The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-10-08

great deal of money; a small inherit
ance was also tc be received. But all
is concluded. He sent me word that
he would return this evening; he had
made his arrangements TO that end.
Tomorrow the farm of LaMane is to
be sold; he has decided to purchase |
either all or part of it. 1t is an opror-
tunity which will never again present
itself, but l would prefer a thousand
times that he should miss it to having
him return without notifying me.''
Why?'' ....-..',..
- Because some one has wicked de-
signs against him and at night terri
BILE blow is soon struck. You know
there are two routes by which to return
here; one is longer than the other, but
safer. am afraid lest he may return
by way of the Moulin Brule, the more
SO as there is some one to see in that
direction. / tremble at the mere thought
of it. II l only knew" U
The postman strove to calm her fears
but she shook her head.
"You cannot think" resumed she,
"what certain men are capable of, when
they have grudge against anybody"
DIG OC0luCu w IGSlUdUC Iuo DuCA
added:
elf l tremble, it is not simply be-
cause my husband will have to pass
through dangerous spot with money
in his pocket, but also because there IS
in the district wretch whose dearest
wish is to put five feet of earth between
them.
This hatred dates from long ago.
When was young girl he wanted to
marry me, but he filled me with horror
He has never pardoned Inc for having
repulsed his offers and has enveloped in
the same luminosity the man l preferred
to him. He hates Georges and myself
for being in easy circumstances while
he vegetables in want, as if honest peo-
pie were responsible for the mistakes
of idlers and drunkards. This is not
all. A crime was recently committed;
suspicious were aroused, but the proofs
were wanting. Ipossess them and the
guilty man knows it. All! it is dan
gerous secret for woman who has only
children around her!
yesterday he accosted me to sound
me; | did not hide from him nv con-
tempt. He saw clearly that he was
unmasked IN my eyes; he overwhelmed
me with insults and threats. | took the
unfortunate notion to say of him that
soon, when my husband had returned,
when he had man before him, he
would be less presumptuous. Oh! if
you knew what glances his eyes shot at
me, what an expression of hatred his
features wore! | know that often during
the night he haunts the ruins of the
Moulin-Brule. If this man should dis
cover that my husband is to pass
through that place. tell you, Monsieur
Martin, he is lostr'
"What is the scoundrers namepn
"Jean Bruno. 1t is not astonishing
that you are unacquainted with him,
for since his return TO the district he
has not publicly shown himself"
The postman was silent. He remem-
bered having heard the woman at the
drinking house call the man he had met
there by that name. He asked himself
in CONSERVATION if the letter had not
been stolen from him, but he recalled
all the circumstances and banished this
suppositlon. He felt certain that the
epistle had not been in his sack; he re-
assured himself and sought to reassure
the woman, yet he resolved to await
her husbands arrival at the chief town
of the district to advise him to be pra-
dent.
He fastened away and when he was
alone his fears regained possession of
him. He again began to doubt and lit
tie by little was seized upon by a terror
he could not explain He increased his
pace and leapea over the hedges and
bitches with unusual nimbleness. I'm
fortunately, his round that day was ex-
ceptionally long, and the bad weather
in addition had considerably delayed
him. 'Ai
He reached the postofice little
later than was his custom. The woman
who distributed the mails, on being
consulted by him, affirmed that he had
taken away letter for Madame Andre.
One of her assistants confirmed this
declaration. ..
The postman was thunderstruck. He
saw with fright the heavy responsibility
thrown upon him. His terrors aug
mented when he remembered that
time and again, at the moment of open
ing the mail bags, man had presented
himself, asking if there was anything
for Madame Andre!
He flew rather than ran to the office
of the coach which carried passengers
from the nearest station ON the railway
to the chief town. Georges Andre had
arrived, but had set out Immediately on
foot for his village.
This news gave Martin a violent
shock. The prospect of catastrophe
fol, which he would be responsible arose
before him. He saw this man, who had
returned with joy in his heart, encoun-
terfng death at the threshold of his
home through his fault, and misfortune
overtaking the widow and the orphans.
The darkest clouds troubled his mag
nation. .i
He did not hesitate, and without TAX
ing time to enter his dwelling, started
off again. Those who saw him pass,
absorbed in his thoughts and noticing
no one around him, asked themselves
what grave affair could have caused the
breathless haste ON the part of man
who must have come, back from his
round broken by fatigue.
After having passed over fourth of
the distance he inquired concerning the
traveller and asked If he had been seen.