Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1894-11-01


in a cane-seated armchair. sxed his
clear, hard ewes upon the girl. who
remained standing near the stove
Your name2" he demanded.
"Neline Sacael~
Your age and your resideuceT'
sixteen years | live with my IA
Their. who burns charcoal at the clear
ing Of One Fontaine-
You swear to tell all the TRUTH
Il came only for that"
Raise your right hand You were
near your home on the night when the
guard Sourrot was murdered. Relate
all that you know"
That Is what / know: Our folks
had set out To 20 with the charcoal to
S,euay. watched near the furnace
Toward two o'clock. at q moment
when the moon was hidden. Manchin,
who is a woOdcutter Of Ire. passed be-
fore our lodge. see me. Am ! not
watching al an early hourT cried
How goes all at your home? All
wellg'
No. he answered The mother
has fever and the children are al
most dying with hunger. There is
not a mouthfui OF bread in the house.
and am trying to kill a rabbit to sell
in Maryville That is on the other
side Of Onze-Fontaine- lost sight
of him then. but at daybreak I heard
the report q, a gun. and I was just
clearing the ashes 10 shield the char
coal Then. Immediately after. two
men came running toward our lodge
They we're disputing. 'Scoundrel-
cried the guard I arrest you-'
e ->ourrotr cried the other. I pray
[ you let me have the rabbit. for they
are dying Of hunger at nv home
e. Go To- the devil. said the quart
Z Then they fell upon each other.
could hear their hard blows plainly.
Suddenly the guard cried. OH and
then he fell heavily.
Il had hidden behind our lodge. ter
I ribly frightened. and Mauchin ran
away into the great forest. and from
T that time TO this he has not been seen.
/ He Is in Belgium. for sure That is
all
Hum growled the judge. Why
I did you not come to tell this a. soon as
I vOu received the summons?"
1t was none of my business-and |
did not wish to speak against Man
chin"
Il see; bat you seem to have changed
I your mind this morning. How I.
I tha,?-
I 1T Is because have heard that they
accused Guestin-~
And who is this Gue.tin?-
I The girl Redeemed and answered:
He i our neighbor charcoal burner.
and he would not harm a fy. Do you
not see. she continued that the
thought Of fastening on him the guilt
Of another aroused me? l put these
Z great boots ON. and have run ali the
way through the woods to tell you
I this. oh. how have run, I did not
+ feel tired would have run till to-
morrow If it had been necessary be
Z cause i Is as true as the blue Heavens
I that our Guestin is entirely innocent.
/ gentlemen
Halo cried he. seeing her sudden
/ " grow pale and stagger. What's
( the matter
MY head swims cannot see
She changed color. and her temples
grew moist.
The judge. alarmed. poured out
glass % vine and said Drink this
quickly lie was wholly absorbed and
very much moved before this girl who
was threatened with illness He dared
not call >eholastique, for fear Of dis
turbing his cooking lie looked help
lessly toward the clerk. who was gnaw-
/ ing his penhOlder-
1t = swOon. observed the lat
ter Perhaps she needs something
10 eat
Are you hungry demanded the
judge
She made a sign of assent
Excuse me-. she said in a feeble
voice. but have had nothing to eat
since yesterday. II is that which
makes NE dizzy
She spoke with an animation which
made her truly beautiful in spite of her
rags Her rough eloquenee had the
ring Of sincerity. and the terrible
Judge felt himself moved by the en-
ergy with which the child defended
Guestin-
Judge >our,iat tremhIed for the hrs,
time in year.. while his heart softened
a. in childhood He thought of this
Young girl who mad run three leagues
in order 10 save her companion from
the clutches Of the law-ihree leagues
in hot sun and fasting The though,
Of the last moved his sensihilities more
strongly than could anything else. IL
MS confusion he cast a despairing look
I at the table. The salad and the she'll
: fish seemed too good for any but such
!. a. be and his companions
The deuce he cried al last hero
+, ieally- Violently he drew toward hin
the platter go which Law the trout
After separating 4 large piece, which
he put on the table before her. he mad,
the charcoal burner sit down
Eat said he. imPeFiously.
4 lie had no need 10 repeat his com
: manA She ate rapidly. voraeiously
:, In another minute the plate was empty
: and Judge >Ouriat heroieally filed /
anew.
The scribe Touchbouef rubbed hi
eyes He no longer recognized IN
= Judge He admired. though no
:. without a sentiment Of regret, tn
robust appetite ofthe charcoal burner
who devoured the exquisite fish with
. out any more ceremony than IL il ha
been a smoked herring. and he mul
:. INJURED. What pity, such a beau,ifu
:. dish"
!. At that moment the door opened
. The third guest the good priest OF $
>, Vincent. IN a new czssock aud wit
: his three-eornered hat under his arm
a entered the dining-rOom and s,oppe
questioniugly before the strans
a.. spectacle of that little savage seate
: At the judges table
Too late. ". lie Cure growled Ii
Judge. There's no more trout
At the same time he related II
history of the little charcoal burne
|. The cure heaved a sigh. He eompr
: hended the grandeur of the saerifc
but half nournful. half smiling.
tapped upon the shoulder of the judg
= Judge Hemorin Sourdat.r cried b
!, you are better than you thought
truth ! tell you that all punishmei