Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-01-16

ana tnon BhrDh saw tnht IL was Louis mellhC,
What could he want2 Surely he would moi
ask for his rent week before it was due-hC
a rich man too, about the most prosperous
farmer in the neighborhood. No blight
struck his buckwheat, no rain fell while his
grass was gathered in, and so far the evil eye
had not brought disease on his cattle He
was the fortunate man in the lonely village
and If she had not dreaded the coming rent
day, she would have looked ON his visit as an
honor to be proud Of. She smiled as she re-
turned his greeting and asked him to be
seated.
Mellac placed himself on the opposite set
tie, and then looked round with searching
glances into the dark corners Of the room far.
thest from the hearth.
"Where is Marie 2" he said in a low voice.
"She is with her COW she loves the poor
beast and is never tired Of caring for it. She
has been out to get fresh green food for the
creature"
"She looks sad" said Mellac, fixing his
eyes on the mothers face
Barba felt troubled. SO far she had re-
fused any sympathy that had been offered 10y
the neighbors. She said it was too soon TO
form doubts and conjectures. Jehan Ker-
rec would come back all in good time. and
then the wedding would take place. SO now
she looked stolidly at Monsieur Melac, and
answered indiferently, "Do you think so,
neighbor 2"
Melac smiled He looked round the cot
tage again, and then ho crossed over, and
placed himself by Bnrbas side.
Barba's face showed no surprise, but she
kept her eyes fixed on her visitor.
''You are clever woman" he said, speak
ing low, ''and you are good mother, Iarba
Gourin, but there is such thing rs being
olavar lpoHipar Vpnrcah xyill apnfhar gp
tage, for instance, which you do not mean to
live in, and the rent of which you will find
hard to pay" lie stopped and looked at her
triumphantly.
Barba's face was as stolid as ever Il do
not understand you, she said. Il took the
cottage for Jehan Kerrec he is coming home
to marry my daughter"
Mellac's eyes sparkled.
I'VE are alone, " he said, ''and il you speak
low, no one can overhear us. Why do you
persist in this deception TO mel know that
you do it publicly, because you are a good
mother, anxious TO save her child's good
name, but for all that you need not have
taken the cottage"
Barba's blue eyes grew rounder. but she
showed no other surprise
You are mistaken, ueighbor. Jehan Ker-
rec wished the cottage to be ready against the
time when he should come back to marry
Marie
The farmer started up with an oath. He
placed himself in front Of Barba, and bent
down 80 that he could speak IN her ear
Listen" he said, II know the truth. The
night before Jehan Kerroc started for Doua-
menez, was on the heath near the ruined
abbey, and | SAW him with your daughter
Though it was late, she WAS alone with him,
Barba Gourn. and he parted from her in an
ger. Now, if a girl walks alone with a man,
and he afterward deserts her, it is plain that
lie is tired of her, that he filings her OF, and
that is why eay that you are a clever wo-
man to have kept the matter no close, aud to
have made all the village believe that Jehan
meant to come back to marry your daughter.
Yes. you are clever, but you did too much
when you took the cottage for year"
Barba had sat still as tho oak settle. She
felt stupefed. She knew Marie had gone
out early to say farewell to Jehan the morn.
ing he went away, but the girl had begged
her mother not to accompany her, and Bar
ba had not seen the parting. She had never
questioned Marie about her quarrel with her
lover, and though she sought for him that
night she did not find him. She had receiv-
ed his instructions, written on a slip of pa
per, which he left in charge Of his blind un-
Gle.
lhoubnt phSstu very SLOWLY through the
brain Of Barba GOurin, but as she sat now
stunned by the charge brought against her
daughter, she remembered the bill of writ
ing, aud she saw what a powerful witness it
was to the truth of the proposed marriage.
She looked up at the farmer, and the stead
fast light in her eyes gave him some alarm.
He had thought his charge would have over
whelmed her
''You are mistaken, Monsieur Mellac," she
said. Marie aud Jehan Kerrec saw one an
other the morning he went away, and they
parted good friends. and besides he left me a
paper Of instructions about the cottage and
other things"
A deep flush spread over the farmers broad
face. Barba saw the eager interest in his
eyes but she never could entertain two
thoughts at once, and she was so bent on
proving herself in the right that she had no
room for an idea Of suspicion.
"Oh, he said, "is that sol" He looked
keenly at her, but Barba showed no emotion.
at is another pious deception to save your
daughters credit OF course you will not
object to show me the paper you say Jehan
Kerrec wrote for you. II you have that you
are not my tenant. 1t will prove that he in
structed you 10 take the cottage in his name
Barba saw this more quickly than usual. She
went so far as TO wonder that she had not
taken comfort in this proof of Jehsns re-
sponsiblity.
81 will show it to you" she said, and cross.
ing over, she opened the door of n tall dark
wooden press, and then drawer inside it.
She came back to the farmer with a slip of
paper and put it in his hand.
Louis Mellac bent his head and tried 10
read it. Your room is dark" he said, "and
the writing is bad / cannot make it out"
And, indeed, the room was dark There
was only one small window, and the light
that came through the small aperture between
the low, round-headed doorway. and the half
door. And now the evening had closed in.
Barba took up log and struck the wood
on the hearth till it suddenly blazed, and
shower of sparks flew upward.
II thank you," Mellao said, and he bent
low over the flame and read the paper, NUT
tering the words as he did So
Holy Virgin!" he suddenly exclaimed,
II am unlucky, and plunged his hand seem
ingly into the fire his back was towards
Barba, and for a moment she stood still, not
what had happened. Great heav-
ems - said Mellac, "the paper has fallen into
the fire. Do you set much store by it 2"
He turned and looked at her. Barba push
ed forward and bent closely over the flame,
but the paper had shrivelled into a black
WIN ~ hNig ShBps tDAiA ihot
in her hand between the burning logs and
seized it, but it crumbled between her fin
gers.
''It is not Of much consequence" said Mel
lac in questioning voice.
Barba had recovered her usual calm. "No,"
she said, lit matters little, because you have
seen it, and you know that it is Jehan Kerrec
you have to look to for the payment of your
rent 1t was on account of you kept the pa
per. It has made you see plainly that Jehan
is coming home to marry Marie"
Her blue eyes grew round again as she
ooked at him, for Louis Melac stood shak-
ng his head, and his face was utterly incred-
llous. NO" he said, in answer to her stare
IF surprise II prefer 10 believe what l saw
hat night; what proof have that the paper
you showed me was really in Kerrec's hand
EritingH What do know? It is possible
hat he does not even know how to write"
At this the stOlid Barba reused, and looked