Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1883-02-17
THE INTREPID MOTHER.

The diligence from Paris to Chalons
stopped one evening just before dark
some miles beyond the little town OF
Rouvray, to put down an English
lady and her child at a lonely road
side anberge Mrs Martin expected
to find carriage ready to take her to
the Chateau de Senart, distance OF
some leagues, whittier she was re-
pairing on visit, but was told that
it had not arrived. The landlady, a
tall, coarse looking woman, who
showed her into the vast hall that
served as sitting room and kitchen,
observed that the roads were so mud
dy and difficult at night that there
was little chance of her friend ar
irving before morning.
"You had better, therefore, she
said, snake up your mind to sleep
here. We have good room to offer
you; and you will be more comfort
able between pair of clean, warm
sheets than knocking about our
rough country, especially as your
dear child seems sickly."
Mrs. Martin, though much fatigued
by her journey, hesitated. A good
nights rest was certainly a tempting
prospect; but she felt so confident
that her friends would not neglect
her, that, after a moment, she re-
piled:
II thank you, madam, 1 will sit up
for an hour or so-it is not late, and
the carriage may come, after all.
Should it not, l shall be glad of your
room--which you may prepare for
me at any rate
The hostess, who seemed anxious
that her guest should not remain in
the great room, suggested that fire
might be made above, but Mrs Mar
tin found herself so comfortable
where she was IA pile of faggots was
blazing on the hearth-that she de
clined at first to move. Her daugh-
ter, about five years of age, soon went
to sleep in her lap; and she herself
found that whilst her ears were list.
ening anxiously for the roll of car
riage wheels, her eyes occasionally
closed, and slumber began to make
it's insidious approaches.
In order to prevent herself from
giving way, she endeavored to direct
her attention to the objects about her
The apartmentiwas vast, and lighted
mcre by the glare of the fire than by
the dirty candle, stuck into filthy
tin candlestick, that stood on one OF
the long tables. Two or three huge
beams stretched across half way up
the walls, leaving space filled with
fitting shadows above. From these
descended a rusty gun or two, sword,
several bags, hanks of onivns, cooking
utensils, etc There wefe very few
signs that the house was much visited
though pile of empty wine bottles
lay in one corner. The Andlady sa,
at some distance from the fireplace
with her two sons, who laid their
heads together and talked in whisp
ers.
Mrs. Martin began to feel uneas y
The idea entered her mind that she
had fallen into a resort of robbers
and the words "Cest elle," lit is she
which was all shelheard of the whis
pered conversation, contributed tC
alarm her. The door leading to the
road was left ajar; and for a moment
she felt an inclination to start up and
escape on foot. But she was far from
any other habitation; and if the peo
pie of the house really entertained
any evil design, her attempt would
only percipitate the catastrophe. Sc
she resolved on patience, but listened
attentively for the approach of hel
friends. All she heard, however, was
the whistling of the wind, and the
dashing of the rain, which had begun
to fall just after her arrival.
About two hours passed in this un-
comfortable way. At length the dool
was thrown open, and man dripping
wet came in. She breathed more
freely; for this new conner might
Illustrate the evil designs of her hosts
If they entertained any. He was 6
red haired, jovial-faced looking man
and inspired her with confidence by
the frankness and ease of his man
ners.