The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-02-14

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He had been sitting with his back to
the barn, but he turned now so as to
face it. Something had startled him-a
rustling in the straw behind him.
"What is that?' he said, his hand ON
the table. his face lowering and watch
full.
The girl had risen also, ard as the
last word passed his lips sprung by
him, with low cry, and aimed q fran
tic blow with her stool at something he
could not see
"What is it?" he asked, recoiliag.
IA ratp' she answered, breathless.
And she aimed another blow at it,
"Where?" he asked fretfully. "Where
is it?" He snatched his stool, too, and
at that moment rat darted out of the
straw, ran nimbly between his legs and
plunged into hole by the door. He
flung the wooden stool after it, but, of
course, in vain. "It was a rat!" he
said as if before he had doubted it,
''Thank Godr' she muttered. She was
shaking all over.
He stared at her in stupid wonder.
What did she mean? What had come to
her? "Have you had sunstroke, my
girl?" he said suspiciously.
Her nut brown face was a shade less
brown than usual but she met his eyes
boldly and said, mo, adding an ex-
PLANTATION which for the moment salts.
fed him. But he did not sit down again.
When she went out, he went also. And
though, as she retired slowly to the rye
fields and work. she repeatedly looked
back at him. it Yps always to find his
eyes upon her. When this had happened
half q dozen times, thought struck
him. "How now?" he muttered. 1.-The
rat ran out of the strawp'
Nevertheless he still stood gazing aft
or her, with cunning look upon his
features, until she disappeared over the
edge Of the rift, and then he crept back
to the door of the barn and stole in out
Of the sunlight into the cool darkness Of
the raftered building, across which q
dozen rays Of light were shooting, laden
with dancing notes. Inside he stood
stock still until he had reeained the use
Of his eyes. and then he began to peer
round him. In moment he found what
he sought Half upon and half hidden
by the straw lay young man in the
deep sleep Of utter exhaustion. His face,
which bore traces of more than common
beauty, was now white and pinched.
His hair hung dank about his forehead.
His clothes were in rags, and his feet,
bound up in pieces torn at random from
his blouse, were raw and bleeding. For
short while Michel Teller bent over
him. remarking these things with glis-
tening eyes. Then the peasant stole out
again. 1T is crownsI' he muttered,
blinking in the sunlight. "Ha, hal Five
crowns!''
He looked round cautiously, but could
see no sign of his wife, and after hesi.
tating and pondering minute or two
he took the path for Carbaix, his ma
tive astuteness leading him to saunter
slowly along in. his ordinary fashion.
After that the moorland about the COT
tage lay seemingly deserted. Thrice. at
intervals, the girl dragged home her
load of straw, but each time she seemed
to .linger in the barn no longer than was
necessary. Michel's absence, though it
was unlocked for, raised no suspicionin
her breast, for he would frequently 20
down to the village to spend the after.
noon. The sun sank lower, and the shad-
ow of the great monolith, which, stand
ing on the highest point of the moor,
about mile away, rose gaunt and black
against roseate sky grew longer and
longer, and then, as twilight fell, the
two coming home met few PAGES from
the cottage. He asked some questions
about the work she had been doing, and
she answered briefly. Then, silent and
uncommunicative, they went in togeth-
er. The girl set the bread and cider on
The table, and, going to the great black
pot which had been simmering all day
npon the fire, poured some broth into |
TWO pitchers. 1t did not escape Michel's |
frugal eye that there was still little !
broth left in the bottom of the pot, and !
his induced new feeling in him
anger. When his wife hailed him by a |
'ign to the meal. he went instead to the
1oor and fastened it. Thence he went
20 the corner and picked up the wood !
chopper, and, armed with this, came
back to his seat.
The girl watched his movements, first
With surprise and then with secret ter.
or. The twilight was come, and the
cottage was almost dark. and she was
'lone with him, or, if not alone, yet
With no one near who could help her.
Yet she met his grin Of triumph brave.
y. "What is this?" she said. "Why do
'ou want that?"
"For the rat" he answered grimly,
lis eyes on hers.
"Why not use your stool?" she strove
o murmur, her heart sinking.
"Not for this rat" he answered. "It
night not do, my girl. Oh, know all
bout it" he continued. II have been
lown to the village and seen the mayor,
nd he is coming up to fetch him."
de nodded toward the partition, and
be knew that her secret was known.
1T is Pierre" she said, trembling
'iolently and turning first crimson and
hen white.
Il know it, Jeanne It was excellent
1 you! Excellent! It is long since Won