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

! 70 nlb DtlONtu huu ub hhu bonub hDGNiul
words to speak this evening.
Marie heard his heavy footsteps as he
plunged over the waste ground beyond the
rocks, but she walked steadily on without so
much as turning her head which she carried
more erect than usual.
MARIE" Jehan gasped as he reached her
side.
She gave him quiet glance, but he saw
that she pouted and frowned.
"Where have you left my mother, Jehan
will go and find her"
But Jehan placed himself in her way as she
| turned back
"What is it, Marie, why do you run away
from me. are you vexed2" but he spoke
firmly, not as if he had caused her vexation
Eyes, am vexed," bright tears sprang TO
her eyes, land no wonder. l am not COW
or a sheep Monsieur Jehan Kerrec, though
| you seem to think | am. Suppose l say,
when l see you come home from the fishing,
that l am not so ready to marry you as you
seem to think-that l will not give up my
freedom-how then :"
He caught at both her hands and held
them fast, though she tried hard to pull them
away.
Marie" he said in a tender, stealing
voice. that seemed hardly TO belong to his
| powerful body, you are not in earnest, tell
me you are not angry with me, sweet one"
Marie was still pouting with vexaton. At
| first it had been as Jehan said. She had af-
fected anger for the dear delight of teasing
her lover, and that he might coax her into
sweetness. Jehan's masterful manner, and
as she secretly called it, his ''audacious secu-
rity' of her love had really alarmed her
| pride, aud had reused the half-savage mod
| esty of her nature"
Let me CO." she said, struggling, her face
reddening with her efforts. II do not want
| you at all.
But Jehan still held her fast, and his eyes
burned with somewhat fiery light.
II will let you go in a moment" he said,
SO firmly aud quietly that the girl stood still
and looked at him in surprise "but first
want to know this-do you love me, Marie,
or do you refuse to be my wife when | come
| home at Chrstmas-tide p
Marie looked cross. "You are tresome,"
she said. ~ told you just now am not in
haste to marry | ain gay and happy and
free. don't want to change my state too
soon"
He dropped her hands suddenly. Good
bye Marie he said in n hOarse, choked
voice that struck sharply into the girls heart.
IAN this time l thought you loved me-oh
why" he said bitterly, did you not say all
this sooner!"
Marie hung her head Jehan waited then,
finding she did not speak, lie went on. ~
did not say why l spoke ont SO suddenly to
your mother. l shrank from painng you,
for was not sure of your love, though you
have promised to be my wife. Holy Virgin
| was deceived. / need not have spared
your feelings He waited again, but Marie
was silent, and she stood with her head
turned from him. Jehan went on. Il want
ed to say goodbye, Marie, for l must start
for the fishing tomorrow"
There was still no answer. He said the
last words indiTerently. He turned away,
while Marie stood as still as one of the grey
blocks on the stone e-cumbered heath near the
village
Barba had not hurried her steps, she knew
that Jehan wanted q few words alone with
Marie, and also she wanted few moments in
which to recover her wouted calm. She had
known long ago that it must come to this.
She had watched the growth of the fisher.
mans face, and had seen that his presence
troubled Marie's quiet. He had been at
home for a longer spell than usual and some
weeks ago Jehan had spoken to her, and the
lovers had been formally betrothed in the
presence of Msre's relations and of Jehans
blind uncle, who had brought him up from
childhood. Barba had realized that she must
part from her daughter, but still her heart
felt very lonely. Spite of her resignation to
life and its changes, she could not determine
TO live with Mares husband Her child had
been her all, and she thought separation
would be less painful than seeing another set
in her place in her daughters affection, when
they were married.
Then Jehan would go away for the fishing,
and Marie would come and be her own child
again in a way she could never be if once
Barba gave up home of her own. She
went over this reasoning duly to herself, but
comfort did not come and finally she looked
after the lovers and was surprised 10 see Ma
rie standing by herself Barba felt troubled
as well as surprised. What could have hap
pened to part these two 80 suddenly, for Je-
han always went back with them to their cot
tage door, and sometimes he came in and
shared their frugal supper of porridge and
buttermilk She hurried stumbling over the
uneven ground, for she was usually a slow
moving woman, till she had nearly reached
her daughter, and then she called out, Ma
rie :"
The noise of the waves breaking against
the rock ridges was less distinct here, and
sounded like hoarse murmur and Marie
started when her mothers voice struck sharp
ly on her ears. The girl turned round, and
her mother saw how white and sad was the
girls face.
"Oh, mother" she grasped Barba's arm,
''go fast go tell Jehan did not mean what
Ailhe NOulu Ot iht dShlnB nun W
marry me-mother, say only this, that Marie
would like to say goodbye to him before he
goes away"
Barba stood an instant questioning her
childs face, and she saw the pain in it was
real. Marie clasped her hands and looked
imploring, and without a word of remon-
STRANGE the mother hurried on into the fast
darkening village though Jehan Kerrec had
passed out of sight
Marie waited till she grew afraid of being
there alone in the gloom, then she turned
sadly to follow her mother. As she moved
she saw some one rise from behind a huge
gray block of stone.
"Good evening, Marie you are out late.
Shall I walk home with you?'
A stout, good tempered looking man, dress
ed like a Breton farmer, with long jacket,
many -buttoned waistcost, and bag-shsped
breeches, was standing beside her with a
half -pitying look on his face.
mo, thank you, Monsieur Mellac," said
Marie, decidedly. II am not alone, my
mother is on in front ;" and she ran off