The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-12-04

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toward short, untidy old man, who
stood with his back to the fire peering
through his spectacles at the passengers.
His bald head rose red and shining above
his little, ferret-like eyes; the snuff
which he took necessarily drabbled his
dirty, ruffled shirt-front.
Monsieur, however, paid no attention
to the old man, but hastily ate his
supper, paid for it, and hurried out to
| the COACH
1t was gone
Another, with a different driver and
guard drove up with dash and toot Of
the horn into its place.
"This coach for Cumberland" the
| guard shouted.
Jean stood stunned and bewildered.
He was not a practical, ready man.
'Vere is my coach2" he asked. at
vas red; zis is green. 1t vas &c Eclipse"
"Get aboard, Frenchy! Can't you ride
in anything but red coach2" shouted
the driver. ''In with youl"
"C'est mon portmanteau! It is my
tickets, my money, my papersl" cried
Jean, in an agony of fright, running to
and fro.
"What ails the old man." demanded
one of the coachmen.
ellis luggage was in the Eclipse, it
seems" replied guard
"Where is the Eclipse2"
"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 ye took yer port
manly out wild ye2" ''Take horse and
ride out the Wheeling Pike, an yen
overtake it." "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.. Boyce, though he paid
high sum for front pew in church, never
had been known to give penny in char
ity, nor a 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 messenger in both di-
rections would cost few dollars.
"Why did you not take care of your
carpetsack?" he snarled; eying poor Jean
angrily.
80 monsieurl haf always leave him
in re coachl Ze American peoples are
honest! Omonsieur, it is my papers, my
money-alll"
''The more reason you should take care
of them, then. Here, Joe, go out and
see if anybody knows which way the
Eclipse went"
"Oh, thank you, monsieur" cried
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 hear?" 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.
80 monsieur Is zata Can nnotting
be done2"
"That is all You don't expect me to
pay you for the bag2"
"Notting can pay me for it. 1t is all
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, a kind-hearted Irishman,
ventured to ask Mr.. Boyce, can what
became of the little Frenchy last nightl"
"How do i knowl 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
f cry like that of a choking animal on the
NOW. He came out, shouting to the
other men, ''By the powthers of war
r dunno what it is! It's no human bein',
nor a horse, nor dog. 1t might be &
{ Bansheen
3 The men ran ip, curious and laughing
r But in a moment ORourke came out
e quiet and pale.
"a doctor" he said. ''DIr. Boyce
. you have killed him-the Frenchman =
' The other men carried out their bur
5 den gently and laid him on the ground
- dying, as they thought, and dying o.
| starvation. The skin clung to the bones
of his checks, his eyes glared out of theil
$ sockets in the skull He could not speak
5 but gave short, inaudible cries. 1t wa'
3 the body, not the soul, that fought agains
death. While Jean Paulet could think
1 he had kept silence.
g The news spread through the little
3 town. The kindly people gathered about
p the poor stranger, doctors, and indignant
men and weeping women, all anxious tC
e help and nurse him. He was carried tC
the minister's house. Old Doctor Nor
/ ton, with the Judge, watched over him
, oil uioht faa1inU him, ae they would :