The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-10-26
BLOOMSBURY, PA, FRIDAY, OCTOBER g. 1883

1t not, Monsieur
seated myself near him at the Ia.
BILE. "Do you return to Fecamp to.
night?" l Inquired.
Marie, who was STOPPING over the
fire to serve me with coffee from an
earthen pot upon the hearth, looked up
into his face anxiously for the reply.
eyes," said he. "The fact is, I
must be back in Fecamp before 7 o.
clock. We have some old friends
coming to dine with us and" he
added, "the worst of it is, / must
walk"
"Not pleasant" said l. "The night
will be dark. The road is danger
Gus"
Dangerous 7" said he, with sur
prise.
eyes, M. Leonard" said the girl,
pouring out my coffee, ''it is danger
ous."
'In what manner 7" said he. 81
never heard of highway robbers in
these parts"
He cast as he spoke an involuntary
glance at diamond ring which flash
ed on his little finger against the bright
fire.
81 mean," said l, concealing my
thought, though half tempted to ex-
press it, 81 mean that the road is not
safe at night, because
because T. he repeated, inquiring-
ly. ri
l refrained, l know not why, from
mentioning what l actually feared,
though l seemed to see the wheel
wright's angry face and to hear his
passionate voice.
"Because," l continued, "the road
winds about distractingly among the
hills. One might easily step over the
sides, which are steep, and 80 come to
harm"
He burst into a pleasant laugh at
this answer.
1t was a somewhat weak one, l con-
fess. But if Itold him my true rea.
son for dissuading him from leaving
the inn that night he would, thought
have laughed still louder; so l made
no reply, though l followed Marie g
uneasy glance toward the windows.
Without it had grown almost dark,
but the room, which was warmly light
ed 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
towards a corner near the door, utter
ed low cry.
"Faubert!" she exclaimed, sis that
you?"
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 bran
dy for his coffee thought his hant
seemed to be trembling certainly he1
face had a troubled look. As l wa
seated in shadowy corner l could re
gard the wheelwright without attract
ing his attention. I was tempted t
observe him closely; for there was {
cruel expression on his face. He di(
not once glance towards rue. His
dark, angry eyes were fixed constant!
upon the face of M. Leonard, who sa
with his back half turned towards him
looking thoughtfully into the fire
The wheelwright remained, however
only a few minutes. Finishing hi
coffee quickly he went out of tn
house as quietly as he had entered it.
Meanwhile Marie had lit the can
dies, and was moving about the kitch
en-, occupying herself in various ways
though with remarkably seriou
face.
| Presently M. Leonard rose from hi
seat and stood before the fire, button
ling his coat tightly round him. 81
light, if you please, Marie," said hi
selecting cigar from his case.
Marie brought him one, her han
trembling very visibly now. "Wha
is the matter, Marie p said M. Leor
ard, gently placing his fingers roun
her wrist and looking earnestly int
her face.
Nothing" said she, turning ava
l-"nothing."
| He held out his hand to her, an
said in soft tone: "Good nigh
Marie"
| She went with him to the entranc
of the auberge, and thought that
saw him bend down and kiss her; br
it was dark out there, and may hay
been mistaken. They spoke a fe
words together in a whispered tone
then Marie called her father, who W,
playing dominoes in the other ca
with his customers, and the aubergis
came and shook hands warmly Wi
the young man, and stepped out in
, the road with him, after which !
Leonard started off quickly and di
, appeared in the gloom; for it w
night now, black night.
Taking Fecamp newspaper fro
: my pocket l settled down to rea
while Marie made preparations for Il
evening meal. The cheerful log f
, in this Normandy Inn, blazing aw'
/ in the centre of large open Gimme
was picture which should have rails
: my spirits after the damp, chilly wa
3 which had just had. But I cou
e not regain my usual easy and conte
a ed state of mind. The forbidding a
r cruel countenance of the wheelwrig
}. troubled me more and more the fiel
f blows of his hammer, his angry to
d of voice, as he stood in the shed W
the daughter of the aubergiste besi
e him, had aroused my worst suspicio
r | had no confidence in the man;
II appeared to me capable of CONN
e ting crime.
q AT the back of this wide hearth,
l. hind the blazing fire, was an iron
le let with two blackenod figures in /
N relief, struggling in desperate
counter for their very lives.
'e flames threw a constant change
es light and shadow on their faces, Sc,
ing to increase at moments the
<, preston of enmity depicted there.
ID The voice of the aubergiste rou
ie me from meditations which these