The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1889-11-07

Jean, IN an agony OF iright, running W
and fro,
'What ails the old man." demanded
one of the coachmen.
"His luggage was in the Eclipse, it
seems, replied guard
"Where is the Eclipse"
"Gone back to Wheeling, or on to
Cumberland. don't know which"
Jean heard, and stood dumb and tremb-
ling, while the men, kindly but ignorant,
surrounded him, plying him with ques-
tions. "Whabbut We took yer port
manly out wild yer Take a horse and
ride out the Wheeling Pike, an yen
overtake it.n ''No. sir. Ride the other
way. It's TO Cumberland it's gone, !"
There was nine passengers got in,
Small chance but they'll take the port
manly among them"
Jean, in all his dismay, had yet some
common sense left He asked to be taken
| to the Superintendent, and told his story
in broken English, with many gestures
and tears.
Now, old Mr., Royce, though he paid a
high sum for n front pew in church, never
had been known to give penny in char
ity, nor 4 kind word to any one in pain
or need. He despised all foreigners.
He saw instantly, too, that mistake had
been made which might cost the stage
company or himself some money, He
did not know which way the Eclipse had
gone, and to send a messenger in both di-
/ e., In
"Why did you not take care Of your
carpetsacka" he snarled, eying poor Jean
angrily.
80 monsieur! / haf always leave him
in re coach. re American peoples are
honest monsieur, it ismy papers, my
money--all!'
"The more reason you should take care
of them, then. Here, Joe, go out and
see if anybody knows which way the
Eclipse went
Jean, clasping his hands. He drew back
and waited. Joe soon returned. 1t was
late, he reported, there were few men in
the yard, and seven coaches had started
at once. Nobody had noticed at which
gate the Felipe went out,
"There! You heara" growled Boyce
to the old man. He knew that the COM
pany was responsible for the lost bag and
intended to search for it. But the
money which must be spent he would
have to pay out of his own pocket He
laughed savagely, as he saw Jeans mis-
cry.
30 monsieur! Is Eat all2 Can noting
be donel'
THAT is all. You don't expect me to
pay you for the bag?"
Noting can pay me for it. 1t is all
I have" Jean sobbed. He stood mo-
ment longer, but Boyce was talking to
the men on other affairs and had appar-
emily wholly forgotten him. He crept
out into the night with wild gesture of
despair.
The next morning, O'Rourke, one of
the drivers, kind-hearted Irishman,
ventured to ask Mr. Boyce, can what
became of the little Frenchy last night2"
Chow do know! He went on in one
of the coaches to Cumberland, Isuppose.
He'll be writing back for his bag soon
enough. Filled with rags, most likely,
Judging from his clothes"
A week passed. One evening, just be-
fore sunset, O'Rourke, going into the inn
stable to look after his horses, heard a
cry like that of a choking animal on the
NOV. He came out, shouting to the
other men, "By the powthers of war;
dunno what tits! It's no human bein',
nor horse, nor a dog. 1t might be a
Banshee."
The men ran in, curious and laughing
But in moment O'Rourke came out,
quiet and pale.
"a doctor!" he said ''Mr Boyce,
you have killed him-the Frenchman! 7
The other men carried out their bur
den gently and laid him on the ground
dying, as they thought, and dying Of
starvation. The skin chung to the bone:
of his cheeks, his eyes glared out of theil
sockets in the skull. He could not speak
but gave short, inaudible cries. 1t was
the body, not the soul, that fought against
death While Jean Paulet could think
he had kept silence.
The news spread through the little
town. The kindly people gathered about
the poor stranger, doctors, and Indignant
men and weeping women, all anxious te
help and nurse him. He was carried tc
the minister's house. Old Doctor Nor
ton, with the Judge, watched over him
all night, feeding him as they would /
baby, a spoonful at time. The squire
wife was there before day with bowl o.
wine panada, which she had made witt
her own hands. She found crowd o.
other women, rich and poor, gathered
about the door of the parsonage.
"Will he live9"
HAS he spoken again of his littl,
, girl!"
+ ''Oh, il he only lives long enough Il
, know that we are not all murderers."
The village was full Of warm, hospita
BILE, Christian feeling. and the though
that stranger had lain among them
5 starving to death in his despair, for
week, had reused them all
| Late that morning, when Jean hat
wakened from his deadly lethargy. ole
$ Boyce came skulking up to the minister
$ door. Some of his neighbours met hin
2 and turned their heads the other way
They had long known the manner of maj
, he was; this was only the elimination o
c his life of sham piety and meanness.
e The old doctor met him at the door
Here is the portmanteau l had i
: safe three days ago. he muttered ant
e turued away.
The doctor carried it in and laid it OIL
| the bed. Jean gave low cry an,
n caught it in his bony hands IL can g,
back to my little girl now he wits
' pered.
4 The people of that village did not d,
: good by halves. They sent Sam Nelson
4 a promising young lawyer, to Washing
j. ton, with Jeans papers to substantial
his claims. While he was gone the
4 nursed the old man back to health AM
. strength, handing him about from hous
), to house, and farm TO farm, an honore,
A ant 4,.,,. l.