The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-01-31
THE STAIN OF PARENTAGE.

THE STAIN OF PARENTAGE.
In the woods forming what remains
nf the forest Of ArdenneS, about mile
from a small village called Solenthel, a
narrow path leads n q high spot once
occupied hy charroal burners, but now
abandoned. 1t WAS gloomy place.
The ground for about an acre WAS blsck,
where charcoal had been burned and
stored, while . small fringe of green
grass stretched itself forward frnm the
road. and commenced regainIng the lost
ground. In the center was deep hole,
10 be entered only on one side by a path
of narriw dimensions In this was a
small hut, Of wretched aspect, one Of
the millions in France, where glitter
and glory hide misery worse than that
Of Irt,snd in her worst days, where
sound and show conceal from us 1900
600 of paupers. This hut had no win
dow. Ii was curved IN shape and close
lv rvsenlbled q wigwam of the poorest
class. II consisted Of three poles stuck
in the grnund, meeting at the top, these
tied together. and then, Of oourse, thatch
and mud. A hole WAS left IN the top for
the smoke to pass through. The floor
was Of mud. In one corner was pile
of straw, which, with two chairs and
table, formed the whole of the furniture.
Il was occupied by two women and a
larra dog. AT the moment when our
narrative commences only one was at
home. She was about fifty, poorly but
not neanlv clad. She was clean, neat and
tidy. and she pliei her needle with I'M
ceasinG energy. She was sewing for
livelihood.
A sLort distance of, on the edge of
the wood. another woman, or rather
voung girl. dressed IN the same manner,
was picking up wood and LAYING it In an
outSpread cloth on the ground. She, too.
piled her work industriously. for until
sufficient fuel had been collected she
could not cppk their humble dinner.
Presently she seemed satisfied with what
she had done, and Was about to proceed,
when two hoTsemen issued from the
wooi and came along, walking their
horses slowly. Que was young man,
about fiee-and-twentv, rosy-cheeked,
handsome and full Of health the other
was ten wears older, and evidently an
habitue of the boulevards and the cafes
OF Paris. Hrs pale face. made paler by
the thin black mustache and Jet black
hair. his hollow. suuken ewes, spoke of
the man Of late hours and pleasures.
His face vas cold and repulsive, while
that nf the other was open and frank.
What a wretched occupation for so
pretty a Girl. said the young man. nd
ing quickly on. so rs 10 speak first
"suraly. ma chere, Won might pat your
taper finRers ~ better use. Here's
will bnv YOU frewOOd for months.
tnl he cast donble Napoleon at her
feet.
Inc girl raised her angelic face 10 his
sadly, reprnachfully. She was about
eighteen. Her white skin. her blne
ewes. her curly, golden hair, her simple,
child like manner. was something he
had never seen before. Her expression
was timid, and vet proud, and looking
into her eyes, the Young man WAS not
surprised at the reply he receivesl.
Monsieur. / have done nothing 10
gire Won right 10 Insult me. What
you have done NAV have been meant
kindly, but ask aims of no one"
"P4rd1n, ma lem1iselle, exclaimed
the other. confused and stammering.
81 meant no insult. Pardon me, made
moisslle. I pray Won. | thought you
poor. and nv impulse was 10 aid you. "
A n. L e. sk,aaG Huk
kind word have heard these fifteen
years, except frnm NV own mother,
said the Young girl. " But go your way,
or e'se the whole country will shun you
too"
"Begone, wretch r. exclaimed the
other, riding up aud raising his whip
menaringly F; "begone. viper, and dare
not speak to an honest man.
The young man listened in amaze
ment.
"l did not speak to monsieur mon
sieur spoke to me-. " said the girl gently,
with. however, a smile of pity and con-
tempt
"Raise your acrursed lips to me
again, cried the other furiously, "and
l will scourge Won with nv whip
Monsieur in perhaps coward, said
the gentle girl, stung to anger for once,
turning at the same time 10 face his in
sulis
g" What you dare answer me, and he
raised his hand again.
" Nay. Edward, you would not hit
woman?"
"A woman Do vou call Madeleine
de Pierrepont. the child Of the assassin
of nv uncle Dubois, a woman? Say,
rather a fiend," screamed the usually
calm dandy.
Madeleine de Pierrepont, replied
the other, staggering SO that his friend
had To turn his assistance to him.
Madeleine de Pierrepont? And this is
Madeleine de Pierrepontl truly" he
muttered, as he remounted his horse,
" she is not a woman.
The other initiated him. and they rode
off, leaving the young girl to weep alone.
In few minutes, however, she wiped
her ewes, and then, fearful she might
be suspected Of appropriating the gold
piece. she took it up. wrapped it IN a
piece of paper, with the intention of re-
turning it t. its owner. She then lifted
up her bundle and walked slowly to
wards the Int.
"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 Monsieur Dubois, a rich
proprietor, had been intimate friends.
De Pierrppont was comfortably off.
from the fact of his having several oc-
cupations. He was collector of the rent
of a rich member of his noble family;
he was tax-gatherer and adjoint to the
Marie. The Marie was M. Dubois, a
rich man, but somewhat of q miser. It
annnorad that one afternoon DuhoiR