Little Falls transcript., 1879-08-07

intercourse with the curate. will have
nothing to do with him" and he contempt
uously knocked the ashes from his cigar.
But he started the next moment as q
shrill cry from woman's voice fell up
on his ear. He turned toward the village
street and saw a young girl Of remark
able beauty rushing out Of house from
whence soldier had just driven COW.
She burst into tears as she turned appeal
ingly to the sergeant, and then as he ans
wered with shrug Of the shoulders, and
an cannot understand your in 6 bad
French came directly to the lieutenant
"Now what's to pay?" t. ought Wendt
in dismay, which rather deepened as he
saw, the bailiff approach him at the same
moment. 80,
"Monsieur, said the latter, eve will en-
deavor to raise two thousand francs.'
81 suppose that will do" replied
Wcndt, happy to have. concluded so dis
agreeable duty, "but hasten about it,
pleased" He turned, very much relieved
at heart, toward the maiden, whose tear
full eyes wele fixed wistfuily on him.
''What can do for you, mademoiselle?"
he asked in a gentle tone, very much
touched by her grief and beauty.
"Oh, monsieur" she cried, her lips
trembling and tears rising anew in her
great brown eyes, "they have taken away
the only COW my poor sick aunt had-it
was all she had. We will die of sta1va-
ton now.''
Wendt cleared his thro&t He despised
this moment from the bottom of his heart
and abhorred the order that made him
appear an unfeeling monster to this poor
girl, for the impression made upon him
by these brown eyes was strange mix
ture of pity and pain. *>'
"Calm@ yourself, mademoiselle," said
lie, kindly, "your aunt will soon have
possession of her cow again; only have
few moments patience and all will he
right"
She breathed long breath of relief.
"Oh, thank you, STRIP she cried, a ith
sparkle in her eyes that lit up her face
like flash Of sunshine.
/ AS she turned and was about to enter
her house, one of the elders stopped her
and said something. She drew back in
dis1nay and shook her head sorrowfully.
Only the word s'impossible!" could the
lieutenant understand.
'That's no NATTER the peasant called
out after her, "every one must do what
they camp
In the meantime the scene around had
greatly changed. The quiet square was
filled with cattle, some jumping about
wildly, some lowing and looking around
upon the strange state Of things Quite
a number Of men and women, old and
young, were before the court house. The
bailif invited the lieutenant to come into
the building and take prominent place
by table in a long hall. The room was
directly filled up by the villagers. One
Of the elders, bowing to Wendt, took a
seat opposite him, unfolded list and
called out the name there recorded:
"Pelissard, the elder-a hundred
francs!'
Pelissard stepped up to the table, an
old man with thin, white hair on the
temples of his small bald head. He
tremblingly united a red cotton handker-
chief and counted in gold. silver and
copper hundred francs. The old man
pushed the money toward the lieutenant,
who sat, both hands on his sword, while
he smoked long and curling wreaths from
his cigar One name follor ed another.
Some with silent resignation, others with
slghs and lamentations counted out their
money, while the pile Of gold, silver and
copper before the officer grew higher
and higher.
Nineteen hundred and ninety francs
had been raised, when "Madame Vivicr,"
the last on the list, was called.
''But Madame Vivier is ill., cried a
woman's voice from the crowd.
"En bien," said the bailif, "but where
is Madelon, her neice!' Then, as no
one answered, he sent woman to bring
Madelon.
Directly the young girl who had ap-
pealed to the lieutenant for her COW en-
tered the crowded room.
"Madame Vivier," repeated the reader,
in monotonous voice, "ten francs.''
"Monsieour Valuse - replied Madelon,
in voice trembling with fearful
ness, my aunt has not SO much as a
centime in the house,
'Oh;' cried woman with coarse
voice in the crowd, II had to give my
last, and now my poor sick daughter can
die for the want of nourishment which
the doctor has ordered.'
eyes, Madelon," said the old reader,
every one is according to their circum-
stances, and it is useless for you to strug-
gle against it. The happiness or misery
of this village depends upon the good will
with which each and every one does his
their part
Madelon's face, from forehead to neck,
flushed scarlet with shame at this open
discussion of her poverty and the doubt
OF her good will to do her part One
minutes hesitation, and she slipped her
trembling hand into her bosom, and drew
forth hair chain, to which was attached
little gold picture, battered and worn,
whose worth could not have reached ten
francs. She loosed it from the chain,
kissed it tenderly, and laid it on the table
near the lieutenant. Her face was pale
as death now, and the great tears were
flowing unchecked.
Wendt, who had gazed upon this scene
In dumb amaZement, rose from his seat
hastily and dccisivcly.
"Halt!'': he cried, while his voice fairly
trembled. s's'Such. sacrifices are not de-
manded!!''~ And then, with the eyes ot
all wondering Frenchmen fixed upon him,
he went around to the other side of the
table and seized the list. ''Pelissard the
elder!' He called out the first name
''Seventy-fve francs!'
The old Pelissard came, pale ais death
and shaking in every limb, to tile table.
MASTER" he cried, raising his trembling
hands, shave pity upon me and my poor
village?"
"No," said the lieutenant, wiping the
,perspiration from his forehead, mo, no.
and he motioned to him with his hand,
mot pay, take seventy five francs out Of
the hundred you have given here
A cry of joyous surprise sounded on
all sides.
''Take five hundred francs, sir" con-
tinued Wendt, turning to the bailiff,
shave your va gon ready and follow me
to Ions .le Snier! You shall receive the