The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-04-13

and ball of iron made fast to his legs and
when he was taken to his work he was
forced to wear this ball and chain.
Victor Lacour was then five -and-twenty
years of age, and had been sentenced for
ten years. He was tall and strong, and
handsome, and all up and down the valleys
and hillsides of the Lower Alps there was
deep grief on his account.
Not quite five months had Victor spent
in his cruel condition in the galleys when
he managed to make his escape. He lurk-
ed in the house of IA true friend in Toulon
three nights and three days, and then un-
der cover of darkness, III disguise, and with
false pass, he left the city and fled to the
northward, aiming for Switzerland. The
second night from Toulon brought him to
a little hamlet III a retired vale, close by
Castelane. 1t was very neal the breaking
of day when lie appeared at the door of an
isolated cot for succor. He was admitted
by the master, " hose wife was soon up and
dressed.
al am an unfortunate man," he said,
''1eeing from a great danger. l have no
money, but if you will give crust of
bread and a cup of water, and shelter for
the hours of daylight, l will bless you.''
The peasant and his wife offered him all
they could give. They were willing to give
him protection without asking further
questions, and as for food it must be a
simple crust, since they had no more for
themselves.
lot, ,,f., i,,lx- hot
and his wife were in deep distress. Their
dropping, lusterless eyes, and wan, tired
faces, showed that they had not slept
through :he night, and when, a little later,
the chidren-five of them-:he oldest, a
boy of twelve or fourteen and the youn gest
just able to stand alone-when these came
i'll from their sleeping coop, Victor dscov-
cred what was the matter. The mother
shed tears when she saw her children, and
the oldest boy kissed her, and told her not
to grieve he was growing stronger and
stronger, and would work for her.
''Do not let our misery add to your dis
tress,' said the peasant, when Victor had
asked for an explanation. Suffering is our
lot, and we can better afford 10 suffer wrong
than do wrong. You behold my family in
the old home for the last time. For fifteen
years my wife and have lived here. We
took .he place when we were married, and
have never failed to pay the rent until now; /;
out this year we arc unfortunate. Last
season our crops failed and every sou that
we could raise has gone for food. Our rent
is not high, but were it no. more than ten
francs, ! could not pay it. We have sold
everything we had to sell-all our trinkets
all our best clothing-have sold them for
bread. All, Nanette, weep not. God will
provide in some way. See-our Victor is
not cast down.
''Victor ~ cried the convict.
$50 we call our eldest boy, good sir. 1t
is a brave name, and brave lad wears it,
'My name is Victor, too. Tell me, sir,
how. much do you owe for rent ?''
''For the whole year, sir, eighty francs.
So much pay in money, and for the rest,
work at cutting wood. The work 1 have
done but the money ] cannot pay. Our
landlord has left us off month after month,
and now he is offered more rent than we
pay by man who has the money"
"But if you had the money the eighty
francs-the owner would let you stay ?'
''Ies, sir. We have beeu here SO long.
He is a stern man, but just"
Victor Lacour reflected. lie could not
bear to see suffering which he had power
to relieve. He was fleeing for liberty but
what would liberty be to him with the
weight of this poor family's sore distress
upon his conscience? How could he ever
enjoy freedom which he had secured at
the expense of the peace and comfort of
this devoted father aud mother and their
helpless little ones ?-for so he put it to
himself. If he had the opportunity. and
exercised it not, the blame would.be bis.
"My good man. he said, "cheer up and
take courage. l am Victor Lacour. l es-
capped from the galleys less than week
ago. reward of one hundred fraucs has
been offered fur my apprehension. l will
gowith you to Castelane, where you will
deliver me up to the sub prefect and he
will have to pay you one hundred francs.
That will be grand. You will have eighty
francs for your landlord, and twenty will be
left to buy you bread. Do you see? We
will set forth at once, for you must be here
with the money when the owner comes.''
The peasant and his wife gazed upon
their guest with Mortified look.
"Grand dteu i'' cried the husband
"Deliver up Victor Lacour? l will die
first Ask my wife"
''No, no." exclaimed the woman, with
equal warmth ''dont ask me. We will
both die first. We cannot do so base
thing
But Victor Lacour was determined.
''See here he said, with look and tone
that made the poor people trenble-''if you
do not take me to the sub-prefect l will go
myself. swear to you that will not give