The banner-enterprise. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1883-18??, 1883-10-27
curing out my coffee, sit is danger

pouring out my cofee, IL Is dahger'
GUS.
"ln what manner?" said he. II new
er heard of highway robbers in these
parts.
He cast as he spoke an involuntary
glance at a diamond ring which flashed
on his little finger against the bright fire.
81 mean" said |, concealing my
thought, though half tempted to express
it, II mean that the road is not safe at
night, because"
because ?" he repeated, inquiringly.
[ refrained, | know not why, from
mentioning what actually feared, though
| seemed to see the wheelwright's angry
face and to hear his passionate voice.
because, Il continued, "the road
winds about distractingly among the hills.
One might easily step over the sides,
which are steep, and so come to harm.
He burst into pleasant laugh at this
answer.
1t was somewhat weak one, | con-
fess. But if told him my true reason
for dlssuading him from leaving the inn
that night he would, | thought, have
laughed perhaps still louder; so I made
no reply, though [ followed Marie's un-
easy glance toward the windows.
Without it had grown almost dark,
but the room, which was warmly lighted
by the log fire, was only in shadow near
the walls. We sat smoking and slipping
our coffee in silence.
Suddenly, Marie, turning her head to-
wards corner near the door, uttered q
low cry.
"Faubert!" she exclaimed sis that
your
The wheelwright was seated at a table
near the entrance. We had not heard
him come in. The light from the fire
flashed across his dark face as he looked
up quickly at Marie and said:
'Cafe noir. "
Marie hastened to supply the order.
As she filled the little glass with brandy
for his coffee | thought his hand seemed
to be trembling; certainly her face had a
troubled look. AS | was seated in a
shadowy corner could regard the wheel
wright without attracting his attention.
was tempted to observe him closely; for
there was cruel expression on his face.
He did not once glance towards me.
His dark, angry eyes were fixed con-
stanty on the face of M. Leonard, who
sat with his back half turned towards
him, looking thoughtfully into the fire.
The wheclwright remained, however,
only few minutes. Finishing his coffee
quickly he went out of the house as qui.
etly as he had entered it.
Meanwhile Marie had lit the candles,
and was moving about the kitchen, oc-
cupying herself in various ways, though
with remarkably serious face.
Presently NJ. Leonard rose from his
seat and stood before the fire, buttoning
his coat tightly round him. "a light, if
you please, Marie, said he, selecting
cigar from his case.
Marie brought him one, her hand
trembling very visibly now. "What is
the matter, Marie p said M. Leonard,
gently placing his fingers round her wrist
and looking earnestly into her face.
Nothing" said she, turning away
nothing"
He held out his hand to her and SAID
in soft tone: Good night, Marie.
She went with him to the entrance OF
the aubergc, and I thought that l saw
him bend down and kiss her; but it was
dark out there, and | may have been
mistaken. They spoke few words to-
gethcr in whispered tone; then Marie
called her father, who was playing domi-
noes in the other cafe with his customers,
and the aubergiste came and shook hands
warmly with the young man, and stepped
out into the road with him, after disap-
peared in the gloom; for it was night
now, black night.
Taking a Fecamp newspaper from my
pocket | settled down to read, while
Marie made preparation for the evening
meal. The cheerful fire in this Norman
dy Inn, blazing away in the centre of a
large open chimney, was picture which
should have raised my spirits after the
damp, chilly walk which | had just had.
But could not regain my usual easy and
contented state of mind. The forbidding
and cruel countenance of the wheelwright
troubled me more and more; the fierce
blows of his hammer, the angry tone Of
his voice, as he stood in the shed with
the daughter of the aubergiste beside
him, had aroused my worst suspicious. |
had no confidence IN the man; he APP
peared to me capable of committing
crime.
At the back of the wide hearth, behind
the blazing fire. was an iron tablet with
two blackcned figures in bas- relief, strug-
Cling in a desperate encounter for their
very lives. The flames threw constant
change of light and shadow on their
faces, seeming to increase at moments
the expression of enmity depicted there.
The voice of the aubergiste reused
me from mcditations which these figures
had called up. "Voyons, monsieur |"
said he, from the opposite side Of the
"souper." The aubergIste, who
was chubby. faced little man, with grey
whiskers and watery eyes, politely held
out his snuff box as he spoke. as though
it were part of the repast. lie offered,
as far as | could Judge, pinch to every
one who patronized his inn. He was
dressed IN blouze over his coat. He
kept on his cap as he sat at the table, for
he wore that, observed, at all hours
and at all seasons, indoors and out
fthe supper was not sumptuous, it
had the merit OF being, as far as it went,
equal 10 quality to any that could have
been provided. The soup was excellent;
tho cider was the best to be had in Nor
many, the land Of cider; and my landlord
gave me glass Of Burgundy, and some