The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-01-17

muttered, as he remounted his horse,
"she is not woman"
The other initiated him, and they rode
off, leaving the young girl to weep alone.
In few minutes, however, she wiped
her eyes, and then, fearful she might
be suspected of appropriating the gold
piece, she took it up, wrapped it in q
piece of paper, with the intention of re.
turning it to its owner. She then lifted
up her bundle and walked slowly to.
wards the hut.
| "Tell me the story OF this girl" said
the young man, gravely.
The other told it Fifteen years
before, the father of Madeleine de Pier.
repont and q Monsieur Dubois, a rich
! proprietor, had been intimate friends.
De Pierrepont was comfortably off,
from the fact of his having several oc-
equations. He was collector of the rent
! of a rich member of his noble family;
he was tax-gatherer and adjoint to the
Mare. The Maire was NJ. Dubois, O
rich man, but somewhat of q miser. Tt
appeared that one afternoon Dubois
asked Pierrepont to walk over to small
town at some distance to receive with
him large remittance, with which he
|
on public works, and other expenses in
Cured in the building of church and
| schoolroom. Dubois felt safer with a
companion. 1t was afterwards proved that
they received the money, dined togeth-
Ell at the Soleil dor, drank rather more
than they were used to, and then, de-
spite every representation, set out to
walk home, though De Pierrepont
wished to hire gig. Next morning the
body of Dubois was found about hun
dred yards beyond the house of De
Pierrepont, which was at the foot of a
hill that led up to the village. All his
money was gone as well as his watch and
rings.
ga search took place instantly and De
Pierrepont as his companion, was visited
by the police agent. De Pierrepont de.
| posed that Dubois, on reaching his
house, bade him go in. for that he could
go the hill safely alone but still he re-
quested him to eep bag Of 1000
francs i'll silver, because it was so heavy,
until the morning. This 1000 francs
he gave up to the police. Of 10000
francs in notes he solemnly declared he
knew nothing. On this he was arrested
rs the assassin, tried, found guilty and
sent to the galleys for life. His wife
solemnly declared that she heard Dubois
wish her husband goodnight, and say,
laughingly "I'll send cart for the
silver in the morning" But instead Of
ben etiting him in the eyes of the world
she became his accomplice. To avoid
being hooted at in the streets, she left
the village, and every penny being spent
ere her husbands trial was over, she OBJ
tanned reluctant permission to dwell in
the charcoal-burners' deserted hut. But
all stunned her and her child as they
| would lepers, and to live she was obliged
to walk nine miles in search of work of
the coarsest description. Leave he
country she would not, because she was
born there, and she felt convinced that
her husband would be ultimately par
doned."
"And you join, Edward, in the in
famous persecution. Supposing the
father guilty (Which to me is not clearly
proved-and you know am lawyer),
why should this poor child suffer for
the sins of her father? Why, the saw
ages Of North America, where 1 have
just come from, are more civilized than
you. see in this heroic couple subjects
OF wonder and admiration. but not of
hate. Poor creatures Fifteen years
of misery have not satisfied you all, but
you must still treat them as outcasts."
"My dear Arthur you have just come
from America, where it appears to me
you pick up very singular notions. For
my part the wife and daughter of an
assassin, and the assassin of my uncle,
are detestable wretches whom 1 must
hate" said the other in his usual cool
way. His fit of anger was passed.
"Iniustice, infamous injustice L
think see her meek face now, looking
at me 80 proudly and yet so sweetly. [
never saw anything so lovely in my iife."
"Why, the mans in love % exclaimed
Edward Dubois, the heir to the mur-
dered mans property.
"Half and what's more, Edward, do
you know I'd marry that girl tomorrow
if she'd have me, but know she would
not"
"By my faith," said Edward, "you
amaze me AM I am not easily amazed.
OF course you are joking"
"Time will show. But now, my dear
follow, adieu you follow that path in
search of pleasure, this on business"
Adleu, a denlaiR."
eyes. You breakfast with me at the
little inn, you know"
"Agreed, my philosopher. Adieu.''
And Edward Dubois galloped down a
narrow path leading to the chateau of O
certain Count de Jesson, who that day
gave grand dinner and evening party.
AS soon as Arthur saw that he was out of
sight he turned his horses step and gal.
loped hard toward the charcoal-burner's
hut.
When Madeleine returned to the hut
and began making a fire, she told her
mother what had passed and showed her
the gold piece. They were used to this
kind of treatment, and the mother did
not feel it much now. The scorn of fif-
teen years had made her despise the
world. But Madeleine seemed hurt.
"I do not care" she exclaimed aloud,
at last, Z" for what young Monster Du-
bois said: but l am vexed that the good
looking stranger should have said that I
was not woman"
"You are not woman, but an angel" A"
exclaimed Arthur, solemnly. He had
approached on foot and had heard a por-
tiot of their conversation.
The mother and daughter stood still
in dumb amazement.
"You seem surprised, madam" said
the young man, addressing the mother.
"You will be still more SO when I add
that have returned with the deliberate
intention of imploring you to give me
your daughters hand in marriage: not