Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-12-19


exist from day to day.
Then, one morning, weary of the
struggle, taken with remorse, wishing
at last to work, and not knowing how,
he became again domestic. There
still was a chance for him to make his
living, but he was soured, full of de-
sires and regrets. He had had acquaint-
ances, a 1ady-iove who was bad
woman, a friend who was a pickpocket.
He had listened to the friend IN order
to satisfy the exigencies of the mistress;
in short, he had awakened one beauti-
| full day between two agents of police
He was theft
He was tried, condemned, and passed
| fifteen years in prison, and now-ah,
now he was rascal, a vagabOnd, food
| for the galleys, and that evening would
| be an assassin; tomorrow, perhaps,
would be arrested, and soon would be
! tried again, condemned 10 death, 10
have his head cut OIL
| Pierre Lurier, with staring gaze, saw
neither the garden, the court, nor the
house, but place full of people, a
| guillotine, in the hole OF which lie
grimaced.
He uttered cry. That cry brought
him back to the present.
'Pardieu!' he said to himself; Il am
mad; dream with my eyes openl 1t is
stupid; had Father Berlot been here l
would have been done forP
To change his ideas he returned to
his memories of the prison, the boasting
of his comrades of thefIs skilfully made,
aSsasslnationS whose authors have never
been discovered.
See you, my lads had said an old
rascal, many times condemned, never
throw yourself into a game unless you
are sure of success; three things only
are necessary to insure it; first, to be in
country where they do not know you;
secondly, TO work alone; thirdly, to
work as naked as when you came into
the world. To work alone and as a
stranger in a country, one has neither
to fear the sheep nor the wolves; to
work with nothing but your skin as
covering, you leave mo pieces OF con-
viction' behind you.'
These were the counsels that rang
like battle trumpet through the head
of Pierre Lurier. He was unknown,
he was alone, and he would be naked.
he was certain to succeed. Evening
had come; the people were returning TO
their dwellings; steps were heard in the
lane, and the cows lowed In regaining
their stables. Dogs barked, and every
one was preparing to eat his supper
before going to bed TO sleep. Berlot
came out of the kitchen and opened the
door of the court. The COW, driven 10y
the little Pierre, took her place in the
stable.
Hurry yourself, rascal cried the
peasant to the boy, 'and 60 up and
change windows for Mother Berlot.
The dust blows from the front; put her
by the one above u.s.
The child obeyed, and some minutes
later a window ON the first floor looking
to the court opened, a big chair was
rolled to the front, and Mother Berlol
appeared. She was motiOnless-rlgid.
: In her face the eyes alone seemed still
to live.
'GoodI' thought Lurler. The o!C
woman's paralyzed ii VIII be more con
venlentl
One thing disquieted hIm-the child
In what part of the house did Pierre
, sleep? Would he be compelled to pas
: him when he went above? Ma foil 81
, much the worse for him-he would b
forced to clear the roadl 1t began Il
, be dark. Night stretched itself Incl
, by inch about the house, the court, tht
: garden. Soon Pierre Lurier could dis
: tinguish nothing from his perch in the
tree. Only the stars shone between
the branches.
r Nine O'Clock. u light Redeemed
/, window upon the sleeping floor. Ok
| Berlot was counting his money, as h.
J did eyerT evening. The hgnt was no
extinguished for nearly an hour. Their
s were lots of ecus III the boardl Tei
/ O'Clock. But it was long wait. Tn
{ hours were as many nights. Eievel
-. .ova 4 Of I1a "a
n The moment had come. Pierre LurIe
}. descended from his tree, and arrived d
d the wash-house, began to feel in tn
q wall to find a crack into which t
q insert his knife. The first brick wa
n hard to unsettle; but the hole one
made, the opening enlarged quickly, an
n at last the body of Pierre Lurler wa
able to make the passage. He RENAME
|. a moment mOtiOnleSs, accuStoming hl
Al eyes to the darkness. When he begaI
% TO see things little he recognized tina
II he had not deceived himself in hi
,a memories. In front of him was til
,r iatcned door that entered the kitchen
But before entering there he must TAX
IL precautions-thaLi Is to say, strip to th
n skin, prepare lantern and secure
weapon. The knife that had served
y break the wall was neither long enoug
nor strong enough to kill man.
NJ Still feeling, he fumbled IN I'll
baskets of implements that encumbere
I, the room, and fixed his choice upon
r short pick, with a solid handle and
n head heavy and pointed. The lanteTI
a were also In their racks, one for IL
W carriage, the other for the stable. II
IN first was the one for his affair, becau
le il was smaller and furnished with
I'd reflector that made it like a dark la1
n tern. The matches were in the kitchel
r. but he needed to light it only wien
ascended to the room above to see no
I'd to strike and seek the money. Matte
ly arranged, LuUier uadreS5ed hlmSel
r. tied his clothes in a bundle, and a
nd tached them by cord to his shoulder
ne Had lie forgotten anything? Yes. II
ed clothes were rolled IN, he was make
n. he had no pocketsl What was he goI
nd to carry the gold of Berlot's IMP /
al had many ecus and franc pieces, all
rk it heavy and hard 10 manage.
Il He fumble1 again in the baskets, al
no smiled with pleasure AS be drew fro
he one illed with oats canvas muZZ.
n one of those nose bags that farmers u
to feed horses on a journey. 1t "
a Just the thing. He hung it about b
In neck, and with his bundle OF clothes
re his back, began the trip. Half pa
ce eleven sounded Lis lantern hook
tie TO his finger, his pick grasped in /
lis hand, he lifted the latch of the inn
Ie. door and passed TO the kitchen. a SO
in and regular sound announced &
ut sleep of a child. It was, in fact, L
zee little Pierre upon pallet bed, Z
covering drawn to his ears, and slee2iI
i'd heavily. Pierre Lurier began to raj
a his pick.
re sBahl' he said to himself; he slee
o? SO soundl Nothing wakes childre
re When L was his age the thunder
as God wouldn't have stirred mel IT
e? does when Pm up there e-pooh-but
" won't-it will be time enough If
ed doesI Ma foil no; I'd see him rs
Il? bloody ghosti' He took the match
ad from the chimney-piece, passed to {
ut hall. and felt beneath the face OF {