River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-02-07
THE STAIN OF PARENTAGE,

Der bloom content.
THE STAIN OF PARENTAGE,
In the woods forming what remains of
the forest OF Ardennes, about mile from
a small village called Solenthel, narrow
path leads to high spot once occupied
by charcoal burners, but now abandoned.
1t was a gloomy place. The ground for
about an acre was black where charcoal
had been burned and stored, while a
small fringe Of green grass stretched itself
forward from the road, and commenced
regaining the lost ground. In the centre
was a'deep hole,to be entered only one side
by narrow dimensions In this was
small hut. of wretched aspect, one of the
millions in France, where glitter and glory
hide misery worse than that OF Ireland
in her worst DAYS, where sound and show
conceal from us 100000 of paupers.
This hut had no window. It was curved
in shape and closely resembled wigwam
Of the poorest class. 1t consisted of
three poles stuck in the ground, meeting
at the top, these tied together, and then,
of course thatch and mud. A hole was
left in the top, for the smoke to TO pass
through. The floor was of mud. In one
corner was pile of straw, which, with
two chairs and a table, formed the whole
of the furniture. 1t was occupied by two
women and a large dog. At the moment
when our narrative commences one only
was at home She was about fifty, poorly
but not meanly clad. She was clean,
neat and tidy, and she piled her needle
with unceasing energy She was sewing
for llveliehood.
A short distance off, on the edge OF the
wood, another woman, or rather young
girl, dressed in the same manner, was
picking up wood and laying it in an out
spread cloth on the ground. She, too,
piled her work industriously, for until
sufficient fuel had been collected she
could not cook her humble dinner Pres
emily she seemed satisfied with what she
had done, and was about to proceed, when
two horsemen issued from the wood and
came along, walking their horses slowly.
One was a young man, about tive-and-
twenty, rosy-cheeked, handsome and full
of health the other was ten years older,
and evidently an habitue of the boule
wards and the cafes of Paris. His pale
face, made palcr by a thin black mus
tache and Jet black hair, his hollow, sun
ken eyes spoke of the man of late hours
and pleasures His face was cold and re-
pulsive. while that of the other was open
and frank.
"What wrctched occupation for so pref
ty a girl" said the young man, riding
quickly on, so as to speak first; surely,
ma chere, you might put your taper fin
gers to better use. Here's will buy you
4.xoo,ooJ f,r he
And he cast double Napoleon at her
feet
The girl raised her angelic face TO his
sadly, reproachfully. She was about
eighteen. Her white skin, her blue eyes,
her curly golden hair, her simple, child
like manner, was something he had never
seen before. Her expression was timld
and vet proud, and looking into her eyes,
the young man was not surprised at the
reply he received.
Monsieur, | have done nothing 10 give
you a right to insult me. What you have
done may have been meant kindly, bat j
ask aims of no one"
pardon, NE mademoiselle, exclaim-
cd the other, confused and stammering.
" I meant no insult. Pardon me, made
moisellc pray you. | the ought you
poor, and my impulse was TO aid you"
"Thank YOU monsieur for the first kind
word have heard these fifteen years,
except from my own mother" said the
Young girl. But go your way, or else
the whole country will shun you too"
"Begone wretch !" exclaimed the other,
riding up and raising his whip menacing
ly; Z" begone, viper, and dare not not
speak to an honest man."
The young man listened in amazement.
II did not speak TO monsieur; monsieur
spoke to me" said the girl gently, With,
however, smile of pity and contempt
"Raise your accursed lips to me again,
cried the other furiously, sand ! will
scourge you with my whip
Monsieur is perhaps a coward said
the gentle girl, stung to anger for once,
turning at the same time to face his in
suits.
.sWhat you dare answer me-" and he
raised his hand again.
may, Edward, you would not hit
woman2"
"a woman! Do you call Madeleine de
Pierrepopt. the child of the assassin ofmy
uncle Dubois, a womanl Say, rather
tieud. . screamed the usually calm dandy
Madeleine de Pierepont," replied the
other, staggering so that bis friend had to
turn his assistance to him. madeleine
de Pierrepont2 And this is Madeleine Gle
Pierrepont! Truly" he muttered, as he
remounted his horse, ''she is not woman"
The other initiated him, and they rode
off. leaving the Young girl to weap alone
In a few minutes, however, she wiped her
II Il @la% ba sryiEt hp
suspected of appropriating the gold piece,
she took it MP, wrapped It III piece
of paper, with the intention OF return
inc IT to It's owner. She then lifted up
her bundle and walked slowly towards
the hut.
"Tell me the story of this girl, said
the Young man gravely.
The other tod it: Fifteen years be-
fore the father of Madeline de Pierrepont
and q Monsieur Dubois, itch proprietor,
had been intimate friends. DE Pierrepont
was comfortably of. from the fact of his
havinr several occupations. He was col
Iector Of rent Of rich member OF his
roval family; he was tax gathcrer and
rd;oiHt TO the Maire. The Na(Tg as Nj.
DTbois, rich man, but somewhat OF
miser. 1t appeared that one afternoon
Dubois asked Pierrepont to walk over TO
small town at some distance 10 receive
with him large remittance, with which
he had to pay a body of workmen en-
ployed on public works, and other expens-
Is incurred in the building Of a church
and schoolroom. Dubois felt safer with
companion.
II was afterwards proved that they re-