The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-01-18


else on certain points, Jeanette might
look for them at certain minute COM
ing up the street to their meals.
One day as the supper hour drew
near, Jeanette glanced at the clock,
and then quickened all her motions,
for she was little behind time with
her meal, and as Jacques was always
so punctual, she prided herself on be-
ing ready for him at the minute.
At length the viands stood smoking
on the table; and looking up again at
the clock, Jeanette was surprised to
perceive the minute hand had passed
the hour without Jacques being present.
"What can detain himp" she MUIR
INJURED, with a strange dread of evil
creeping over her, as she hurried to the
door and looked anxiously down the
street. mot to be seen, either" she
continued with nervous anxiety; ''what
can it meanp Non Dieu! if they should
have taken him away to the prison!"
and jeanette clasped her hands on her
heart and staggered back into the
house.
Five, ten, fifteen minutes passed
away, and yet no Jacques. This sus-
pense was not to be borne; better the
reality, however fearful; something ter
rible must have happened, and throw
Ing light shawl over her head, jean
cite flew down to the smithy. The
doors were open-the fires were burn
ing but no Jacques was there. She
made hurried and anxious inquiries of
the passers by; but they scarcely heed
ed her, for that was not a judicious
time to know anything about matters
of state, or about individuals who mys-
teriously disappeared.
At length the distress of Jeanette at
tracted the attention of an old woman
in the vicinity, who, after some ques-
tioning, informed her that the smith
had been marched off between two
rough looking men, who might have
been officers of the revolutionary COM
mission.
"Oh, Mon Dieu! Mon Dieu! my poor,
dear Jacques!' cried the half frantic
wife, wringing her hands. "As feared
he has been taken to the prison, and /
will follow him and die with him"
But it was not so easy for the unhap-
ply jeanette to follow the missing JAG
ques, simply because she knew not
where to go; and no one, not even the
old woman could tell her whittier he
had been taken. So she finally went
home in great distress to wait for an
other day for some tidings of him; but
she had scarcely entered the house
when she heard Bobon scratching and
whining at the door. The moment she
admitted him he flew to his masters
vacant seat at the table, put his fore
paws upon it, looked up sorrowfully in
her face and gave utterance to a low,
mOurnful cry.
Where is your master, BobonP"
said jeanette, in tears.
The dog jumped down with slight
bark, and ran'to the door.
1t then occurred to Jeanette to let
him out and follow him. This she did
and he led her to the massive gate of
the main prison of Bordeaux. Trem-
blingly she knocked at the gate; and of
the porter who opened the wicket she
inquired If Jacques Pierrot was con-
fined there. The man gruffly replied
that he didn't know, and didn't care to
know, and advised the fair questioner
to go about her business.
/. Thus repulsed, poor Jeanette sat
down by the gate and cried an hour,
the noble dog standing beside her all
the while, and looking the sorrow which
he had no language to express. When
at last jeanette got up and went home
with heavy heart, the intelligent ami
NAL accompanied her to the door and
then bounded away to take his post at
the prison gate, and watch an opportu-
nifty to get in to his master.
jeanette passed sleepless night,
praying for the deliverence of him she
loved. The next morning she again re-
paired to the prison, but Bobon was
not to be seen. She made further in
quiries for her husband and learned
that he was imprisoned within, but
could not be communicated with until
after the trial, which would take place
whenever the authorities should see
proper. What the charges against him
were her informant either did not know
or would not tell Poor jeanette after
this remained most of the day at the
gate of the prison, but heard nothing
more concerning her husband and saw
nothing more of Bobon.
The evening following the dog re-
turned to her aud acted very strangely.
He barked and whined, rubbed his head
against her knees, looked keenly and
wistfully in her face, and occasionally
put up n paw to his neck as if to remove
the collar. Whenever jeanette would
open the door as before for him to con-
duct her to his master, he would catch
hold of her dress with his teeth and
RIM back and howl plaintively, and
then go through with all his strange
motions again. Did he want to COM
municate something, poor fellowp
AT last it occurred to jeanette that
his collar might hurt him, and she pro-
ceeded to remove it. The dog stood
perfectly still until she had accomplish
ed her purpose, and then joyously
whined, wagged his tail, and skipped
about playfully. But there appeared
to be nothing wrong about the collar,
and jeanette would have buckled it on
again, only that, whenever she attempt
ed it, the poor brute would crouch
down and howl so mournfully as to
cause her to desist.
C,,JJonIxva ~, t,,rn;rA tbo oollo. <~xxo,.