The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1893-09-07
CHAPTER Kill

till the last sound Of the horses hoofs
died away on the distant highway of St
Maurice. Then. with one accord. they
turned to re-euter the house. Poor elem.
entine, as was natural. looked rather
downcast. though she was evidently
doing her best to keep cheerful face.
Still she could not help thinking little
Of the Ill omened whispers she had over.
heard and began to half regret she had
consented to let Charles CO. Now that
be was really gone 1t seemed to her she
could have better borne the delay IL be
had been with her She would at least
have known that he was safe in tha
house. and now who could tell what &C.
cident might befall him by the wayy-then
she would never forgive herself At this
thought her face grew so melancholy
that it attracted M. Dumont's atteltion
Come. come. ma petite" he said. tax
Ing her arm aifectionately under his own
cheer up We can't have your pretty
face looking SO triste. Charles will bs
back safely before you open your eve,
tomorrow morning. and when you SCI
MIN you will laugh at your own fears
Come. now. we will 20 in and amuss
ourselves with u game Of trictrac until
dtime and try and forget all our little
troubles.
So they went in. NJ Dumont tel,ins
Margot To prepare them some of her spe
cial mulled wine by bedtime. which hs
said WAS capital specific Tor making ons
sleep sOundly
Then the trictrac board was produced
snd they began their game.
NJ. Germenil did not Join IN the game
out sat down to read Paris news
paper which the cure had lent him. and
which. though 10 days old. was consid.
cred quite new in that out Of the way
place-and great treat too. After
awhile he folded up his paper. and say.
ing he wUuld 20 and smoke pipe in the
courtyard betook himself off. leaving NJ
Dumoui 'ni Clementine deep in Their
game, f., ,.ictrac was u fayorite game
With bOth ut them.
NJ. GeruIenii was kind hearted man
and was touched by the deep dejection OF
tue poor wayfarer's attitude and the sad
expression Of her face.
Poor creature" he thought to him.
self us he paced up and down before the
house watching her the while. "she in.
terests me: she looks as if she had seen
better days. She certainly has seen great
trouble Her face tells that and her
whole appearance. wish we could do
something for her. She might DO useful
to them here or | would take her home
with me and find her something to do
OF course it is rather a risk with stran.
ger one knows nothing about. But like
her looks, and | dare say she will be able
to give some account Of herself. will
speal; to her at any rate. poor soul, and
see what she has to say"
At which point of his meditations, hav,
ing finished his pipe he Knocked Inc ashes
carefully out. and putting it into his
pocket advanced to the woman's side.
As we have seen. she had risen from
her seat with the intention of seeking her
henefactors. thanking them for then
goodness to her and then resuming her
Journey Perceiving M. Germenil be-
side her AS she turned. she made him a
deep courtesy
Well" he said kindly. Il am afraid
we had forgotten you for the moment,
my good woman. Dut you have had
some dinner Ut any ratey"
Yes, sir. thank your she replied.
We'll" he went on, sit down again
| want to talk to you little"
She sat down In silence. trembling in
every limb and feeling sure that the
questions she dreaded-to escape which
she had been about to fly from the only
shelter she could hope for that night
were about to be asked her.
II have been thinking" he went on
that perhaps we might be able to do
something useful for you in the way Of
enabling you to gain decent livelihood
as you seem anxious to do We are all
interested in youl"
Monsieur is very goodr she said in a
broken voice
But of course it will be necessary
that you should tell us little more
about yourself We don't even know
your name"
My name is Marie. monsieur!"
We'll. Marie. you have not. imagine.
been always as poor as you now appear
to be or as friendlessY'
No. sir" she replied My parents
were well to do people, who cultivated
their own land We wanted for nothing
Ny youth was happy one, and my flu.
ture promised to be so. too. hut that
promise was not realized. Alas. sir, you
see before you one of those wretched be-
ings whom misfortune and misery seem
ever to pursue!"
Take courage. Marie" said Nj. Ger.
menil compassionately Better days are
no doubt in store for You. and you will
yet find recompense and consolation for
all your troubles.
"Oh, sir! oh, sir!" she cried. stirred out
of her usual reserve and self restraint by
his tone and look of compassion. there
could be no recompense. no consolation
for such trouble as mine Father. moth.
er. brother. child friends. home. bereft
of all. wanderer on the face of the
earth. but not guilty! Oh. not thatl God,
who sees into all hearts. knows that !
am Innocent
Innocent" repeated NJ Germenil.
Have you then been falsely accused of
some crime? Speak, Marie; you have said
too much to stop there. You must ex.
plain those words"
She had risen to her feet in the excite
ment of speaking and now sank down
again in an attitude Of utter despair
saying in dull. hopeless tone:
II cannotl cannotr'
You cannoti" he said in a tone Of
surprise. IF you are innocent. why
should you fear to speakf You can at
least tell me the circumstances under
which you were accused and leave me
to Judge You will not find me harsh
Judge. Marie"
BY this time she had recovered her
composure and self control. and rising
to her feet again she turned her pale.
sad face toward him and said in low
resolute tone.
Il am grateful for your goodness. sir
but can give no explanation.
There was short pause. and then n.
Gerlneni said in "A severe toue;
In that case there is nothing more to