Litchfield enquirer., 1873-01-23

waking up and down the green outside and be willingly acceded to Nannette's request. She handed the letter to him, and he read it through, and then said
 ssIt is from Marceps son, Raoul Vanier. He lies at Granville, at the point of death, and implores his father will go to him at once. See, it is but 3 dozen words" But Nannette's whole life seemed gone, and she fell down on the ground like 8 stone. When she came to herself, a crowd had gathered round her, and every one was talking of the wonderful news that Raoul Vanier was alive, and was at Granville, from which place some one had written to say he waslill, and his father must not delay going to see him.
 What was to be done? who should go 1? Marcel, it was certain, could not move.
 ''I shall go," said Nannette, as soon as she could speak, s'and stay until he is we'll enough to bring home.
 As gently as possible she broke this sad news to Marcel, and then she went off to Jeanne Ferouelle, told her that she would return as quickly as possible. She made her few arrangements, thanked Jeanne for the money the good woman made her take with her; and then because there was no diligence until the next Tuesday, set off in country cart, return ing to Poutbert, whence she hoped to fall in with some other conveyance which would take he to or near Granville. Peo- pie said how quietly she took it all, be- cause she could not talk, or think of any, thing but how soon she should reach Granville.
 From Poutbert. a farmer gave her a seat in his cart for some miles. After that she walked, and the next mornings sun was we'll up before she found herself entering the town foot-sore and weary, but pressing on to the direction given in the letter which was to go to the quay and inquire for Agar Cagot's. This she did, and dingy.looking house was point ed out to her, about whose door were clustered 8 number of sailors, and above their heads she read in large, black paint cd letters, ''Ici oa fait lG c,aaudiere."
 Madame Cagot ?" she asked, address ing one of the men.
 "Yes, madame. And he made way for her to pass into the house, where a smell was as if all the bouili in the place was being boiled. It was now that Nannette's courage seemed coming to an end. Her head swam, her heart beat, her knees knocked together. She could hardly find voice enough to say to the woman who came forward
 ''I believe, madame, you have some one lodging here named Raoul Vanier ?"
 Certainly we have. Are you his sis ter. madame? am truly glad you are here, for he is very ill, and the doctor says he can do nothing for him. But you will wish to see him." And she turned, and went through into a passage, and up a low flight of creaking stairs, at the top of which poor Nannette was forced to stop. "Oh Y thought she, ''surely he will be spared. He can never have come back only to die." The woman, who had step ped inside the room. now reappeared, and made sign to Nannette, to come in.
 ''He still sleeps" she whispered, as she stood on one side to let her pass; and in another moment Nannette was again face to face with him whose love she had cher ished though all these long dreary years. Yes, it was indeed Raoul, pinched and haggard, but still the dear face her eyes had so hungered to see. Falling on her knees, she blessed God for letting them meet once again. "He aatu get better" she thought. tI will so tend and watch him. that he must recover. and if he is not strong can work for both;" and her eyes looked with pride on her biz hands, tanned with toll and labor ,-
 ''You'd best have something to eat" said Madame Cagot. ''He won't wake up for hours yet from the doctors draught, and when he does he'll want all your time: for he needs a deal of waiting upon. Come down with me" she urged, seeing hesitate. "I'll take you into my little saloon, and there we can have a chat together. You will like to hear what the doctor says" And she let her into a sort of closet boarded off from the large cooking room. ''There, take that. I see yhu are upset by seeing him so i'll: but it's mercy you have found him alive He had terrible attack yesterday, I should never have consented to having him if I'd known how ill he was; but nv son is on board the Jean Marie-that's the vessel he came in. Twas his father. 1 think, he expected to see
 ''Yes, replied Nanuette; ''but his fa- ther is helpless. and not able to move"
 ''Ah, well. it Is better that you are here 4 woman IS best in sickness, and he wants so much waiting upon. I don't know what l should have done if my niece had not offered to take the children; they are 30 fretful all among strangers. Perhaps they'll be better with you though you're B stranger to them too"
 ''What?" exclaimed Nannette, sharply.
 Didn't he tell you of all his troubles in his letter."
 Nannette shook her head.
 ''I know nothing" she managed to say.
 Madame Cagot's face frightened at the thought of getting the first chance of im- parting melancholy news.
 ''And you do not know then that his poor wife is dead? An! 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. An, what terrible fate!'' And Madsme Ca got stared hard into Nannette's gray, stony face.
 ''1 must 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 best lie down, and be qui- ct little?' ..>
 ''No, no; this trouble is so sudden, shall be better outside" And not wait ing for more argument, she rnshed 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. There was no one in sight among the rocks-the tide had left them black and bare, and down among them sank poor Nannette, with thou sand wild thoughts Burging through her bewildered brain.
 Should she go back to Wire without looking again on the face of him who had proved so cruelty false? Should she go far away from all who knew her and about her? How should she act?
 "Oh, my Godw she cried, "Thou, who knowest my misery, show me what to do; leave me not now that am indeed forsak- en of all others!" And then she laid her poor burning head on the wet sea-weed, and thought of all she had hoped, all she had feared. Many terrible thoughts had often occurred to her, but never aught like this. She would have staked her life against Raoul's love for her. Never had 8 day passed without,her prayers being offer ed up for him for his sake she had let her youth pass, her beauty fade, and all that women hold dear go by; and was this to