The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1876-12-21
The ROcking-StOne Of Tre-
gunc.
Breton Legend.
BY KATHARINE 5 MACQUoID-
CHAPTER I.
ANNIK.

Cbb - MOusro Al buL sue - u
after ALL"
The cat sat still, her black yelve
like coat glistening In the Sunshint
Evidently she did not understand II
proof. At Annik's words she pure
more cOmplacently than ever, with
out even a look at her pretty yOun
mistress. Her green eyes we're fxe
Intently on two large blue-bottls file
hoyering about the exquisiteIy ros
flowers Of 3 great oleander that stoo
in its green box outside the cottag
door.
Annfk shook her head at the cat
and then she crossed one leg over th
other, pulled off her shoe and stock
Ing, and began to examine ber foot
II was a small, well-shsped foot, AM
looked very pretty, just peepIng from
beneath her petticOat but, spite Q
the thickness of her leather shoe, tbi
girl felt that 3 thorn hsd pierced II
and she gave little cry of relief q
she saw one end OF the thorn still pro
ljecting from the skin. The wings o
her snowy cap spread ss she bent for
ward, aud showed glossy dark hal
roiied closely away from her face
her eyes, TOO, we're dark, with lonl
lRshes resting on CHEEKS almost 81
rosy Bs the Olesncer blossom undel
which she sat.
Annik was rs pretty little BretoI
maiden as could bs ssen in Finistere
and her costume was deliclouslJ
quaint. Her greenish blue home
spun apron hid the front of her skirt
OF darker blue, and reached quite tC
the bottom OF it; her charming
winged white cap made exq1isite
/ light and shade on the sweet young
face ; the bodice of her gown wa
/ black, as was also the inner body
which had long sleeves both were
trimmed with black velvet, embroid.
cred In lines of fiame-eolored silk, and
the square opening in front was filled
with futed chemisette, ending in =
J frill of homemade lace round the
slender throat below the chemisette
her bodice was laced across with paiS
blue silk cord.
Something in the girls appearance
seemed out Of keeping with the small
ous-storied cottage, with Its over
hanging oEken beams, in front o.
which she sat, from one Of which
beams over the doorway hung g
bunch Of mistletoe, signifying thai
cider was to be had within. Beyond
the cottage the road went up hill, and
soon the sunshine, instead Of shed.
ding down q folI stream of light, like
that In which the black cat sat purr-
ing, asserted itself only in fiecks and
ehequers OF irregular design. Far
overhead, stretching across the road
from the high bank on either side, as
II to exchange greetings, were huge
spreading chestnut boughs with fans
OF exquisite green leaves. A little
higher up the bank ended on the
same side as the cottage, and q group
Of chestnuts stood on q wide opening
OF still rising ground. Here the light
was yet more brilliant; the dull vel.
low Of the ground between the tree.
trunks seemed paved here and there
with tessere Of gold, where corn had
been threshed In front of the great
stone farmhouse that stood hack
among the trees. Opposite, on the
right, was q tall gray calvary, and the
road, sloping downward from this, led
10 the church.
AnnIk took out the thorn, and jusI
I 1Ac DGkan W hlah hEL
over her pretty foot, a man appeared
at the top Of the road coming from be.
yond the fsFm.house. Tbere had
been no rain for several days, and his
trsad was not heard at that distaucs
on the dusty ground. He came along
with lowering expression Of discon.
tent, swinging bis arm, which held
bis heavy endgel bis large, black,
low crowned hat pulled over his eyes.
All at once he ssw Annik. he
stopped, thrust his empty hand into
his pocket, 6nd gsZsd earnestly for
ward. His wide mouth, open with
surprise, showed q range Of cleaning
wolf-lIke teeth. He repressed the ex.
clamAtion on his tongue, lest hG
should disturb the picture below him,
and stood still gazing.
Annik had left off talking to the
cat she sat leisurely putting on her
shoe, grooming meanwhile q wHiling
ditty, as II the little foot were q baby,
and she were lulling it to sleep.
The mans face meantime hAC
changed strangely. As he came in
sight, you would nave said that love
and Joy could have found no power o.
expression in his features now, as hI
stood gazing. pleasure at leGst shoD'
out Of his eyes, mingled with delight
cd admiration.
BE had been too much absorbed to
heed any sound, but footsteps haC
been for some minutes toiling up the
stony road from the church, and now
the tall, bent figure of a priest, with
his breviary under his arm, and &
small bag In one hand, came behind
ths gaEer. The priest, who was NJ
other than the Cure Of the village
looked intentIy when he saw {
stranger, and then rapidly beyond
him, TO see what had fixed his atten,
ton. The Cure wAz very thin, witt
small, mild blue eyes, but he looked
unhealthy, and the color on his cheet
deepened with vexstion as he fol
lowed the strong dark gaze down bill
and saw on whom II rested. H
went on past the strange man, and
then turned back and looked In hi
facs-only to be seen by n dirsc
front view, for the mans high shirt
collar hid the lower part OF hi
over his eyes and cheeks. The eye
were deep-set and unpleasant in ex
preston. They scanned the prizes
searehingIy then the man pulled OF
bis hat and smiled awkWardly.
"Good morning, father; you hav
forgotten Lao Coatfree, it seems"
J The priest started, and then, Will
he returned the greeting, looked In
teptIy at the hard, determined face
Il was handsome, perhaps, ss regard
ed color snd features, but there wa
no beauty of eXpression-the lowe
nature reigned supreme.
tiIao Is it indeed Lao ?i and the
the Cure stood silent. He looked dis
turbed and hesitatiBg, as il he wishe
to speak, and yet was withheld b
prudence.
Meanwhile Laos eyes had travele
back TO Annlk. He said abruptly
''Father, who is the young girl besid
the cottage? 1 have been away s
long that the young ones have grow
out OF remembrance"
Again the Cure looked dtsturOst
"Yon are not likely TO remember ths
young woman, Lso she is not
Ksrion girl she comes from Aura
Her aunt married the widows
Guerik-you remember him at th
farm bere ?'' He looked back at In
Stons farmhouse. "his second vii
and her neice, Annik, came frol
AurAy; and when the wife died
> year ago, the niece remained wit
Guerik."
Lao shrugged his shoulders, but hi
dark ewes cleaned with curiosity.
81 hone she has enough to kee
her,n be said, carelessly. "Gueril
As I remember him, is not man tbs
would care TO be burdened with
child who is not Of his blood"
The priest was too simple to sc
Laos drift bis cheeks flushed Iii
tie as he answered