Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-08-10
ICONTINUED.l
CHAPTER XIII.
TILE STOLEN KEY.

lll lne laSJ sOulu OF UDe morse nOOtS
died away on the distant highway of ST.
Maurice. Then, with one accord, they
burned to re-enter the house. Poor Glenn
entine, as was natural, looked rather
downcast, though she was evidently
doing her best to keep cheerful face.
Still she could not help thinking a little
Of the i'll omened whispers she had over
heard and began to half regret she had
consented to let Charles go. Now that
he was really gone it seemed to her she
could have better borne the delay if he
had been with her. She would at least
have known that he was safe in the
house, and now who could tell what ac-
cident might befall him by the way?-then
she would never forgive herself. AT this
thought her face grew so melancholy
that it attracted NJ. Dumont's attention.
Come come, ma petite" he said, talk
ny her arm aifectionately under his own,
"cheer up. We can't have your pretty
face looking so triste, Charles will be
back safely before you open your eyes
tomorrow morning, and when you see
him you will laugh at your own fears
Come, now, we will go in and amuse
ourselves with a game of trictrac until
A9dtine and try and forget all our little
troubles
50 they went in, NJ. Dumont telling
Margot TO prepare them some of her spe-
cial mulled wine by bedtime, which he
said was capital specific for making one
Sleep somdly
Then the trictrac board was produced
and they began their game.
N. Germenil did not join in the game
but sat down to read a 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 a great treat too. After
awhile he folded up his paper, and say
ing he would 90 and smoke pipe in the
courtyard bctoOk himself off, leaving NJ.
Dumont and Clementine deep in their
game, for trictrac was a favorite game
with both Of them.
NJ. Germenil was a kind hearted man
and was touched 10y the deep detection of
the poor waytarer's attitude and the sad
expression of her face.
Poor creature" he thought to him
self as he paced up and down before the
house watching her the while, "she in
forests me; she looks as if she had seen
better days. She certainly has seen great
trouble. Fer face tells that and her
whole appearance. ] wish we could do
something for her. She might be useful
10 them here or l would take her home
with me and find her something to do
OF course it is rather risk with a stran-
ger one knows nothing about. But like
her looks and dare say she will be able
10 give some account Of herself. ! will
speak 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 the ashes
carefully ont, and putting it into his
pocket advanced to the woman's side
As we have see2l, she had risen from
her seat with the intention Of seeking her
1cnetactors, thanking them for their
goodness to her and then resuming her
journey. Perceiving NJ. Germenil be-
side her as She turned, she made him a
deep courtesy.
We'll" he said kindly, Il am afraid
We had forgotten you for the moment,
my good woman. But you have had
some dinner at any rate"
Yes, sir, thank your she replied
"Wcll, he went on, sit down again.
/ want to talk to you a 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 he asked her.
Il 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 a decent livelihood
as You seem anxious to do. We are all
Interested in YOU"
Monsieur is very good!" she said in a
broken voice
But Of course it will be necessary
hat 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
70 be or as friendlcss"
No, sir" she replied. MY parents
were well to do people who cultivated
heir own land. We wanted for nothing
Ny youth Was happy one, and my flu
lure promised to be So too but 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"
"Tase courage, Marie" said M. Ger
mcnil cOmpassionately. Better DAYS are
no doubt in store for you, and you will
yet find reconpense and consolation for
all your troubles"
ooh, sir! OH sirl" she cried stirred ont
of her usual reserve and self restraint by
his tone and look Of compassion, there
could be no recolnpense, no consolation
for such trouble rs mine. Father, moth
e., brother, child, friends, home, bereft
of all, wandercr on the face of the
earth, but not guilty! Oh, not that! God,
who sees into all hearts, knows that
sln innocent"