Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-06-20

&SN' after midnight A car
" riage was passing over
the road leading from the village OF Croix
Daurade, near Toulouse, to the chateau
of Palificat. The wind and the rain
impeded the progress of the horses, and
at last fierce blast blew out the lamps
of the carriage.
"Stop, Jean !" a voice cried.
Jean, the coachman, obeyed. He de-
scended from his seat and held the
frightened horses by their brides,
speaking to them Familiarity to prevent
them from running away.
Scan you see light anywere, Jean!"
asked the voice from the carriage.
Eyes" replied the driver; 81 see a
light in Marguerite's house, but it is a
wretched place, for she is very poor.
"What of thatl" said the man in the
carriage. eve will be better off there
than in the midst of this storm it is
fierce enough to unborn cattle"
At that moment the door of the car
riage was opened and tall man de-
scended, bearing burden in his arms.
He hastcned to the house which was
pointed out to him by the coachman
III biit MluuoM Vi MillNll a lEnl
could be seen. He knocked Mt the door,
which was opened moment afterward
by boy of thirteen or fourteen years.
"What is it you. Marquisl at our
house /" said the astonished lad.
"Yes. said the Marquis, depositing
in chaiH Ais precious burden, "a young
girl.
Although the girl was of about the
same age as the boy, what a difference
there was between them The girl was
enyeloped in costly fur wrap, beneath
which was seen dress of garnet satin.
The boy was pale and emaciated and
was very poorly clad.
The room which the Marquis de Sicard
and his daughter had entered was cold
and bare. A chest of drawers, a cuckoo
clock, an old table and a few rickety
chairs composed its furniture. At the
back, in an alcove, sick woman lay
on bed. 1t was Marguerite, Of whom
the coachman had spoken. A pickering
and smoking candle dimly lighted the
apartment.
The Marquis looked about him in
surprise at the Indebtedness that sur
rounded him. The boy, understanding
his thoughts, said:
"This is poor place, Marquis but
You know mother is a widow. She has
been i'll for two years and /, in watching
the focks, make barely enough to keep
us from starving"
The young girl shivered with the !
cold. The boy threw fagot into the |
fireplace, where flames soon leaped up, /
throwing bright light into the room. I
This sudden CLEAN awoke the woman
who was sleeping on the bed and whose 1
pinched, pallid face reminded one Of
death.
The boy ran to his mothers bedside
and announced to her the visit with !
which they had been honored. The /
sick woman was astonished
''Yes, My poor Marguerite" said the !
Marquis. 1--WE have been surprised by 4
the storm while returning from mid !
night mass and have sought shelter with /
you"
The invalid had barely strength /
enough to make sign, which as much as
said that she was glad of the chance that ,
had brought her visitors to her humble I
home. The girl In the meantime con-
tinued to warm herself before the fire.
''What is your namef" asked the Mar
quis of the boy.
Francois, replied the boy.
"Are you a shepherd"
Eyes, monseigneur, a shepherd Of
your Aocks."
"How much do you earni"
'sThat is according to circumstances.
i earn three sous day during part of
the year, but often less than that"
rs that ALI"
'We live on that, mother and 1. or
rather we keep ourselves from perish
ing"
Poor thingsi" exclaimed the girl in
voluntarily.
The voice was so FULL of pity that
Francois was greatly moved BY it.
Tuning his eyes on the maiden. he
saw the sympathy expressed in her face
and his heart went out to her. II
The storm slackened, the wind was
dying away and the rain had almost
ceased. The Marquis called his coach
man, who brought the carriage to the
door
"Come, Jeanne, let us return to the
chateau" said the Marquis to his
daughter.
Jeanne again mufied herself in her
fur mantle, but before leaving the
house she put into Fnncois's hand ,