The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-10-20

1 osAuOluS hcdf eHC Seo'C
Your name?" he demanded.
Incline Sacael"
Your age and your residence?"
sixteen years. ] live with my ia
ther, who burns charcoal at the clear
ing of Onze-Foutaine.
You swear to tell all the truth?"
Il came only Cor that"
Raise your right hand. You wer,
near your home on the night when tn,
1 guard Sourrot was murdered. Relat.
/ oil that you know"
| That is what know: Our folk
had set out to go with the charcoal t.
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 me! Am / not
watching 1T an early hour?' / cried
How goes all at your home? AL
well?'
No he answered. The mothe,
has q fever and the children are al
most dying with hunger. There is
not mouthful of bread in the house,
and am trying to SSin rabbit to sell
in Maryville.' That is on the other
side Of Onze-Fontainc. l lost sight
of him then. but at dsybreak I heard
the report of gun, and l was just
clearing the ashes to shield the char
coal. Then, Immediately after, two
men came running toward our lodge.
They were disputing. 'Scoundrelv
cried the guard I arrest you
g 'Sourrotr cried the other, 4 pray
you let me have the rabbit, for they
are dying of hunger at my home
g Go to the devil!' said the guard
Then they fell upon each other 1
could hear their hard blows plainly.
Suddenly the guard cried: 'Oh! and
then he fell heavily.
Il 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?"
1T was none of my business-and I
did not wish to speak against Man
chin
81 see; but you seem to have changed
your mind this morning. How is
that?"
1T is because have heard that they
accused Guestin."
And who is this Guestin?"
The girl Redeemed and answered.
"He is our neigh Dor 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? l put these
great boots on, and | have run all the
way through the woods to tell you
this. Oh, how have run! l did not
feel tired. l would have run till to-
morrow IL 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
y grow pale and stagger. Whats
the matter?"
MY head swims ] cannot see.'
She changed color, and her temples
grew moist.
The judge, alarmed, poured out
glass of wine and said: Drink this
quickly" He was wholly absorbed and
7ery much moved before this girl who |
vas threatened with illness. He dared |
lot call Scholastique, for fear of dis |
urbing his cooking. He looked help !
essly toward the clerk, who was gnaw-
ng his penholder.
1t is swoon," observed the lat |
er. Perhaps she needs something
o eat"
Are you hungry?" demanded the
Cdge.
She made sign of assent
Excuse me-" she said in q feeble
'oice, "but have had nothing to eat
ince yesterday. 1t is that which
makes me dizzy"
The deuce"' he cried at last hero
caily. Violently he drew toward him
he platter on which lay the trout.
after separating a large piece, which
e put on the table be fore her, he made
he charcoal burner sit down.
Eat" said he. imperiously.
He had no need TO repeat his com.
nand. She ate rapidly, voraciously.
n another mil nute the plate was empty,
nd Judge Sourdat heroically filed it
new.
The scribe Touchbouef rubbed his
yes. lie no longer recognized the {
ldge. He admired, though not ,
'lthout a sentiment of regret, the ,
obust appetite of the charcoal burner. !
ho devoured the exquisite fish with ,
ut any more ceremony than if it had ,
cen a smoked herring, and he mur-
ured: What pityi Such beautiful ,
sh!'' .
At that moment the door opened, I
he third guest, the good priest of St
incent in q new cassock and with 8
is three hat under his arm, d
ntered the dining-room and stopped
uestloningly before the strange (
'ectacle of that little savage seated {
the judges table Y
Too late, NJ. le Cure" growled the 4
dge- There's no more trout" 4
At the same time he related the :
story Of the little charcoal burner.
ne cure heaved sigh. He compre- b,
ended the grandeur of the sacrifice. i;
1t half nOurnful. half smiling. he :
Pped upon the shoulder OF the Judge. .
Judge Hemorin Sourdat." cried he, i,
'ou are better than you thought In :
nth tell you that all punishment r
' your sin OF gluttony will be for :
er remitted because of that tiou. /,
atch we have not esten.--Romsnce- :