and was beginning
20 retire, as if she had renowned all
L. ,,st,,y al, fb.n ,,,3,sg,b Z
move; gun click was heard the point
Of layonet appeared, then 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 10y leaning on his
gun, and the peasant saw from his blue
Jacket, set thick with buttons, that he
was marine, She stopped again I'M
decided, but he cried to her 60 APP.
proach, saying he wished to do her no
harm that he was besides, scarcely
able to stir, having had his leg broken
by a ball, The peasant, emboldened,
advanced some steps
WHAT do you wish r. she asked
briefly.
Are the blues near here}'
"Iho blues are gone,
'Gonel since when}"
Since yesterday
lit IL impossiblel' cried the marine,
for we were the strongest.
The peasant made no reply. She re-
manned erect and impossible, as # she
heard nothing. She was telling a lie,
however, for the blues we're at ARRAY.
The marine commenced has questions
again. She replied To them in % man
uer TO persuade him hewas abandoned,
Nud without hope ot relief Wounded
the eyeNlug before, when he was firms
against tine Chouaut toward the close
OF day, the unfortunate man had passed
the night IN the reeds of the marshes
without beng able TO make a move
mcnL and tortured Ivy terrible satler
ings He had hoped the day would en-
able him to make known his situation
10 his companions hut the news %
their departure Threw hun Iuto despair
Strength failed him to quit the plae,
whore he was, and especially when h,
would have met with assassination
he feared, on showing ham
self. Ii seemed 10 him then there wa.
no more hope, except in the youus
peasant whom he had inst met II,
was himself Of the cojintry His faith
or and brothers, fishers at Iockmarjuh
or. could save him Would they com,
and seek HINT He employed the mos
pressing suppieatlous, tears threat
oven; but tAe latter was IHsonsihle {,
everything. She cast mn ardent gauc,
aroutd her, then liked Il on the marin.
1t her feet Finally she aproacHt.
him swiftly, and wilma Voice quick anC
bold III yoa wish mo g. go to Lock
nariaker, sad she "givG me you
watch. And, il speaking thus, IN,
attempted to sei1o the cord which ~