Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-01-23

You must have your Will, Marie you
have always pleased yourself; but l must
tell you all, so that you may choose with open
eyes II you will not marry Louis Melac,
we lose everything. We must either beg or
We must go to service"
Marie fixed her wondering eyes on her
mother. "What do you mean?" she said,
"the cottage is ours, and we have the COW
and the rest. Nothing is changed with us"
You forget, child, that must pay the
rent of the cottage for Jehan, and Monsieur
Mellac says, besides the rent, there is much
to pay for repairs, which Jehan had said
must be made. l have not money, Marie
we have nothing beyond our daily needs. II
we have TO pay Louis Mellac. we must sell all
we have and work for others"
Marie was silent In her inexperience it
seemed to her that nothing would be hard
ship that was done for the sake of Jehan
but she could not let her mother suffer.
Presently she raised her head. "You must
let me think" she said, perhaps my way
will be made clear. will tell you to-mor-
row." She went up to her mother and held
her forehead for the usual kiss, but Barba
| put her arms round the girl.
My child" she whispered, "it il not for
myself ! urge this, but ! long to see thee rich
and happy"
Marie threw back her head so that she
might look up in her mothers face. There
were tears in her dark eyes, but Barba was
surprised to see some of the old sparkle in
the girls face.
Riches and happiness are not always
| found in company, dear mother Riches
want so much, and happiness can do with so
little But goodnight, mother dear
Marie was soon in one of the box beds that
stood on each side of the fireplace but she
did not get to sleep. She was a great be-
| lever in dreams, and as she had prayed de-
voutly before she lay down, it seemed TO her
that an answer would probably come to her
in her sleep. She could not wed Louis Mel
lac, but some other way would be shown her
out of her perple1ity. She fell of at last
into heavy, dreamless sleep.
Marie rubbed her eyes when she awoke.
Her last idea, us she fell asleep required AZ
she looked round her But all was blank
nothing had come to her during sleep. The
miserable talk with her mother had not been
efTaced by a hopeful dream, every word Of it
was fixed in her memory.
She got up earlier than usual. and without
disturbing Barba, she took tall, red carthen
pitcher and went out of the house
The village stood on point of land almost
surrounded by the sea but the country be-
hind the village was wooded, and not very far
from Barba Gourin's cottage there was "A ru-
ined fountain of ancient date with niche
holding an image Of the saint to whom the
spring had been dedicated. broken wall
once extended round the fountain, and 1t still
measured a square space shaded by trees.
The steps which led down TO this damp re-
treat were moss. grown and broken, but be-
tween the assures tufts of lady fern and black
spleenwort had secured "A footing, and looked
bright as the morning sun shone down on
them through the branches overhead.
Marie tripped down quickly, but she came
up the steps more slowly for she had taken
pail as well as the tall brown pitcher, and
the water brimmed over as she left the foun-
tain.
She sighed. All, how Jehan used to lie in
wait, always ready to carry home her pals
for her, and how hard she had beOn She
had rarely INDUCED him in ever short n
talk, but had always hurried home with per
haps scarcely smile Of thanks for his troub-
le.
II did not deserve his love-" she said 'and
it has been taken away"
Something made her look up, and she saw
Louis Mellac He must have been concealed
among the trees. Marie thought she felt
sure no one could have come down the green
lane which led from the high road to the
fountain. She turned pale, for she guessed
his purpose.
"Good morning Marie" he said that is
a heavy pail. Let :ne take it.
mo, thank you" and as Marie held it
firmly, and Louis Melac tried to take it from
her hand, the water splashed out aud filed
his ssabots.
He muttered an ugly. sounding word but
lie forced a smile
Come, let us have it, little one, he said
| am stronger than you"
But it seemed to Marie that she could not
let the farmer do for her what Jehan had
done, it would be putting him in her lovers
place.
She shook her head, and went II few steps
on her way.
Meac walked silently beside hor he hard
ly knew how to begin.
Has your mother spoken to you p he said
at last, aud he fixed his eyes intently on the
girls face.
Marie's eyes fell under that mRsterful gaze.
Hitherto Melac had been entirely indifferent
to her but she felt dislike spring up 80 rap
idly that she hated him as she answered.
Yes, Monsieur Mellac my mother told
me of your wish, and / told her that it WAS
impossible. belong to Jehan Kerrec."
but Jehan Kerrec is dead"
II do not think So" and Marie went more
quickly along the lane
Melac made a stride forward and placed
himself in front of her.
Listen, Marie" he said quietly, II fore
sonable woman should not bs faithless" "
Marie looked up in surprise, she had not eI-
pected sympathy from Mellac. He went on
more rapidly now he saw he had secured her
attention.
AT first 1 confess thought Jehan had de-
serted you. l heard your quarrel on the
heath and thought Jehan hasty fellow, to
desert such girl as you are, Marie, on such
provocation."
II -, 20 I,,N -,
refused TO speak. If Marie had not been
deeply interested she must have laughed at
his grimaoe. He went on, "When heard
the news from the driver Mathurin, return
ed TO enquire, and asked him to wait for me
whenever he should be going back to Pont-
Croix. week after he sent me word that
he would be coming back at night so as not
to waste the day, and met him at the cross
road there aud travelled with him to Douarn-
enez."
go on" said Marie her eyes strained
with excitement were fixed on his face, and
she had set down both pitcher and pail, her
hands trembled too much to h Did them.
There is not much to tell, he said slow
ly. II saw the owner Of the boats in which
Jehan had worked; he said there could be no
doubt. Ten days before Christmas the boats
went out as usual and then fearful gale
sprung up. Scarcely any of the boats had
come in without damage, bu. all the crews
had come in safe, except Jehan Kerrec, and
his partner and next day their boat had
come ashore broken across the middle it had
evidently gone to pieces on the savage rocks
beyond the bay The owner promised me if
any news came he would send it, but none
has come. Marie, it is too plain that Jehan
was lost at sea"
He spoke sadly, and for an instant Maries |
hope was quenched her lips trembled so she |
could not speak.
"But for all that" she said at last, II am
his in life or in death" Then she took up
her pail and pitcher again.
"You are showing me new quality" he |
4