The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-08-16

oienei w cry OUT OF TO run away. Inc Two
flaming eyes-for such they were came
nearer. She felt as if they drew Der irresisti-
bly, towards them. Then she saw dark shad-
owy things like great, hideous, rough dogs
Labrie leaped gallantly on one of the creatures
the other sprang upon Armelle. She felt
suffocated q hot fiery breath was on her
| cheek. She had a dim consciousness of a
struggle around her, and then all was darkness
When she came to herself, the farm servants
holding torches, were kneeling beside her. On
the snow was a pool of blood; beside it dead
wolf. " Hush !" said Marthe, as she tried to
speak; "you shall hear everything presently"
She was taken into the great hall at the farm
There sat Aubn, pale as death, leaning his
head on the table; beside him stood Yves, his
hand bleeding and his forehead bound with a
handkerchief.
Oh" cried Armelle, d" wi hat has happened p
1t was a wolf; two wolves rathern answer
ed Yves shortly.
You were all but devoured by one," added
his mother.
And Yves saved my life 7"
II only killed the wolf"
The wolf that was going to kill met"
Well, and if did save your life, what
would that prove 3"
She went up to him, and said, in a voice
thrilling with emotion: 1t would prove that
you have tiny bit of love for your little sis
ter. No one can give more than his life for
any one"
81 don't know" said Yves brusquely. al
think plenty of people give their lives OF their
deaths, if you like, easily enough, from love,
or hatred, or whim, or because they are fools
but to sacrifice ones life, ones whole life, day
by day, hour by hour, that's different"
1t is much sweetcr," said Armelle.
Now, look here; if you knew that you
could save Daniel from sin or damnation
by throwing yourself into the flames or under
a mill-wbeel, would you not do it 7"
80, yes"
But would you consent to live with him
close to him-always; to see him Jealous of
your services, of your lover Would you agree
to let him tyrannise over you, when all the
while there was a peaceful, happy life ready
for you elsewhere 7"
-" Yes, Yves; l would"
Why, it would be hell I"
mo; q martyrdom."
But without any one to force you to it ~
"There is duty, Yves"
"And would you sacrifice everything to
duty'"
Everything. But" she said, after pause,
"your hand is not properly bound up the
blood is coming through the linen. Yves, let
me see to it," And she gently undid the hand
kerchief, bathed and dressed the gaping wound,
with q light, tender hand. "You will not
hate me any more, will you Z" she asked, win
ningly.
"Do you love me, then ~
"Certainly do"
81 know what that means-iust nothingu
Then, all at once, he broke ont passionately:
And have 1 not reason to hate your You
have taken from me my place in the house;
you are slowly stealing away what little love
my mother has left for me you are robbing
me of my brthright!"
BE SILENT" said Aubin. a. will neither
havc you ask her whether she loves you, nor
say that yeu hate her"
Angry words were rapidly exchanged, and
Armelle with difficulty quoted the brothers
Soon after Aubin went out, and when the far
mer and his wife returned Yves and their
adopted daughter were talking together hap
PLY enough
From the day when the straw cutters daugh-
ter had stood up so bravely in Maclou's de-
u.
When his parents adopted her, this dislike be-
cao'cy positive hatred. But gradually another
feeling came; can scarcely say to replace the
other; for even the love which he was begin
ming to cherish for Armelle was SO strange SO
vehement, so absolutely without any softening
influence, that it seemed still to retain some of
the elements of the old hatred. AS to the
simple, happy child herself, she guessed moth
ing of all this, but went on quietly feeding her
sheep, singing her songs, and reading the
stories of st. Genevieve and Jeanne dare.
When tho Able Kerdrec spoke of her to Jean
and Marthe, he called her his "saintly little
shepherdess." I
The long evenings had begun the women
knitted or shelled peas. Loc, the bell-ringer
the musician of the village, brought his Jinion
and played sad or merry tunes, or told stories
of ghosts aud loWps-garour that made ones hair
stand on end. He delighted in giving his au-
dience fright, and seeing how close the girls
kept together when the time came to separate.