New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-10-24

list to an official and then turned and at
tempted to whisper few words of consola
tion to the terror.stricken girl.
When she had moved away Marianne
holding her pardon in her hand--the certii
cate which would open the prison door be
fore her, drew near the poor girl
Upon Marianne's features was strange
and wonderful light.
"Henriette," she said, "they have Spoken
untruly. 1t is not you who ara going tt
Guvane. but Marianne"
"You!"
Eyes; for here is my pardon. which take
and pass from the prison as Mariana Fro
chard; while /, as Henriette Liegeloi, will
go far from France-far, far away"
'No, no !" cried Henriette, pushing away
the order of release; it would be infamous!
sit would be mercy; for, being par.
doned, l must leave here, where am sc
happy, and go back to my old life, when
probably Jacques would kill me. For me
there is only peace far, far away from my
native home."
"But it would be unjust. have no right
to benefit by your misfortune"
All the other said was but these two
werds-"Blind Louise!'
The other was conquered, and with an
exclamation partly of joy. partly of shame,
she thrust the order of release under her
dress.
"Henriette Liegeloi " here cried the Off
Ger, before whom eleven female convicts
were grouped. "Where is Henrietta Liege-
loi!"
"Here!' said Marianne, calmly.
The Lady Superior uttered a cry.
The self-sacrifcing woman went up to
the good hearted Superior, aud said, LET
me expiate my old sins by restoring one
who has not sinled to the world, that she
may work for her blind sister, and save her
from worse fate than death. You can not
denounce me-you know that l am doing
right"
''It is well. my daughter" said the Lady
Superior. In this act you will find your
reward"
No one spoke; perhaps they were too ter
ribly engaged IN their own wretchedness to
notice what was done for others: and
Marianne calmly joined the rest, so light of
heart that she could have afforded to pity
the grandest lady at court.
An hour after, Henrietta calling herself
Marianne Frochald, had crossed the prison
threshold, and the next moment she was
hurrying to the portico of the Church of st.
Martin.
VILLA FRoCHARD's GARRETT.
Poor Louise procured Jacques and his
mother really good weekly income by her
of wretched garrets, if be excepted mis-
cradle loft opening out of one of these
rooms.
There was scarcely an atom of furniture
in the place, no comfort nothing bright or
homelike-all was utterly wretcned and
deplOrable.
Something moved in corner.
cart awake, creature" asked a sharp,
croaking voice.
eyes, madame; but very weak!'
"Weak!-if thou art not strong enough
to walk and sing thou shouldst not be
strong enough to eat or drink"
"Nor have /, madame, for several days
now"
The reader will have no difficulty in dis
tinguishing these two individuals to be La
Frochard and poor, blind Louise.
She had been crushed at last; even the
hope of finding Henriette could not resist
the i'll usage to which she was subjected
and La Froehard had herself. by her cruelty
stopped the earnings of her poor blind
victim.
Suddenly she began to SILVER, as a step
approached the door.
1t was Jacques.
The poor creature knew that there was
her greatest danger.
She pretended to be asleep.
mother" said he, looking with terrible
meaning at the poor girl lying on the straw;
mo Their, we must get the law on our side
Once let her be my wife, and-a fig for the
rest. A man has right to rule his wife,
and rule will"
"Marianne!' whispered La Frochard.
Dead" he said ''or as. good as dead
and have my own way. Ho! who's there!'
"Pierre," whispered the woman.
The fellow did not seem treasured.
"keep an eye on him, mother! He does
not cay friend to you and me, and I'm
doubtful if he wouldn't help the girl to slip
through our fiugers"
The knife grinder here came meekly into
the room, and offered the worthy couple
civil good morning, that neither returned
He sat down and began munching crust,
but, hungry as he appeared when he began,
he soon threw down the food, as he saw his
mother drag up poor Louise, set her in
chair, and give her some dirty looking de-
coction in a basin, and which was intended
to bring back her voice.
He managed to pass her, under the pre-
tense Of finding file, and he whispered,
Escape tonight from here. The lock of
ycur loft is unscrewed, and key, that will
open the outer door, is under your mattress
in this ROOM"
Her face showed no sign of hearing, and
she replied by no word.
He could not tell whether she had or had
not heard.
"Mother, they are whispering !" muttered
the jealous giant.
The merest intimation from her huge pet
was always enough ior La Froehard.
In a moment she ran at the blind girl and.
despite her entreauies, she dragged her off
the steps to the left. forced the tOttering
girl into the hole, and turned tho key in the
ricketty lock.
Meanwhile, Jacques walked up to Pierre,
and said, Cripple, l warn you once more
that we belong to a killing family! Keep
at arms length from me! Mother, if I'm
wanted, I'm over at the liquor-shop."
He lounged out a great, strong man, of
no use to himself, and a dam ger to society.
"Thou might, at least, respect him, it
thou can not love hiu!" La Frochard said
to Pierre, and looking after Jacques.
He made no reply, but in little time he
rose, and went silently out, leaving the old
crOne alone.
She sat thinking and planning for some
time, and was only shaken from her crouch
ing position by tap at the door.
"WhOs there?"
"Only young girl"
The old woman opened the door eau
tiously.
was only a young girl, dressed very plainly.
whats wanted?"
"You have blind girl here9"
"NO."
eyes; called Louise, who begs under the
portico at st. Martins Church."
By this time she had pushed her way fear
lessly into the room.
"What wretched home for my Louise"
she was thinking, eff she were here!'
"NO; there is no such girl here"
"But YOU have been seen with her!'
an Well-well-did you know herr"
"Know her! We are sistersw