The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1894-11-15
II had my reasons" /" she said. casting

at the interruption. "Meanwhile we
can listen to your report"
He drew out his watch. It was 10:45.
"Yes, we have time, Touchboeuf. You
will find at your side all that Is neces-
sary for writing. We will question
her."
The notary seated himself at the
writing table with his paper and ink
stand and the pen behind his ear,
waiting. The Judge, sitting squarely
In cane-seated armchair, fixed his
clear, hard eyes upon the girl, who
remained standing near the stove.
"Your naine9" he demanded.
"Meline Sacael."
"Your age and your residence?"
sixteen years. I live with my IA
ther, who burns charcoal at the clear
ing of Onze-Fontaine."
lyon swear to tell all the truth?"
II 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 l kn ow: Our folks
had set out to 60 with the charcoal to
Stenay. watched near the furnace.
Toward two o'clock, at a moment
when the moon was hidden, Manchin,
who is a woodcutter of Ire, passed be-
fore our lodge. See mel Am / not
watching at an carly hour?' cried.
How goes all at your home? All
we'll?
No. he answered. The mother
has a fever and the children are al
most dying with hunger. There is
not mouthful of bread in the house,
and am trying to kill rabbit to sell
in Maryville.' That is on the other
side of Onze-Fontaine. l lost sight
of him then, but at daybreak I heard
the report of gun, and was just
clearing the ashes to shield the char
coal Then, Immediately after, two
men came running toward our lodge.
They were disputing. 'Scoundrel!'
cried the guard. 4 arrest YOU
+" 'Sourrot!' cried the other, Il pray
you let me have the rabbit, for they
are dying of hunger at my home
"'Go to the devil!' said the guard.
Then they fell upon each other. I
could hear their hard blows plainly.
Suddenly the guard cried: Oh!' and
then he fell heavily
II had hidden behind our lodge, ter
ribly frightened, and Manchin ran
away into the great forest, and from
that time to this he has not been seen.
He is in Belgium, for sure. That is
ALL"
"Hum!" growled the judge. "Why
did you not come to tell this as soon as
you received the summons?"
'It was none of my business-and
did not wish to speak against Man
chin"
II see; but you seem to have changed
your mind this morning. How is
that?"
'It is because have heard that they
accused Guestin."
"And who is this Guestin?"
The girl Redeemed and answered.:
"He is our neighbor charcoal burner,
and he would not harm fly. Do you
not see," she continued, ''that the
thought of fastening on him the guilt
Of another aroused me? / put these
great boots on, and I have run all the
way through the woods to tell you
this. Oh, how have runl I did not
feel tired. would have run till to-
morrow II it had been necessary. be-
cause it is as true as the blue Heavens
that our Guestin is entirely innocent,
gentlemen"
"Hallo!" cried he, seeing her sudden
ly grow pale and stagger. whats
the matter?"
My head swims. l cannot see."
She changed color, and her temples
grew moist.
The judge, alarmed, poured out Q
glass of wine and said: Drink this
quickly" He was wholly absorbed and
very much moved before this girl who
was threatened with illness. He dared
not call Scholastique. for fear Of dis
turbing his cooking. He looked help
lessly toward the clerk, who was gnaw-
ing his penholder.
ut Is a swoon." observed the lat
ter. Perhaps she needs something
to eat"
Are you hungry9" demanded the
judge.
She made a sign OF assent.
Excuse me-" she said in feeble
voice, "but have had nothing to eat
since yesterday. 1t is that which
makes me dizzy" ~
''The deuce!" he cried at last hero
ically. Violently he drew toward him
the platter on which lay the trout.
After separating large piece, which
he put on the table before her, he made
the charcoal burner sit down.
''Eat!" said he, imperiously.
He had no need to repeat his COM
mand. She ate rapidly, voraciously.
In another minute the plate was empty,
and Judge Sourdat heroically filed 1t
anew.
The scribe Touchbouef rubbed his
eyes. He no longer recognized the
judge. He admired, though not
without sentiment of regret, the
robust appetite of the charcoal burner.
who devoured the exquisite fish with
out any more ceremony than II it had
been q smoked herring. and he MUIR
INJURED: "What pityl Such . beautiful