The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1876-12-28
CHAPTER V.
Lao s WOoING.

/ A-- NF-@ eC1A A4NAiEA HSAN1 NOl1 2
back" thought AnnIk. "No one else
can tell me what tO do"
She was sitting Rt the foot OF the
tall gray calvary, beside the church,
not far from the farmhouse but the
large spreading chestnut boughs In
front Of this screened her effectually.
She bid her face In her haEds, though
there was 20 one TO see the warm
blood rush up to her face.
She WAS struggling with q keen dis
like to leave K=rion.
This morning MAthurin had spoken
sterDly to her. He said be was tired
of having her Al the farm he meant
TO arrange 8 marriage for her without
delay.
81 do not wish to marry" the girl
said sDgrily; and then she blushed
At her WOrds, and came out to sit un-
der the calvary.
Since the Cures departure, Lao
COAtfrec had come every day to the
farmhouse, and Annik wondered
whether he was the proposed suitor.
mo one shall choose my husband"
she said sauciIy.
Old Barba had often warned Aanik
that her money was not safe with
Msthurin, but when the girl had con-
suited ber only friend, the Cure, be
bid her be patient,
"YOu cannot 90 out into the world
alone, my child, and you do not wish
to enter convent ; you have no rel
AtlYes, and home you must have
be patient, then, and trust In God"
81 wonder what Monsieur le Cure
will say noW2 l cannot stay here,
and yet il would be easier for q poor
girl TO find a home than for mel
Annik sat now with hands dIscon-
sOlately clssped in her lap.
All at once q shadow came between
her and the light she looked up and
saw Lan Coatfrec.
"Good morning, pretty Annik,"
be said and then, without waiting
for her answer, be seated himself slso
on the steps OF the calvary.
Annik reddeDed this time with
vexation. II Silyestik or any other
Kerion lad spoken to her, they address,
ed her as Msdemoiselle. She thought
Laos easy manner impertinent.
She looked rather naughty, but the
beseeching admiration In her eyes
sOothed her. "After all J" she thought
"the poor fellow can't help liking me.
l need not be cross.n
"Did you always live at Auray before
you came to Kerion ?'' he asked.
"Yes Annik sighed, "my mother
and my aunt and all lived by the
Loeb near Auray. When my mother
died, my aunt married Mathurin
0uerik, and we came to KeriOn." !
"You must find this q Door dull |
place after Aursy," said Lao land q !
pretty maid like you would take |
pleasure in . more lively town even |
than AurAy, fancy. What say you
to Brest ?''
Annik looked up quickly che was
90 preoccupied with ner own plans for |
leaving Kerion, that she failed to un-
derstand Laos drift.
"Brest Is so far of, and it always |
seems TO me that people may loae |
their way in q great city"
Lao laughed gatly.
"My dear little country mouse,n be
said, "Brest could be put in q corner |
Of Paris or even Of Nantes but,
small rs it is, 1t is full Of life +; 1t Is
the sailors home, and you need never
lose your way when you have q
strong arm ready to protect you"
He looked meaningly into her /
eyes, and drew close beside her. But
the familiarity Of his tone had started |
Annik, and when she met bis eyes
anger arose quickly 10 her own.
She looked away, and saw some
one coming up from the fountain be-
yond the church. It was Silvestik,
bearing . large water pitcher; be-
hind him hobbled q bent old man, for
whom he was carrying ii.
Annik nodded to both Of them.
"Good-day, Jean Marie good day,
she said "whAt news Of
your cousin ?''
She felt sure that this advance on
her part would cause the youth to set |
down his pitcher and enter into talk,
thus releasing her from her unwel-
come tete-d-tete but, to her surprise,
Silvestik only bent his head very
and passed en-, leaving her
alone with Lao.
She could hardly keep from crying.
Ever since it had been said that Sill
vestik would soon leave Kerion, An
mix had felt troubled and restless.
he was her Iavorlte among tie youths
Of the village; be was go respectful,
yet so anxious to please her; he was
good-looking, and, above ali, he was
liked by the good Cure. But she was
very angry with him now; be had
looked 80 sheepish, and it VAS clown
ish and ill-mannered to pass on with
out q word.
The color rose in her cheeks, and
she pOutsd to herself. "I have been
very ally to waste 8 thought on Sill
vestik be is foolish fellow" She
turned to Lao with s smile.
''I think"-she spoke as If no inter-
ruptIon had come to their talk, though
she was pinching the tips OF her fin
gers TO keep down vsxation-"I
should like to see q great ci y just for
once. I want to see great churches
and fine shops 4; but to live in . city,
oh, no. Ishould feel like bird in q
cage"
"No one could ever cage you," he |
said softly "you have = spirit, l can
see that, and you will always be q free |
bird you will always be obsyed."
The fattery of his tons was sooth-
ing, but his bold, Rdmiring gaze made
her eyes drOop.
"Women have to obey" said An
mix, laughing, aud she rose up, think
ing she had sat there long enough |
with Lao.
"Yes, yes, my sweet one; but you
would not care to obey q mate like
yon poor frightened fool" he point
ed sitter Silvestik. t'My faith, q
maid will have to ask that lad to
wed he il too much q coward to 60
a-wooing.n
He burst into q loud laugh. Annik /
REDEEMED and felt guilty she had
known Sllvestik much longer than |
she had known this new scQuaint-
ance why should she join In ridi- /
culiBg her old friend And yet she
felt sore and angry with Silsestik for
bis avoidance, and Ii was soothing to
feel that Lao liked to talk to her.
"Well, must 20 home. JEFF will
be wanting me. Good day, Monsieur
Coatfrec /; perhaps some day I may 60 |
to Brest"
She nodded gaIly.
She looked very charmieg - she |
ran away under the spTeading chest
nut trees, Lao watched her till she |
through the round-head- |
ed doorway Of the farm house, and |
then he sWore aloud
~ will have that little girl she
pIssses me. But / have Learned
Bome<hing Aitting here this morning
and y,atchinE her tell-tale cheeks
Guerk is q fool be does not see that
che can be hamored into anything
through her vanity but she won't
stand driving. She has = temper
what . rage she got in when that dolt
Kergroes passed her by without speak
ing. Thought the tout cared for her
I naa mnn rninA.Enn wall mat