The Morning herald., 1876-08-15
hE TWO ORPHANS.
EpEpTHs CF A SISTERS LOVE
. thrilling story Of Partisan Life.
CHAPTER XXIX, CONTINUED.

CHAPTER xxx, CONTINUED.
.ocond time | owe my life to you,"
IIenrette, in voice choking with
M ,0''' not to me-" replied De
drew l unwilling to receive any praise
,h,i %a,i he m had done. ''Thank Picard,
y w who's. selfish bravery left me to de-
The of a passage where there were no
while he stormed the front Of the cas-
Your cries for help guided me to the
ne" :, ,,1
Louise, my darling sister," said Hen
tp, taking her by the hand and Leading
f,rward, "thank your preserver"
The blind girls eyes filled with tears, as
suing her hands, and tuning her slight
orts towards where De Vaudrey STOOD
said, in a trembling voice, which car
greater meaning with it than words
ud:
"Ah, monsieur, you do not know from
at a frightful fate you have saved u.s."
While this conversation was going on, all
|es were turned towards the tive orphans
u Mother Frochare was unnoticed.
This was her opportunity, and she re-
wed to embrace it, :,
She had no wish to taste the reward
Aich Justice had in store for her, and she
aved to escape.
Sealing cautiously past the soldiers, she
a reached the door in safety.
F In another moment she would have been
|ee but there was one in the room who
|ad counted on taking this same Mother
Frochard 1nder his care, and that one was
Picard.
!.Ithough hi attention had been diver
|ea from her for moment, his eyes sought
|he place again where she was last stand
|rs and to his surprise, she was not there;
4 rapid glance around the SOON showed
|he old woman in the act Of opening the
Foor and in an instant Picard's hand was
[n her shoulder.
"Oh, no YOU don't, old LADY,! he ex-
claimed, as lie obliged her to come back !;
'yo1 must not run away from your dutlfu!
son because he is in a little trouble. He'll
need your motherly care now, more than
eyer.o
Seeing that escape was impossible, and
for her many sins near at hand,
The old hag bioke down most pitiably, and
in most serrowful voice, whined:
"i'm only oor old woman. / don't
know anything about their evil ways"
But the appeal was lost on all save poo!
Pierre, who stood bending over his wheel
in an attitude of deepest grief. As his
mother spoke, he held out his hands to hel
as though he would bear her troubles, as
he nad borne his own uncomplainingly.,
'Picard,' said the chevalier, take
charge of this worthy couple, mother and
son. My uncle, the count, will see to thel'
punishment. Off with them"
Authority was sweet to Picard, and NJ
made the most of it. Turning to the
guards, he said, in a most pompous man
her
",Take that male, aud likewise that fe
Ma!e william, to the prison Of La Roque'te
There TO await the justice of our Lord, tn
king"
The guards closed around the prisoners
and were about to march them oil, whe'
Tie old woman, with q whine that wa
more natural than her habitual one, AM
with the tears rolling down her villaneou
lace, said:
,,"l Please, good gentlemen, I am only
poor old woman"
She had forgotten the many prayers TO
mercy that had been made to her by tn
poor blind girl, and which she had an
S~ered only with curses Oh blows. AS sh
Aai sown 70 she must reap; but in Tn
1'mc Of her sowing she had forgotten tn
nasvest that she surely must gather, am
'he who had shown no mercy when sIi
would ruin body and souid, now praye
for mercy.
10 jacques brutal nature such signs {
weakness were disgusting, and ill-bchttip
rrochard. He turned upon her with
savage look.
r., stop your whiningw he said, coarsely
Remember that you are Frochard."
This appeal seemed to find respons
IN The old woman's heart. Perhaps sh
remembered that when her husband wa
led to the scatiold, not word of fear e'
capped him; but he met his doom wit
curses Gu upon his lips, until they wer
Aushed she by death.
Without another word, La Frochar
,orned to go, and as he passed Pierre b
held out his hands imploringly, and in
most plteous voice, said:
Jacques, mother, one word before 70
:, Ills mother, did not notice this appea
III aler motherly instincts were long since drie
up In her bosom, and she did not deign
0eS,ow one glance upon him.
But jacques favored him with savae
10Ok, az exclimed savagely: ..5