The Wichita daily eagle., 1895-02-23
LEROUSE'S CRIME.


in chorus The woodcutter had seen
nest, which he wanted to get for Francine
the pretty brown eyed girl who mlnoed
the goats at the Gaudelin' S farm.
the young woodcutter would have dohe
anything to win a smile from tranoihe,
and SO he quickly took off his sabots and
climbed the tree. The nest was very high
ap, and he had TO cling to the branches
with legs and arms.
Just as he had nearly reached the nest
he heard q voice below asking him what
he was doing. and looking down he saw
Michel Lerouse, the roadmender.
BIRDS nesting at your age? What do
Fou want it fors"
That's none Of your business.
s.I'll bet it's for Francine that you risk
breaking your neck. If it is, I'll stop your
getting it, that's all. "
That's good laughed the young
Hoodcutter as he let himself quickly down
from one branch to another, and then,
living a fnai jump, was soon at the side
Of the roadmender.
Lock herel'' he said, putting his hand
Hr1lly on the other mans arm, lit seems
to me we've had enough of this sort OF
thing. I know you-are in love with Fran
cine, and you know I am, but I've got the
tnck to be the one she has chosen This
sort of thing always goes its own way,
and no one can interfere. She's going to
marry me- and don t see any use in your
turning my enemy for that. We've known
each other all our lives-let's make it up,
Michel" A" And the young woodcutter held
out his hand.
The other man shrugged his shoulders
and took 10 notice Of the proffered hand.
You won't give that nest TO traucine,
that's all I've got 10 say"
The young woodcutter commenced
climbing the tree again, but this time he
did not stop half way, but went on up to
the branch in which the nest was built,
and then. looking down, he said, "Now's
your time; IL you want TO stop my getting
the nest. you've only to come up here.
AS the young man lifted it carefully
from between the branches the poor moth
er bird in great distress hoyered around
over his head.
There, there" he said, 81 shall bring
il back tonight / only want to show 1t
TO Francine.
He looked down just at this instant and
saw that Michel was holding huge stone
ready 10 throw al hlfn
IF you don't loose the nest, 1 shall de-
etroy it for you.
In another instant he had thrown the
huge stone and Jacques was lying on the
ground at bis feet, the blood oozing from
D wound in his head.
Jacques neither spoke nor stirred.
Michel kDelt down beside him and called
him, but all in vain, and then, seized
with a terrible idea, he rushed 10 the vii
lage for help, telling every one that the
young woodcutter had fallen frcm high
oak tree and cut his head on a stone. Half
an hour later the apparently dead body Of
the poor Young wCodcutter w6s carried
hone, and after the noise of voices and foot
steps had died away the wood was quiet
once again, gave for the singing Of the
birds
No one suspected Michel, and the follow
ing year, when the tragic event was NO
more talked about, no one was surprised
at his engagement TO FiTincine. Their
marriage took place very soon after their
engage nIcnt, and they went TO live in q
Pretty little cottage built at the foot of q
mountain.
One day, when Francine had been ar
ranging their little sitting room, she
turned suddenly around to her husband
and said: There, doesn't everything look
nice, Michel: We are as happy as the
birds in their nest.
All don't say that,' he exclaimed.
The roadmender stopped and looked up
at the height of the tree. He shuddered,
but Kind Of magnetic influence seemed
to draw him closer and closer to the tree.
a IL
him, and be thought he saw marks OF
blood high up on the bark. Nearer and
nearer he went TO the tree, and at last he
lifted up his arms as though impioring
something. The grarled branches over
his head shook with the icy wind.
He took his leather belt in his hand and
climbed the tree as jacques had done.
The only birds that he could hear now
were the ravens croaking! They looked
down at him Pitilessiy, their black heads
came nearer and nearer, and their croak-
ing was louder and louder. Quick!
Quick they seemed To say Be quick,
we are waiting-Quickl quick" The road-
mender knottod the strap with trembling
hands to thc strongest branch. He put his
head in the moose and then let himself
fall
The horrible sensation of that sudden
drop had awollo Michel from his sleep. He
hastSncd 10 dress, anxious 10 get rid OF
the remembrance OF his nightmare. 1t
was bright surshiny May morning, and
the birds were singing in all the trees.
And Francinc and jacques!
Il WAS ;heir wedding day, and no doubt
poor Nichel's jealousy and misery tho
night before had caused him 10 have that
terrible dream in which everything had
been so painfully vivid. Jacques was 60
ing to marry Francine today. He, Michel,
had lost her forevet, and furious at the
thought he paced up and down his little
room. Then the dream carle back to him
again in all its horror.
Oh, the fortunes he had suffered, the
fearful rernorse that he had gone through!
Nol Better, lar better, this reality than
that dream.
The village bells were Ginning nerrily
for the wedding. and Michel, dressed in
his sunday clothes, was or his way to the
church.
The prinroses were peeping ont at the
foot of the trees and the birds were sing
ing on every side as he passed through the
wood which led from his home 10 the vii
lage-
Involuntarily he looked UP at the nests
In the old oak tree and smiled Is he
thought Of the terrible night they had
causad him. The bells rang out more and
more gayly, and the birds sang louder and
louder. and Michel hurried 70 the we'd
ding. Million.
T.. j. UE4LEI f. Co.