The St. Johns herald., 1897-05-29
tic blow with her stool at something se oo-l.l ,,o% .oo

"A ratl" 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. Ut was a ratr' he said as if before he had doubted it.
 Thank Godw 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 l girl?'' he said suspiciously.
 Her nut brown face was shade less brown than usual, but she met his eyes boldly and said, ''No," adding an ex- | planation which for the moment satis- 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 1 fields and work, she repeatedly looked back at him, it was always to find his i eyes upon her. When this had happened half a dozen times, thought struck him. "How now?" he muttered. 'The rat ran out of the straw!"
 Nevertheless he still stood gazing aft CT 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 a dozen rays of light were shooting, laden with dancing notes. Inside he stood stock still until he had regained the use of his eyes, and then he began to peer round him. In a 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 l 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 Q short while Michel Tellier bent over him, remarking these things with glis- tening eyes. Then the peasant stole out again. It is crownsp' he muttered, blinking in the sunlight. "Ha, hal Five l croWnsp'
 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 na- tive astuteness leading him to saunter l c1o lry oln iT, hi 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 finger ill the barn no longer than was necessary. Michel's absence, though it was unlocked for, raised no suspicion in her breast, for he would frequently go 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 paces 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- CT. The girl set the bread and cider on the table, and, going to the great black pot which had been simmering all day upon the fire, poured some broth into two pitchers It did not escape Michel s frugal eye that there was still little broth left in the bottom of the pot, and this induced a new feeling in him anger. When his wife hailed him by a sign to the meal, he went instead to the door and fastened it. Thence he went to 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 TOT. The twilight was come, and the cottage was almost dark, and she was alone with him, or, if not alone, yet with no one near who could help her. Yet she met his grin of triumph brave ly. "What is this?" she said. "Why do you want that?'
 ''For the rat" he answered grimly, his eyes on hers.
 "Why not use your stool?" she strove to murmur, her heart sinking.
 Not for this rat" he answered. Ut might not do, my girl. Oh, know all about it, he continued. ''I have been down to the village and seen the mayor, and he is coming up to fetch him. |" He nodded toward the partition, and she knew that her secret was known.
 Ut is Pierre" she said, trembling violently and turning first crimson and then white.
 ''I know it, Jeanne It was excellent of youl Excellent It is long since you have done such a days work. '' "You will not give him up?''
 My faith, shalll" he answered, af- fecting and perhaps really feeling won- der at her simplicity. "He is 5 crowns, grill You do not understand. He is worth crowns and the risk nothing at all. ,"
 If he had been angry or shown any thing of the fury of the suspicious hus- band, if he had been about to do this out of jealousy or revenge, she would have quailed before him, though she had done him no wrong save the wrong of mercy and pity. But his spirit was too mean for the great passions. He felt only the sordid cnes, which to woman arc the most hateful. And instead of Quailing she looked at him with fash