The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-02-12
JEALOUS PIERRE.


The vosges is a country where
mountain life and an existence buried
in the forests has given the people q
stamp and manners peculiarly their
own. Wood choppers, charcoal burners
and others, thriving by woodland in
dnstries, make up the population. To
fell tree is matter that few can at
tempt. 1t Is the perquisite OF the
favored few. Most of the woodmen,
like Pierre Roster, were but wood
choppers, allowed TO top off branches.
Pierre was surly, fitful man; at
times Industrious, active, energetic;
and then again moody sullen, roam
ing off TO the widest parts of tho
mountain, not 30 work, but to brood,
What caused this no one knew, for
Perlne, his wife, was the most beautl-
full and best woman that entered the
portal of the mountain chapel. All
acknowledged her merit, while they
wondered at her choice of such hus-
band. Still she bore all his hayward
ness uncomplainingly, and when his
moody idleness pinched everything in
the household she never complained.
Where was ii to endY just then q
ray of relief came; gentleman in
4 feeble health had come TO the noun
talns by his physielans order to try.
1 as last resource, the pure air of their
breezy heights. The cure TO whom he
applied, aware of Perine's embariass.
ment, directed him to her cabin. She
cheerfully undertook to give him such
accommodations as her roof could
afford, and even Pierre seemed re.
loved.
But as the health of Mr.. Saunier i'm.
proved, new cloud came over the
brow of Pierre. His solitary wife
found pleasure and forgetfulness in
the conversation OF her guest during
the long absence of her husband.
Pierre became jealous; he now re
manned at home, not working, but
sulkily lounging. His wife's ire
proachable life gave no ground FOL
suspicion, aud the fact that he could
detect not shadow on which to base
an accusation seemed to make him
only more flerce#iiti brutal.
One day the needed fuel; the large
pile always near the door having grad
ally dwindled down, the consumed
portion was not now replenished by
Pierre. She asked him to go and cui
some. II was Mr.. Saunier's last day
and with the morrow his departure
would deprive them of what had long
been their sole support. THIS thought
IL,
with an oath he declared that he woufC
bring her tho branches OF the Ecort
pine, a well-known tree that for gen
eratlons had stood upon the brink of {
fearful prescipice, untouched by wood
mans baud.
Don't talk so, Pierre" she cried
you can get wood without tempting
Providence;" and she went on busily
with the washing at which she was ell
gagged.
Pierre strobe off with his axe in hand
and climbed tho step-like whitenet
rocks on which the old tree stood. He
climbed and began to Top on. Brancl
after branch fell, some where he NIGH
get them, others far below in the deeI
ravihe, that no one had ever ventureC
TO descend. As he got up q sort Of
fury seized him, and he resolved to cut
OIL the topmost branch; but when MOI
half dozen remained, shudder rar
through his frame rs he heard n crack
ling sound far below that he knew toe
well. Tie old tree was swapping of
below; the incessant blows OF his axe
had given IL tho impulse. With a pray
er that hardly reached his lips he lung
his axe to the winds and clasped tn,
tree with the agony of despair.
With crash the giant Of the fores
swung, not where other trees NIGH
have broken its fall and given him
chance Tor life, but headlong dowr
the abyss. One fearful cry and all wa
still. The cry brought another wood
cutter IN sight of the broken stump
and he fastened to perine to announce
the fate of her unhappy husband.
IL was work of hours to reach tn,
spot where lie fell. Rough but kindl,
hands raised the corpse, and whei
placed in its rude coffin the woodmeI
gathered to bear it down on the curl
Gus railroad OF the mountain to tn,
chapel door, where the last serviee
We're to be performed over the victim
of his own jealousy and the Ecor
pine.