The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-08-07

discourage her, and, singing an ola FAMILIAR
hymn 10 keep up her spirits, she skipped
along the road. But the bowling OF the
wind deadencd her voice, and Gretien's
courage began To forsake her All the
ghost stories she had ever heard al the
inns fireside now came up i'm her mind
The trees seemed like huge giants wreak.
ing vengeance on her boldness and the
voice of the wind sounded In her ears like
the groaning of unearthly spirits.
At last, unnerved from fright, she halted
and was about rctracing her steps when
the thought of meeting Waldemar and con
Tossing her timidity stung her TO the heart
No, she would not return to the inn with
out the hedgewood, no matter what IL cost
her. The church was only few yards
from her, and would IL not be cowardly TO
forfeit Waldemar's promise now that she
had gone so far? And, then, how grateful
dear Hans would be when he heard how
much his Gretien had risked for him. And
with this last thought to encourage her she
hurried toward the old church. Having
reached IL safely she breathed a prayer of
thanks and stepped into the vestibule
which was doorless, for a moments rest
before fulfilling the rest of her mission.
She had hardly done so when she heard the
sound of footsteps coming up the path
which she had just left Yes, and the
voices of several men who were undoubt-
edly coming toward her. Her heart sank
within her, and as the voices became loud
or and louder she felt her strength grad
ually leaving her. What should she do? To
call for aid would be useless, for she was
too far from any assistance; to fly would
be ridiculous, as she would soon be over
taken.
In this extremity she concluded to re-
main where she was, consoling herself with
the idea that the men might probably be
strangers in the forest who had lost their
way in the storm. SO she crouched herself
up into a corner of the stone wall, pulled
her hood over her eyes and waited anxious
ly. How long she remained there she could
not tell. The minutes seemed like hours
as she heard the men rapidly approaching
her. They came up at last, and all hope
left her when she heard them stop in front
of the church. Its all right" said one
In a low, indistinct whisper. II knew the
storm would keep all danger off tonight.
At the same time something blew past
Gretien into the vestibule of the church.
"There goes your hat, old boy" said an
other voice. 1T went over toward the
church door" His companion rushed for
ward to find 1t, and after cropping around
in the dark for some minutes had TO give
up the search, much to the comfort of poor,
trembling Gretien, who expected each mo-
ment to be wrcsted from her hiding place
As he left the church the man who was
waiting hailed him with an oath for caus-
ing the delay and told him to proceed with
his work unless he was particularly anx ious
to be handcuffed.
Both men walked IA few yards from the
church, where they halted, and from the
tone of their voices seemed to be engaged
In u lively dispute Gretien, now feeling
more secure and being somewhat curious
to see what the men were doing, lifted her
hood and moved near the entrance of the
church. But what sight met her eyesl
The two men who had just been beside her
were engaged in stripping the spoils from
human corpse. The dreadful truth then
dawned upon her for the first time. These
men were murderous robbers, who had
waylaid traveller i'm the storm-perhaps
some one on his way to the inn. But be-
fore Gretien could realize her own danger,
the men, having divided the booty between
them, carried the body into the graveyard,
where they buried 1t. Then muttering n
few words they hurriedly walked through
said, for she had fallen into swoon.
Twenty minutes later she opened her
eyes to see the bright moonlight streaming
in on her, for the storm had entirely abat
ed Rousing herself, she looked around.
Could IL be that the forest, now SO beauti
full and still, could have but n few moments
before been the scene of murder and plum
| der The sights she had witnessed and the
dangers she had encountered that night
seemed like frightful dream, and recall
ing the awful deed she sliuddered from
head to foot Drenched from the storm
and weak with fatigue, she rose to her feet
with difficulty. Then wrapping her wet
cloak around her, she looked timidly
around and rushed from the church. But
| in doing so she stumbled, and STOPPING
down found the hat for which the man
had made such diligent search. Picking
1t up and placing 1t under her shawl, she
once more left the chapel Then without
daring to look beyond it she walked up to
the fence of the graveyard, pulled IA piece
of the hedgewood, and pressing it to her
bosom ran at full speed up the path to the
| inn. She reached Ii in safety and knocked
at the door But in knocking the hat fell
| from under her arm. In lifting 1t from
| the ground she thought she saw something
| inside which might be a name, and hold
| ing it up I'm the moonlight looked at 1t
| carefully. But suddenly her face became
haggard, her lips lost their color, and with
a scream of despair Gretien fell against
| the door of the inn. What revelation
| There in her hand was the cap in which
she had lately embroidered the name so
| dear TO her hcart-Hans Naroli.
waldemar Bleneau, having become anx-
ious, as Gretien failed to return, fastened
| to admit her and reached the door as she
| fell He assisted her father in carrying
| her to chair, but her lips were sealed
and her eyes were closed There, with the
cap on her arm and her hand still clutch
| ing the hedgcwood, Gretien was dead
| Philadelphia Times.