The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1893-10-19

the man was safe IN the cart jand that
the woman could not go far.
For some little time they progressed
in this fashion Marie's state of mind
was terrible, and she only longed for
death to put an end to her sufferings.
All the light seemed to have gone out of
her life. As yet she could not realize
the blow that had fallen-her husband
!. a murderer, herself arrested as a thief
and even now on the way to some un-
known peril, while the author of it all,
the man whom she had loved and loved
still in spite of all, treating her not even
with cold indifference, but harshly.
and threatening her.
When the cart some little time after
came near wood which stretched for
many a league around away to the FROM
tier, the sergeant turned around to tell
his female prisoner that it was time to
get back into the cart or to come again
into line with the rest of the party. He
could not see her. With q quick rush
he ran to the cart and dragged back the
curtain, calling:
''What does this mean? If your wife
has escaped. it will be the worse for you.
Get up. you lazy Here he started
back in amazement, for his eyes met
those of Marie, dilated with fear.
ssSacrei' he called to the others, 'she
has escapedi Run, mes enfants. Quickl
He cannot be far. He was here but q
moment ago. Do not hesitate to shoot
if he does not stop ct the word.
The gendarmes ran back and secured
the road right and left, but all in vain,
for Robert Macaire had broken from
prison and escaped from custody too often
to be caught mapping when there was a
chance to escape. He was already SAT.
in the wood and under cover of its shell
ter, putting each moment a great dis
tance between himself and his pursuers,
while they were vainly searching for hi.c
on the ground which he had passed over.
Seeing that search was in vain. and
that the only chance Of recapturing him
was by raising the hue and cry from the
station, the sergeant called his men back.
They came, naturally enough thoroughly
angry at the way in which they had
been tricked and vowing vengeance on
Robert Macaire in case they should ever
lay their hands upon him again.
The sergeant said nothing to Marie for
awhile. He was merciful man accord
ing to his lights, and he knew it would
only cause her more pain without doing
her any good. and he felt that it was only
natural for woman to help her husband
under the circumstances. Besides, he
was not at all sure in his mind from the
first that she was guilty. He could see
that there was some mystery on foot, and
he thought that in all probability she was
not the most guilty party in whatever
i'll doing was on hand. Presently, how
ever, he came to the cart and said to her
gently enough:
Il wanted to treat you as kindly as
could. You mustn't blame me if there
is any rigor shown to you after what has
happened. Poor soul! Ipity you from
the bottom of my heart. And you so
young, too-little more than child.
have girls of my own, and who knows
but some day they may need friend
or some hand of pity stretched out to
them? Well, there! he's worthless
wretch to my thinking, and perhaps
you're well rid of him-but he has es-
capped, and we are so near the frontier
that if he is decently careful he may get
away all right, so don't fret yourself
about any danger coming to him, but
keep your strength for what you have
soon to go through"
This kindness was too much for poor
Marie after all the bitterness she had
gone through. A f1oodtide of gratitude
rushed to her heart, and with a rush of
tears she bent over and kissed the rugged
hand that lay on the back of the cart as
the old soldier walked along trying to
comfort her.
From thenceforth Marie had stanch
friend in the old sergeant. who made up
his mind that he would aid her all he
could within the line of his duty.