Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-07-25

of them, and for the rest if they were
happy and enjoyed themselves, and
could only find money enough to pay
those dreadful war taxes as the time
came round, what did it matter whether
they were rich or poor So Mariette
argued, when sometimes Jean looked
serious and complained of the hardness
of the times. If the sun would shine
always, and Babette be always amusing
and good, they could want nothing
more, Mariette thought.
1t was late in the evening before Jean
returned home, and the first sight of
his wan, white face almost frightened
Mariette out OF her senses. Il. ttt
"What is it?''' she asked. "What
has happened p
cts all over, Mariette. I must go
I am drawn"
"You go-you p echoed the young
wife, care you mad, Jean? Is it
possible that you can get no substitute ?
Jean, answer me, for PHYS sake" as he
still made no reply.
"Yes-yes, if 1 could pay him, there
is joseph, the woodman's son, would
willingly take my place, but"
"But why talk of money, Jean ?
Where is the key of the bureau Don't
delay moment" cried Mariette, ex
citedly.
"The key-oh yes-the key. It
that isl forget"
"No, no Jean, here it is, What are
you thinking of? Here it is round your
neck" ft - IS
But as her fingers touched the key,
Jeans hand grasps hers, and holds it SO
tightly that he hurts her. --r
"Jean, what is it ?' .-. Is
For a second their eyes meet, and
then there crosses the young wife'e
heart such spasm of terror and doubt
that she calls out as if in pain. Jean
drops her hand.
cit is no good looking, Mariette," he
said, after a moments pause, in a
strange hoarse voice. You will find
nothing. The money is-spent.
Mariette could only gaze at him in a
kind of blank stupor." ri uTs
"Spent, Mariette. Do you hear
Do you understand ?" and suddenly
Jean, leaning his head on his hands,
burst into storm of passionate tears.
"God forgive me-" he cried, CT have
robbed the child and ruined us all.
Why don't you speak, Mariette Say
something, if only to reproach me-"
Then Mariette found words-not of
reproach, but of loving wifely counsel
and help. In moment she seemed
transformed. A child no longer, the
old things were put away forever. The
| old spirit of careless happiness, of
blind reliance, was indeed fed, but in
its place nobler spirit had taken up
its abode within her-a spirit that could
suffer and dare and endure. She was
woman at last.
A woman very full of strong earnest
purpose, any one would have said who
saw her the morning after these events,
leaving her house at daybreak, stealing
away from her still sleeping husband,
her child by her side, and on her arm a
basket in which were carefully slowed
away all the small treasures which she
possessed-her cross of Breton work,
her gold earrings, and her silver chain
"Jean, we must find the money"
she had said to her husband the night
before, when he had become calmer.
| Where p Jean had asked drearily.
One hundred, ay, even perhaps two
hundred francs it might be possible yet
to raise upon the farm, he had said af-
ter awhile, but three hundred-no-
there was no help for it, he must go.
For the sake of a hundred francs
No, no, Jean," Mariette had returned
cheerily. 81 will get you that-leave
it to me-"
But, to her CONSERVATION, when all
are disposed of-cross, earrings, chain,
and even her wedding shawl-she is
not yet half way toward the hundred
francs. What can she do? To return
home without the money is impossible
impossible, she repeats, as she walks
YEARLY up and down the one street in
the little market town where she has
taken her wares. She stops opposite O
window that had attracted her more
than once. 1t is that of an artistic en-
cheUeaT. Mariette's hair has always
been considered one of her especial
beauties. Now the thought comes to
her again and again that by it she
might raise the required sum. But
could she possibly bring herself to
make this sacrifice She hesitates
draws back /; it is to save her husband.
She will ~ +
Clasping her child's hand tightly in
hers as if for protection, she enters the
shop, and before the old artistic can ask
her pleasure, lets fall mass of soft
brown silk about her shoulders.
:" What will you give me for it ?" she
asks, with beating heart.
Sixty francs, madame" returns the
old man, after critical inspection. 1t
is the sum she wants.
"Cut it, cut it, and be quick" she
cries, eagerly.
The work of destruction does not take
long. A few moments in the BARRIERS
chair, few clips of the scissors. and
the brown silken glory is lost to Mari
cite forever.
Silently she submitted to the process
with meek patience that had some.
thing of q martyr spirit in it, Babette
in the meantime making delightful
tour of discovery round the room among
the wigs andpomades and paraphernalia
of the BARRIERS art, until all at once the
child catches sight, in a mirror, of hel
mothers altered appearance. She
rushed to her with scream of horror.
" Oh, mamma mamma what has
the wicked man done |" she cried, in
great distress. "He has taken my
mamma away, and left me an ugly-ch
quite an ugly mamma instead"
Then, and then only, Mariette's heart
failed her. The martyr and the heroine
were all forgotten, and the innocent
vanity of the woman's nature rose to
the surface. Her tears fell fast. What
had she lost ? One terrible fear took