La Junta tribune., 1899-01-21

other person who Is no longer living here.
NO one has ever known It. Now tha4 she
Il dead it does not matter II I tell you.
just before my arrival here . young man
had come to this parish AZ assistant school
master He was very handsome and had
quite military look about him, 70 that
all tho girls were soon In love with him.
He pretended to be perfectly Indifferent.
but the fact was he stood In great awe of
his principal Pere Grabu, who was rather
given TO getting out Of bed the wrong side
and making things uncomfortable for ev-
cry one on tho slightest pretext. The
young assistant lived at the schoolmaster's
house, and 1t was there that he saw Hor-
tense. the pretty seamstress, whom the
villagers always called Clochette after her
accident. He made love to her, and the
poor girl was no doubt ilattered to think
that she should thus be sought out BY the
handsome young schoolmnster who had
turned the heads Of all the village girls.
''In very short time she was quite do
voted to him, and as IL was impossible to
exchange more than few hasty words
with her lover on the days when she was
working mt Pere Grabu's house, she con-
sented to meet him one evening in the
loft over the schoolroom. When her days
work was over, she watched her oppOrru-
nifty, and instead of leaving the house she
just mounted the staircase leading to the
loft and waited there, hiding behind some
bundles Of hay, for her lover. He soon
Joined her, but they had not been there
many minutes when the door opened and
Pere himself entered the loft.
=" What are you doing up here, Sigis-
berts' nsked the schoolmnster. The young
man felt that there was no escape for him.
and he answered In dazed way:
" 4 just came to lie down and have q
rest, NJ. Grabu."
The loft WAS very large one, and 1t
was absolutely dark, Sigisbert pushed the
young girl along, whispering to her;
Hide yourself; don't lot him sec you. Get
away somehow or shall lose my situa-
tion.
The schooimaster thought he heard
some whispering
Who is up here with your You arc
not aloner he called out
Yes, n Grabu, am quito alone.
answered Sigisbert.
'..No. you are not. heard you talking
to some one
" 4 swear I am Alone H. Grabu,' an.
swered the young man.
I'm find that out for myself, said the
old man. Whereupon he went out again.
locked the door from the outside and do
scended the staircase in search Of . candle.
The young man, who was Variable
coward, was perfectly furious now and
too excited to know what he was saying
or doing.
Hide yourself, tell you, he said TO
the poor girl. i shall lose my situation,
and all through you. My whole life will
be ruined by you Hide yourself. can't
your
Just at that moment they heard the
key being put into the lock again.
''Hortense ran to the little window
which looked out on the street. She open
ed 1t quickly, and then, In low. resolute
voice, she said:
!" When he goes away. you will come
round and pick me up. won't your
without waiting for any reply she
sprang out Of the window. Pere Grabu
WAS very much surprised to flnd that Sig
isbcrt WINS alone, and he soon went down
stairs again. A quarter Of an hour later
the young man came and told mo the
whole story. The poor girl was lying by
the wall and could not stir She had fnll-
en- from the second story. It was rain
ing in torrents I went with M. Sigis-
bert and we brought Hortcnse to my
house with her leg broken In three places.
and the hone had come through tho skin.
She made no complaint. but just muir
INJURED in resigned tone, 1t WAS my own
fault-it Is just. my punishment
II sent for a woman to come and nurse
her. and then sent for her parents, to
whom i made up story about . horse
that had taken fright and carriage rum
ming over the poor girl just near my door.
Every one believed my story. and the po-
lice were engaged for about a month In
trying to find out the owner Of the runs-
way horsc.
'ThAt 10 the story, then," said the old
doctor, land 1 maintain that that woman
was . heroine. Shc never had another
love affair, but died an old maid. mean
to say that woman was sublime. She
was just martyr, and 1t Is because Of my
great admiration for her that have told
you her story now. During her lifetime
would never have breathed 1t to any
one."
The old Doctor said no moro. Ny
mother was crying, and my father said
something which did not catch. Pres
emily they all went out Of the room again.
and / staid there kneeling by the low
armchair sobbing bitterly, until at last l
heard q strange sound Of heavy footsteps
and Of something being carried down
stairs
They were taking poor Clochette away.
From the French Of Guy de Maupas-