The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-10


petuously into the room, which 1t filled with
a thick smoke, and lifting the letters spread
out upon the table scattered them in every
direction.
The postman uttered an exclamation of
anger.
BAH it's nothing" said the person who
had caused the accident. 1--WE two will
speedily gather them up"
And without needing the refusal of Mar
tin, who wished to avoid his help and do
the work alone, he began to search for the
letters.
When they had collected all they could
find, the poStman carefully examined them;
then he seemed worried, as if be had not the
full number
Are any missing?' asked his companion.
letter"
bah! Either you are deceived or you for
got it at the postofice"
That is quite possible"
He said to himself that it must be so.
However, he resumed his hunt and searched
beneath the furniture He found nothing
and concluded that his memory had not
served him faithfully, for he had watched
his companions movements, and it did not
seem admissible to him that he had stolen
letter. Nevertheless he FASTENED to depart,
regretting that he had entered the
clearinghouse. The man who had chatted
with him inspired in him veritable repul-
sion, and it was his rule, because of the hab-
its of discretion which the postoffice imposes
upon all its agents. to keep at a distance all
who did not appear to him worthy of conf
dence.
The storm had somewhat abated its fury,
the rain soon ceased to fall, and bright sun
shine lighted up the country when the post
man reached tbs nearest village.
A woman was at the door of her house
awaiting his passage. She was still young,
and, without possessing remarkable beauty,
had neat and sympathetic countenance.
Monsieur Martini" said she to the post
man, shave you letter for me?'
mo Madame Andre, have not"
That's strange; my husband should have
written me to-day. You cannot imagine
how much his silence troubles me-"
She grew pale, and seemed scarcely to have
the strength to sustain herself.
The postman assisted her into the house,
and handed her a chair, upon which she let
herself fall. Two charming children fixed on
her sad and anxious looks.
You will receive letter tomorrow, Mad
anne Andre, said Pere Martin; "the delay of
a day is easily explained. Your husband
was disappointed; some unforeseen business
suddenly demanded his attention, and he
missed the mail"
mo; know him, and cannot understand
his silence. You are aware he departed two
months ago for the city. Some work was to
be attended to which promised to bring him
in a good deal of money; a small inheritance
was also to be received, But
all is concluded He sent ME
word that he would return this evening"
he has made his arrangements to that end
Tomorrow the farm of La Name is to be
sold; he has decided to purchase either all
or part of it. 1t is an opportunity which
will never again present itself, but would
prefer a thousand times that he should miss
it to having him returnwithoutno notifying me-"
"Why?"
Because some one has wicked designs
against him, and at night terrible blow is
soon struck. You know there are two
routes by which to return here; one is long
err than than the other, but safer. / am
afraid lest he may return by way of the Mou-
lin Brule, the more so as there is some one
to see in that direction. l tremble at the
mere thought of it. If only knew"
The postman strove to calm her fears. but
she shook her head.
"You can think" resumed she, what
certain men are capable OF, when they have
grudge against anybody" She seemed to
hesitate, and then added:
IF tremble it is not simply because my
husband will have to pass through a danger
Gus spot with money in his pocket, but also
because there is in the district a 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 me for having repulsed his offer,
and has enveloped in the same animosity
the man 1 preferred to him. He hates
George and myself for being in easy circum-
stances, while he vegetables in want. as if
honest people were responsible for the mis-
takes of idlers and drunkards. This is not
all, A crime was recently committed; sus-
picions were aroused, but the proofs were
wanting. / possess them, and the guilty
man knows it. All! it is a dangerous secret
for woman who has only children around
her.
Yesterday he accosted me to sound me- l
did not hide from him my contempt. He
saw clearly that he was unmasked in my
eyes; he overwhelmed me with insults and
threats. l took the unfortunate notion to
say to him that soon, when my husband re-
turned, when he bad man before him, he
would be less presumptuous. Oh, if you
knew what glances his eyes shot at Inc, what
an expression of hatred his features wore. l
know that often during the night he haunts
the ruins of Moulin Brule. If this man
should discover that my husband is to pass
through the place, tell you, Monsieur Mar
tin, he is lost"
what is the scoundrers name?"
Jean Bruno, 1t is not astonishing that
you are unacqualnted with him, for since his
return to the district he has not publicly
shown himself"
The postman was silent He remembered
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 ban
ished this suppositon. He felt certain that
the epistle had not been put in his sack; he
treasured himself and sought to reassure the
woman, yet he resolved to wait her husbands
arrival at the chief town of the district to adj
wise him to be prudent.
He fastened away, and when he was alone
his fears regained possession of him, He
again began to doubt and little by little was
seized upon by terror he could not explain
He increased his pace and leaped over the
hedges and bitches with unusual nimbeness.
Unfortunately, his round that day was unex-
ceptionally long, and the bad weather in adj
dition had considerably delayed him. !