Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-04-07
The Intrepid Mother.
ATraveler,s Tale.

The diligence from Paris to Chalons
stopped one evening, just after dark,
some miles beyond the little town of
Rouviay. to set down an English lady and
her child at a lonely roadside auberge
Mrs Martin expected to find carnage
ready to take her to the Chateau de Sen
art, distance of some leagues, whittier
she was repairing on visit, but was told
that 1t had not yet arrived. The land
lady, tall. coarse looking woman, who
showed her into the vast hall that served
at once as a sitting-room and kitchen,
observed that the roads were so muddy
and difficult at night that there was little
chance of her friend arriving before the
morning. "You had better, therefore,
she said, make up your mind to sleep
here. We have a good room to offer you,
and you will be much more comfortable
between pair of clean, warm sheets
than knocking abount in our rough
country, especially as your dear child
seems sickly."
Mrs, Martain, though much fatigued
by her journey, hesitated. Agood nights
rest was certainly tempting prospect;
but she felt confident that her friends
would not neglect her, that, after mo-
ment, she replied, 81 thank you, mad
anne; will sit up for an hour or so; it is
otlate, and the carriage may come, after
all. Should it not, l shall be glad of
your room, which you may prepare for
me at any rate"
The hostess, who seemed anxious that
her guest should not remain in the great
room, suggested that a fire might be made
above; but Mrs. Martin found herself so
comfortable where she was-a pile of fag-
COTS was blazing on the vast hearth-that
she declined at first to move. Her daugh-
ter about five years of age, soon went to
sleep In her lap, and she herself found that
whilst her ears were anxiously listening
to the carriage. wheels, her eyes accession
ally closed, and slumber began to make it's
insidious approaches.
In order to prevent herself from giving
way, she endeavored to direct her atten-
ton to the objects around her. The apart
ment was vast, aud lighted more by the
glare of the fire than by the dirty candle,
stuck into filthy tin candlestick that
stood on enc of the long tables Two or
three huge beams stretched across half
way up the walls, leaving space filled
with fitting shadows above. From these
depended rusty gun or two, a sword,
several bags, hanks of onions, cooking
utensils, &c. There were very few signs
that the house was much visited, though
pile Of empty wine bottles lay in one
corner. The landlady sat at some distance
from the fireplace with her two sons, who
laid their heads together and talked in
whispers.
Mrs Martin began to feel uneasy. The
idea entered her mind that she had fallen
into resort of robbers; and the words
"C'es'elle," ct is she), which was all she
heard of the whispered conversation, con-
tinued to alarm her. The door leading
into the road was left ajar, and for a
moment she felt an inclination to start up
and escape on foot. But she was far from
any other habitation, and if the people of
the hous really entertained any evil de-
signs. her attempt would only p-ecipitate
the catastrophe. So she resolved on
patience, but listened attentively for the
approach of her friends. All she heard,
however, was the whlstling Of the wind
and the dashing of the rain, which had
begun to fall just after her arrival
About two hours passed in this uncom-
Portable way. At length the door was
thrust open, and man, dripping wet,
came in. She brcathed more freely, for
this new conner might Illustrate the evil
designs of her hosts, if they entertained
any. He was red-haired, jovial-laced
looking man, and inspired her with con-
fidence by the frankness of his manners.
"a fine night for walkingv' cried he,
shaking himself like dog who has
scrambled out of pond. sWhat have
you to give me? ! am wet to the skin.
Hope I disturb nobody. Give me bot
tie of wine.'
The hostess, in surly, sleepy tone,
told her eldest son to serve the gentleman,
and then addressing Mrs. Martin, said
''You see your friends will not come,
and you are keeping us up to no purpose
You had better 90 to bed"
81 will wait little longer was the re-
ply, which elected kind of shrug OF
contempt.
The red-haired man finished off his
bottle Of wine, and then said:
"Show me a room, good woman. ]
shall sleep here tonight"
Mrs. Martin thought that as he pro-
nounced these words he cast protecting
glance towards her, and she felt less re-
pugnance at the idea of passing the night
in that house. When, therefore, the red
-heired man, after polite bow, went up
stairs, she said that as her friends had not
arrived they might as well show her to a
bedroom.
Il thought it would come to that at
last" said the landlady. "Pierre, take
the lady's trunks up stairs
In a few minutes Mrs. Martin found
herself alone in a spacious room, with
large fire burning on the hearth. Her
first care after putting the child to bed
was to examine the door. It closed only
by latch. There was no bolt inside
She looked round for something to bar.
ricade it with, and perceived q chest Of
drawers. Fear gave ner strength. She
lifted, half pushed it against the door
Not content with this, she seized a table
to increase the strength of her defence
The leg was broken, and when she touch
ed it it fell with crash to the floor.
| long echo went sounding THROUGH The