Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-02-05


Frederick had taken care that all should
be quite comfortable for him. even more
so than usual, and she was in the kitchen
alone Morand seized her hands.
eff go to that faroff place. will you go
with meg'
wherever you like" said she simply
She had hitherto been too busy to think
of love. But when Morand took her in
his arms deep joy took possession of poor
Frederick.
AT this moment the door opened and Sa-
lone entered. Frederick hastily drew back,
but her hands were still clasped in her
/ lover 5, and Salome saw it.
"Sisterl" said Morand, with a smile.
Amazcmcnt, almost stupor, was writ
ten on the poor girls white face. All she
muttercd was, Docs father knowY'
"Not vet" answered Morand. 81 was
! just going to look for him in the forest"
When later the father came home, Fred
erka simply said to him: Morand loves
me. He wishes me TO be his wife"
God bless you both, 3" said Dominic,
and then he asked, do you stay or go?"
The father then thought for a moment
and added, Eyes, we must expect that you
will want a horne of your own. That is
right. You know pretty well what are
the duties of forester 1t is hard for me
to part with both of you, but it is better
So"
So Morand understood, to his great joy, !
that he had won, not only his wife, but
his independence. Salomc and her father
went out together. Thou shalt be who'll
" my own. be said tcndcrlv. Thou
shalt replace all whom | have lost
Saloinc hclLcd h,r sister to arrange her
wedding dress silcnt--, but cNcrEctically.
She seemed to have quat!cd in ono draft
her bitter cur t. have cut off her right
hand and rluckod ont her right eye IA
lone was lent on roofing out of hcr SOIL 81
love which however i-1uc.nt ~ ...'st. " :
innocent no longer. Salome watched and
prayed night and day.
Joseph was at the wedding When he
asked for q holiday. it WAS with 80 duh a
face that his master inquired, laughingly,
whether he was of to IA marriage or flu
neral
Joseph secret was tolcrably well guess
ed. but the bridegroom was not jealous
The young couple were gone The forest
ers cottage had become silent. Once Sa
lone used to sing at her work. now she
worked without singing. 1t was with diff
Guilty that She remembered little details of
housekeeping 50 easy to Fredcrika.
Il am still stout enough to take care of
myself, and | want no assistance" said
her father. 1t was Morand wanted, but
the lad knew better how to shift for him
self "
1t was the brightest day of the very dull
week when Joseph paid his usual visit
He never failed to come early and depart
late. He entered, taciturn and cold ar
ranging on his lap the flowers he had gath
cred in the forest great handfuls of which
he often took back to his city home Never
once had he exchanged condolences with
Salome vet he felt she understood him.
Whether he spoke or not, her presence was
a rest to him. She, on her side, began to
find the time long between his visits, and
each time when Joseph went away she
said to him, You will be sure to come
again?'
The clouds We're low and the sky gray
when Joseph, stick in hand, the next time
took his way to the forester's cottage.
Streams long frozen came tumbling down
the rocks or tiltcrng through the ground.
, The murmur of waters was heard on every
side
Salome stood at the house door, watch
ing the sudden thaw. Her father was
away. She knew Joseph was coming and
she felt. she knew not why glad for that
Then she saw Joseph. She felt like scold
ing him for having loitered 50 long He
/ met her and ne laughed. He had been
: gathering the first spring flowers but Sa
lone did not laugh.
, You will walk with me, Salomc:' he
+ asked. I'VE may meet your father And
, now, chatting, the two went toward the
glen
They reached the stream. Then Joseph
stopped. Mortified. 1t was "A roaring tor
rent Dominic was not there. The water
l was tearing down the mountain side.
t For the love of God. cried Salome,
"let us hurry up Close by here there is a
e cottage. A poor woman and her child live
1 in it. They will be swept away"
"How brave and strong she is, - thought
D JOSEPH. He was certain now that he heard
Il cry of distress Yes, there at the win
4 dow he saw woman, child in her arms,
e and the house was shaking. 1t would top
? pie over in an instant, and the torrent had
to be crossed if they were to be saved. a
. moment after Dominic was by Joseph :
. side. The forester at least was safe. Then
Joseph in Il loud, clear voice. babe the
? woman come down. She did 50 and shrek
o ed when she saw the raging torrent.
T. Salome fell on her knees upon the bank.
Her father StOod by her shouting out ad
G vice to the brave fellow who was already
5 fighting with the torrent
l. THAT round stone is not firm There
l. is hole in the bed of the stream Brave
r lad That stupid woman! She clings to
him. She will hinder his getting ashore!'
= But JoSeph'S feet We're firm on shore
= He was able to make a sign to Salome that
he would 90 straight home with the WON
r an and child.
d "Lct us hurry back and see that there is
a good fire and wine and food, cried Sa
If lone
J. Meantime Joseph, carrying the chile
d and helping the woman. had succeeded il
e getting home first He had not yet chang
X ed his clothes, but he had made up tn,
= fire, placed the woman in Father Domi
is Tic's armchair and wrapped the child in
rug, where it lay, warming its little fee
in the hearth ard smiling up at its pre-
ID server.
Salome stood an instant to watch tn,
10 pretty sight then took the child in he