The National tribune., 1881-10-01

before dawn to prevent trespassing upon the
counts enclosure which on this particular day is
never open to the chase, passing near the mill
encountered Jules, fully equipped, both gun and
costume brand new, for he was as yet but a
novice in the sport.
"You are early, M. Delaporte," said I.
"Am the first?"
at is to be hoped so, as it is not yet day ybreak.
With the three exceptions of you, myself, and
that great bull yonder, who is regarding us so
intently while chewing the cud, all the world is
asleep, God be praised-that is to say, all the
Saint-Georges world"
$50 much the better" SO saying, Delaporte
walked off with long strides, and soon disap-
peared in the light fog that foated over the
meadows l then recalled to mind the fact that
on the previous day had pointed out to him d
covey of snipe on the upper marsh-lands. Doubt
less he thought to effect a master stroke in sur
prisng them before day.
Near Pere La Thiel's [ thought l detected
something like a shadow gliding through the
trees and taking the same direction as that just
taken by Jules. "Another hunter" thought to
myself; "but no-no one but Jules Delaporte is
such simpleton as to beat the prairie before it
is sufficiently light to distinctly, at the risk
of starting the game while yet unable to take
aim with any degree of precision
The new day had but just shown itself above
the horizon when the first shot resounded in
the distance. "My friend Jules thought l. is
frightening the ducks"
Soon all was astr on the marsh. The snipe
screaming with fright, set at defiance the I'M
IoI NV ArIr for
beyond his reach, while the rail and curlew ran
under the very noses of the dogs, secreting them
selves in the rushes. On all sides the shots re-
sounded, like volley of musketry, until at sum
set men and dogs, alike too weary to take another
step, filed homeward, wet, dirty, and tired.
1t was nightfall when returning home, met
Pere Simons stable-bOy. He looked frightened
and anxious. Monsieur Delaporte had not re-
turned. Mademoiselle Jeanne after several hours
of anxious suspense, had set off, as though dis
tracted, in search of her lover. The whole night
was spent in exploring the prairies with the aid
of lanterns. Occasionally we paused, thinking
we heard a call for help. 1t was but a flock of
curlew that, flying over our heads, pierced the
black and still expanse Of heaven with their
mournful cry. 1t was not until daylight that
Jules was found there, sir, right there, opposite
where you are now sitting, in the bottom of the
creek, with his head buried in the mud, his arms
extended, his hands already shriveled At first it
was supposed that he had been drowned; but
after extricating him with no little difficulty and
removing the mask of mud from his face, it was
discovered to be terribly disfgured, literally
peppered with little black holes, from which had
oozed streams of blood. His gun was found in
the rushes within distance of some thirty feet,
with both barrels discharged.
Upon examination the physicians decided that
the wounds had not been mortal, but that the
unfortunate man. blinded by the discharge, after
having turne eveEsI times in his bewilderment
for the tr KS c. 5 footsteps was clearly dis
cernible in mud had nally sunken in the
quagmire, wL-ee He ha3 led from suffocation.
and the incoming tide had covered him over.
Jeanne regarded the corpse with that fixed,
vacant stare which you saw in her eyes just now.
Then, with piercing scream, she exclaimed:
"He killed him! It is he who killed him,"
The tone in which these words were uttered
was heart-rending. The next instant she fell
upon the ground insensble.
From that day the poor girl has been crazy.
But the fever has pltled her IN her misery, and
will soon send her to join in the cemetery him
whom she still seeks among the rushes.
"And the author of the crime?" / said.
1T was not crime" Noel replied, Struggling
his shoulders; simple accident of the chase that
was all-such at least was the verdict of the
jury Raymond, who was Immediately
accused, brought witnesses to prove at the time
of the accident he was in town. whittier he had
carried load of hay. 1t was afterwards recalled
to mind that two young men, strangers to the
rest, had precipitately withdrawn, after scarcely
an hours hunting They were seen later, looking