Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-01-27
LA BRETONNE.

One November evening, tho eve OF
St. GATHERINGS Day, the gate Of the
Auberiye prison turned upon its hinges
10 allow 10 pass out a woman Of some
thirty years, clad In faded wooden
gown and coifrcd in linen cap that
framed In singular fashion a face
pale and pulled by that sickly hucd fat
which develops on prison regimen. She
was prisoner whom they had just lib.
Grated, and whom her companions OF dc.
tention called La Bretonne.
Condemned for infanticide, II was cS.
nctly, day for day. six years ago that tho
prison van had brought her 10 the Con.
trale. Now, In her former garb, and
with her small stock Of money received
from tho clerk In her pocket, she found
herself FREQ and with her road pass
stamped for Langres.
The courier for Langros, however, Ind
long since gone. Cowed and awkward,
abe took her way, stumbling toward tho
chief inn Of the borough, and with
trembling voice asked shelter for the
night. but tho inn was crowded, and
the aubergisto, who did not care to har-
Dor zone Of those birds from over yon-
der" counsolod her 10 push on to the
cabaret at the far end Of tho village.
La Bretonnc passed on, and more
trembling and awkward than over
knocked at the door Of that cabaret,
which, properly speaking, was but can
tino for laborers. The cabarctiere also
eyed her askanoe. scouting doubtless a
discharged" from the Centrale, and
finally refused her on the plea that she
had no bed to give her.
La Brotonno dared not insist, but with
bowed head pursued her way, while at
tho bottom OF her soul rose and grew u
dull hatred for that world which thus
repulsed her.
She had no other resource than 10 gain
Langros afoot.
Toward tho ond Of November night
comes quickly. Soon she found herself
envelopcd In darkness, on grayish road
that ran between two divisions Of tho
forest, and where the north wind wills.
tied hcrcsly, choked her with dust and
pelted her with dead leaves.
After six years Of sodontary and 70.
clue life her legs were stiff, tho muscles
knotted and her feet, accustomed to
sabots, pinchcd and bruised by her new
slippers. Al the ond Of league she felt
thom blistered and herself exhausted.
She dropped upon n pilo Of stones by the
waysidc, shivering and asking herself II
sho was going 20 DO forced 10 perish OF
cold .nd hunger In this black night, un,
der this icy breeze, which frozo her Ia
tho marrow.
All at once, in the solitude Of the road
abe seemed To hear tho droning notes OF
voice singing. She listened and dis.
tinguished tho air Of ono of those caress.
ing and monotonous chants with which
one soothes young children.
She was not alone, theni
She struggled to her feet, and in the
direction from which the voice came,
and there, at the turn Of crossroad
perceived reddish light streaming
through tho branches. Five minutes
later she was before mud walled howell
whose roof, covered by squares of sod
leaned against tho rock, and whose win,
dow had allowed to pass that beckoning
ray.
With anxious heart she decided "a
knock.
The chant ceased instantly and WON
an opened the door, n peasant woman
no older than La Bretonne herself, hui
faded and aged 10y work. Her bodice
torn in placed. displayed tho skin tanned
and dirty; hor red hair escaped DISNEY.
cled from under n soiled stuff cap, and
her gray eyes regarded with amazemcnt
the stranger whose face had in 1t some
thing OF touching loneliness.
"Good EVENING"" said she, lifting yet
higher the gputtering lamp in her hand
"what do you dosireg'
~ am unable 10 go on" murmured
La Brctonne, In u voice broken by q
sob; "the city is far, and II you will
lodge mo for tho night you will do me 4
service, l have money; will pay you
for tho trouble"
Enter" replied tho other after q
moments hesitancy; "but why" con
tinued she, in tone moro curious than
suspicious, did you not sleep at Aubo
river
"They would not give me lodging,
lowering her blue eyes and taken with d
sudden scruple, "be-becauso, see you
came from the Maison Centrale."
80! the Maison Centralol but ne
matter-entor-I fear nothing, having
known only misery. Moreover, Two d
conscience against turning a Christian
from the door on night like this. III
give you bed and slice of cheese.
And she pulled from tho caves some