The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-10-06
LEROUSE'S CRIME.

The yolpng woodcutter stopped and
looked up at the height of the tree just
at that lnomeIt the birds were ali singing
in chorus. The WOOdcutter had seen q
nest, which he wanted to get for Francine,
the pretty brown eyed girl who minded
tbs goats at the Gaudelin's farm
The young woOdcutter would have done
anything to win smile from Francinc,
and so he quickly took Off his sab0ts and
climbed tho tree. The neg was very high
up, and he had to cling to the branches
with legs and arms.
Just as he had nearly reached the nest
he heard voice below asking him what
he was doing, and looking down he saw
Michel Lerouse, the roadmender.
Birds nesting at your age? What do
you want it fOrs''
That's none of your business. -
III bet it's for Francine that you risk
eaking your neck. If it is, I'll stop your
getting it, that's ALL
That's good, laughed the young
woodcutter as he let himself quickly down
from one branch to another, and then,
giving final jump, was soon at the side
of the rOadmender.
Look herel'' he said, putting his hand
firmly on the other mans arm, 1T seems
to me we've had enough of this sort of
thing. know you are In love with Fran
cine, and you know 1 am, but I've got the
luck to be the one she has chosen. This
sort of thing always goes it's own way,
and no can interfere She's going to
marry me- and don t see any use in your
turning my enemy for that. We've known
each other all our lives-let's make it up,
Michel. " And the young woodcutter held
out his hand
The other man shrugged his shoulders
and took no notice of the proffered hand
You won give that nest to Francine,
that's all I've got to say.
The young WOodcutter commenced
climbing the tree again, but this time he
did not stop half way, but went up to
the branch in which the nest was built,
and then, looking down, he said, Now 5
your time; if you want to stop my getting
the nest, you've only to come up here
As the young man lifted it carefully
from between the branches the poor moth
er bird in great distress lowered around
over his head
..There, there he said, III shall bring
it back tonight. I only want to show it
to Francine.''
He looked down just at this instant and
saw that Michel was holding a huge stone
ready to throw at him.
= If you don t loose the nest, I shall de-
stroy it for you"
In another instant he had thrown the
huge stone, and Jacques was lying on the
ground at his feet, the blood oozing from
a wound in his head
Jacques neither spoke nor stirred.
Michel knelt down beside him and called
him, but all in vain, and then, seized
with a terrible idea, he rushed to the vii
lage for help, telling every one that the
young woodcutter had fallen from q high
oak tree and cut his head on stone. Half
an hour later the apparently dead body Of
the poor young wOOdcutter was carried
home, and after the noise of voices and foot
steps had died away the wood was quiet
once again, save for the singing of the
birds.
No one suspected Michel, and the follow
ing year, when the tragic event was no
moro talked about no one was surprised
at his engagement to Erancine. Their
marriage took place very soon after their
engagement, and they went to live in a
pretty little cottage built at the foot Of a
mountain.
One day, when Francine had been ar
ranging their little sitting room. she
turned suddenly around to her husband
and said: There, doesn' { everything look
nice Michel We are as happy as the
birds in their nest
All don t say thatl'' he exclaimed. =
The roadmender stopped and looked up
at the height of the tree He shuddered
but a kind of magnetic influence seemed
to draw him closer and closer to the tree
A cold perspiration broke out all over
him, and he thought he saw marks of
blood high up Oh the bark Nearer and
nearer he went to the tree, and at last he
lifted up his arms as though ilnploring
something The gnarled branches over
his head shook with the icy wind
He took his leather belt in his hand and
climbed the tree as Jacques had done.
The only birds that he could hear now
were the ravens croakingi They looked
down at him pitilessly, their black heads
came nearer and nearer, and their croak-
ing was louder and louder. ..Quicki
Quickl'' they seemed to say Be quick,