Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-08-17
CONTINUED
CHAPTER XIV,


~ Inv AOllHr
The night was past. The sun had just
isen above the horizon, and the long,
FOOL. gray shadows of early morning fell
across the green, dewy grass. A soft
breeze rustled through the ears of corn
Ind lightly stirred the leaves of the tall
poplars. The birds had begun their
matin song, the soft murmur of insect
life filled the air, and all the music OF
nature was awake rejoicing over the
Newborn day.
All was quiet within the walls of Les
aons Amis. Clementine, with a smile
Oh her rosy lips, dreamed of Charles. who
s-as then fast hurrying toward her I'M
ter the leafy arches of the forest
N. Dumont was still fast asleep, little
dreaming WHIT grewsome deed had been
perpetrated beneath his roof-the authors
of which slept peacefully too. There
was, however, one person awake; guilt
and innocence slept, but not despair and
misery.
Marie had been long up and dressed
md ready for the road, for her one de-
,ire was to get away unperceived-to
2void the interview with NJ. Germenil,
the questions she knew no would ask
hcr-and which she could not, would not
answer The pain, the humiliation of
appearing guilty in his eyes-as she felt
;he inevitably must.
Of course she knew very we'll that in
going away tlrus-stealing secretly out
of her benefactors house like thief in
the night-she left herself open to the
mputation of guilt, but at least she
would escape the pain of seeing her
sentence il their faces and hearing
il III their notes.-the faces which
had looked on her so kindly and the
voices which had spoken to her so
Gently few hours before. Poor soul!
For many long year she had known
out little kindness Truly her way Of
life had lain by thorny paths, and now
when a refuge presented itself the grim
spectcr Of the past babe her sternly to
be gone.
she had thought it all over with sore
heart and had made up her mind that
she must go. Her absence would be I'M
sJticed in the hustle of the wedding
morning and when it was discovered
she would be far on her way. NJ Ger
mcnils kindness had given her the means
of living till she procured some work,
and when she was far away she would
%rite and thank her benefactors and
oeg Of them not to judge of her too
uarshly.
1t was little past o'clock when. TAX
ing her shoes in her hand, she stole softly
down stairs to the front door. She
reached the door safely, and putting on
aer shoes she then proceeded to try to
open it,
She had almost accomplished her OBJ
ject when she was startled by feeling a
hand laid on her shoulder. She turned
round speechless with dismay and terror,
and saw Pierre standing beside her.
They We're early folk at Les Bons Amis,
It is true, but this morning more so than
usual. There was still good deal to be
done so that all should be in order by
the time the wedding party arrived, and
Charles, who might arrive at any mo-
ment, as he was not likely to loiter UNI
necessarily by the way, would be sure
to be hungry after a drive of some hours
in the cold night ain ST. Maurice was
full five leagues away, and he had prob
ably left there about 3 o'clock. All this
passed vaguely through Pierre's head as
ne lay half asleep, half awake But the
ginning Of the quarter after aroused
him thoroughly to the exigencies of tho
position, and getting out of bed he hus
tied on his clothes anyhow" as he sale
20 himself, and hurried down Just il
time to stop poor Maries intended flight
WELL he said, looking at her with
suspicious expression, Cpd like to know
what IS the meaning of this manege.
thought you had promised NJ. Germeni
not to leave ill he had spoken with yol
again.
Poor Marie, quite abashed at his Loo
and manner, stannered confused It
ply:
'I-I-was not going away" she said
81 was-only-going to get Il little fires
air."
Pierre grunted incredulously.
Fresh air, indeed! People don't stea
out Of honest folks houses at this hou
OF tho morning before any ones up 70
nothing. The patron will get fnel
taken i'll one of these days, giving shelte
to II pack of lazy beggars who won
work for their living as long as they ca
contrive to get it for nothing"
These rough words were the last stra,
to poor MGrie's overweight feelings
and she burst into tears. Taking he
handkerchief ont Of her pocket in orde
to wipe her eyes, she pulled ont with
the purse which NJ. Germenil had give
her the previous evening. 1t fell on tn
floor with an unmistakable chink. an
Pierre stopped and picked it up, lookin
from it to her and from her to it nor
suspiciously than ever.
"Tiens" he said, "a purse full of golG
1t seems you are not quite so poor the
as you would have us believe. I'd lik
to know how You came by this!"
at is mine, indeed sobbed the poe
creature, land honestly come by. n
Gelmenil gave it to Inc last night"
M Germenil gave it to you?" sal
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