The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-28

The night of Dec. "a. 17SS. was a
stormy one. The rain fell in torrents;
the wind blew furiously. and at each
gust the dead branches fell from the
trees with noises that sounded strange
ly like groans.
1t was about o'clock in the MORN
ing, and there was carriage on the
road leading from the village of Croix-
.Daurade, which is situated about four
kilometers from Toulouse, to the Cha
teau de Palificat. The horses had their
heads turned toward the gale. and We're
becoming restless and unmanageable,
when a sudden gust of wind, more vio-
lent than the others, blew out the light
in the lanterns.
"Stop, Jeanw said a voice from the
inside of the carriage.
The coachman obeyed, and descend
ed from his seat. He took the nervous
horses by the brides, and calling each
by name stroked them with his hand
to quiet them.
"Can you see a light anywhere"
asked the same voice.
Yes" replied Jean, there's one very
near. 1t is the in the cottage of the
Margaridetto, but it is a very humble
place. and Marguerite is very poor
Whats the difference" said the
man in the carriage. I'VE will at any
rate be much better off there than in
this raging storm"
The door of the carriage was opened
and man, holding very large bundle
in his arms, stepped out and ran in the
direction indicated by the coachman.
He knocked at the door of the cottage,
h;cb nnanaI nv "a vnnfh fnIlr-
teen or fifteen years of age.
You here. Monsieur le Marqus.' ex-
claimed the boy in astonishment.
Yes" replied the Marquis, as he en-
tered and placed on chair his precious
bundle, which was nothing else than n
young girl about the same age as the
boy who opened the door.
They We're the same age. but in other
respects how different. The girl was
wrapped in long cloak of rich fur
through the openings of which could be
seen a dress of garnet satin. Her pretty
blond hair was covered with lace
lined cap, under which shone her beau
tiful blue eyes. The boy was pale. thin
and had an air of misery and timidity
about him that was ptiful to see.
The room in which the Marquis and
his daughter had sought shelter was
cold and bare, and dimly lighted by a
solitary candle. The only articles of
furniture were a few wooden chairs.
clock and an old table. and in the cor
ner a bed on which a sick woman was
lying.
The Marquis looked about him in
SURPRISE; and the lad. who seemed to
anticipate his questions, said:
"Oh, we do not live in luxury here,
but. YOU know, my mother is widow,
and she has been sick for two years.
l earn barely enough to keep us from
starving by tending the flocks."
The girl shivered with cold: and the
boy at once threw some pine knots on
the fire, which blazed up at once. fill
ing the room with bright dancing light.
The sudden illumination awakened
the sleeping woman. Her pale and
ghastly face resembled that of corpse.
The boy ran to her side to announce
the visit with which they had been
honored.
Yes. my poor Marguerite said the
Marquis. I'VE were overtaken by the
storm on our way back from the mid
night mass, and We have sought shefter
here"
The poor woman had barely strength
to nod her head and to murmur few
words of welcome.
"What is your name" asked the
Marquis of the boy.
Francois"
"Are you a shepherd?"
"Yes, monsieur; they are your fiocks
that l tend"
How much do you earn?"
at depends. In the busy season
three sous a day; sometimes less than
that"
"Is that all?"
1--WE live on that, my mother and I:
= 20 q alfnUaf
'fPoor peOple!' exclaimed the girl.
There was so much sweetness and
genuine compassion in her tone that
Francois was greatly touched at the
words. He fixed his glance upon the
aristocratic demoiselle. and felt one OF
those instructive sentiments of sympa-
thy which are often experienced at the
first sight of person whose character
harmonizes with ones own. :,
The storm was now almost over, ana
only a light rain was falling. The
Marquis called to the coachman, VINO
relighted the lantern and drove the
carriage to the door Of the cottage.
'tCome, mignonne, let us hurry to the
chateau" said the Marquis to his
0aughters t
Jeanne de sicard wrapped herself
again in her cloak; but, before leaving,
she slipped into Francois hand a gold
coin, the first one that had ever shone
In that miserable hut. -,
The next day, and all the days fol-
puw1ng. Jeanne came to see the poor
invalid, who, from that time was In
need neither of food, medicines nor
care. but Marguerite, who was worn
out with privatiOns and disease, could
not recover; and month later she
died in the arms Of her son.
Francois vowed eternal gratitude to
their young benefactress. Thanks 10
the tender charity Of the young girl.
his mother had died, not In the misery
and squalor In which she had lived SO
long, but surrounded by every comfort
that could make her end less painfui.
On her side Jeanne was greatly I'M
pressed with the mild disposition and
the honesty of the young shepherd, ana
she persuaded her father to place him
in the convent of the JacObins at Tou-
louise as an oblate. 1t was a great op-
portun8ty for the young peasant; he
he would be received into the order
either as an instructor or as lay
brother, according to his disposition
and talents.
Jeanne went to spend in Toulouse the
winter which followed Francois en-
trance into the convent. Each Sunday
she went to mass at the Dominican
convent, for 1t was there that the most
renowned preachers could be heard.
and the ceremonies were performed
with a pOmp that was not equaled In
any of the churches of the city.
Francois assisted at these ceremonies
as an acolyte, carrying a great silver
candlestick or swinging the censer,