Richland beacon., 1873-02-08

ed Jeanne for the money the good woman
made her take with her; and then. be
cause there was no diligence until the
next Tuesday. set off in a country cart.
returning to Poutbert, whence she hoped
TO fall in with some other CONVEYANCE
which would take her to OF near Grail
vile.
From Poutbert. farmer gave her seat
in his cart for some miles. After that she
walked and the next mornings sun was
well UP before she found herself entering
the town fOO.-SOrc and weary, but press
ing on in the direction given in the letter
which was to the quay and inquire for
Agar Cagot'S. This she did. and Il dingy-
looking house was pointed out 10 her.
about whose door were clustered Il nuul-
Der of sailors.
MADAME Cagot?" she asked, address
inc one of the men.
"IeS, madame cAndhe made way for
. her to pass into the house.
IL believe. madame. you have some one
lodging here named RaOul Vanicr:'
Certainly we have. Areyou his sister.
madame? am truly glad you are here,
for he is very i'll, and the doctor says be
can do nothing for him. But you will
wish to see him." And she turned and
went through into Il passage. and up
low flight of creaking stairs, at the top of
which poor Nannette was forced TO stop.
"Oh !" thought she, ''surely he will be
sparedc N can never have come back
only to die.n, The woman, who had step
ped inside the room, now reappeared, ard
ma e a sign to Nannette, to come in.
.IIe still sleeps" she whispered. as she
stood Oh one side TO let her pass; and i'll
! another moment Nanncttc was again face
to face with him whose love she had cher
| ished through all these long drcary
years.
You'd best have something to cat"
said Madame Cagot. ''IIe Won't wake up
! for hours vet from the doctors draught.
and when he does he'll want all your
| time; for he needs deal of waiting upon.
Come down with me" SIZE urged. seeing
| Nanncttc hesitate. "I'll take you into my
| little salon. and there we can have chat
together. You will like to hear what the
doctor says. Twas his father he expected
/ to Sce."
Yes" replied Nannette; ''but his faith
er is helpless, and not able TO move"
"Ah, well. it is better that you are
here. \ woman is best in sickness. and
he wants SO much waiting upon. | don't
know what | should have done if my
niece had not offered to take the children;
they are so fretful all among strangers.
Perhaps they'll be b;tter with you,
though you're a stranger to them, too
"Wll3t?" exclaimed Nannettc. sharply.
Didn't he tell you of all his troubles in
his letter."
Nannette shook her head.
Il know nothing" she managed to
say.
And you do not know then that his
poor wife is dead? All. yes. three weeks
after they had left land. sickness for home
and sickness of the sea killed her. and she
had to be thrown overheard. All. what
a terrible fatel" And Madame Cagot
stared hard into Nanncttc's gray, stony
face.
"Imust get out into the air, madame
Nannette said, jumping up.
"But why?' exclaimed Madame Cagot
: frightened at her new guests fixed look
Had YOU not Uest lie down. and be quiet
alittle:'' ..-
no, no; this trouble is so sudden.
shall be better outside" And not walt
ing n more argument. she rushed out
and ran along past the few houses on the
quay, hoping She should find some place
where, unseen. she could realize this new
ly found agony.
Should She go back to Wire without
looking :rSain on the face of Linn who has
proved SO cruelty alse!
"Oh. my Cod she cried, "Thou wht
knowest my misery. show me what TO 90
leave NE not now that am indeed forSak
en- of all others!' And thsn she laid he
: Door burning head on the wet sea- weed
and thought of all she had hoped, all sn'
, had feared. Many terrible things had off
en- occurred to her, but never aught lik
this.
81 rejoice" she cried out liercely. "tha
, he has heavy trials. that he suffers horri
, BILE pain. l. am glad that he will de!
I, would not hold out my finger tO''-an'
|, ,, here God had pity, and her good angt
u touched her poor stony heart, and in
s moment the tears were raining from ne
e eyes. and she was implOrlng that his lii
{ might be spared. r.-- -- .
/ So she went back, and Madame Cage
: mot being in the way, she went up INT
the room where RaOul still lay sleeping
u She took chair, and sat looking at nj
u moor thin face. until her whole nature wa
. so filled with pity, that she forgot all els
. but sad grief that thy must let him g'
- for there was no mistaking that the sc;
:, of death was upon his face. She had 81
u some time before tie door was pushed
L little way open, and pale faced chill
&c looking nine or ten years old, put In u
:, little head, and then stood staring SILENT
u u at Nannette, who, feeling sure who 81
: was. beckOned her forward. -.
s 81 am your papa's sister," she VIII:
:; pered. "ThOu must love me, my child.
&C And the little one held up its fice, and L
- :, Nannette fold her in her arms.
II aBabette is down stairs" said the chill
,e "Wilt thou fetch her too? She cann'
M walk up stairs, and she will cry withol
il. me.'
n, So Nannette went to the top of the stat
case. and Ma lame Cagot gave into h
" arms the little one. Babette, who SOC
" went to sleep, while Marie, sitting at Ma
n nette's feet, amused herself quietly,
children accustomed to sickness and 81
fering can. Therefore, it happened tn
n when RaOul Vanier opened his eyes, TIN
rested upon Nannette, with his two ch
mr. dren nestled close beside her. He knt
" her in moment-indced, he called n
Iv little changed. But lie could not do mu
nv else than hold her hand in his and G.
Ce down blessings on her head. Twas Ma
ch nette's tears nat flowed.
'ot Towards evening he seemed to gro
~ ~ tstronUer. and they two being alone,
,aS called her to him, and told her that
ct. well knew his days, perhaps his hou
ma were numbered, as the doctor had II
=. him that he could not live through anO
n. er outburst of bleeding flor it was o
AT consumption he was dying), and he wa
ers ed to tell her of things that were upon
pre conscience. Nannette begged he would
he her 90 for priest.
to eyes" he said, "that too. my &C
let- angel, thou shalt do. but first must sp'
md to thee, Nannette :" and then. mada
~ he told piteous tale; how in fore
Va land. away from all he loved, to drown
! OF grief which. after he had put the sea
to tween himself and us, seemed to take r
Zaf session of him. he fell into bad wa
Life The poor woman he afterwards marri
the VS. but little better than the others
to W ham lie was ,urrounded; and, thOr
and both he and she were making W.
rful enough to have been looked upon at y
md as a fortune. they were often in wan
,me food and clothes. He received the lett