The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-01-27

only Just hau t1me TO WASH my nanua
after my Journey in the coach when was
fetched To her as it was a curious case,
most serious, in fact. Sho was just II
then, and a very pretty girl, very pretty
indeed she vas. You would scarcely have
Thought it possible, would you? As to
her story, why, have never told any one
about 1t, and, with the exception of one
other person who is no longer living here,
no one has ever known it. Now that she
is dead it does not matter If I tell you.
Just before my arrival hero young man
had come to this parish as assistant school
master. He was very handsome and had
quite military look about him, SO that
all the 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, Pcre Grabu, who was rather
given to getting out of bed this wrong side
and makingsthings uncomfortable for ev
cry one on the slightest preteXt. Tho
young assistant lived ut the schoolmaster'
house. and it was there that he saw Hor-
tense, the pretty scamstress, whom the
villagers always called Clochette after her
accident. He made love to her, and tho
poor girl was no doubt flattered to think
that she should thus be sought out by tho
handsome young schoolmaster who had
turned the heads of all the village girls.
"In a very short time she was quite de-
voted to him, and as it was impossible to
exchange more than a few hasty words
with her lover on the days when she was
working at Pcre Grabu's house, she con-
scented to meet him one evening in tho
loft over the schoolroom. When her days
work was over, she watched her opportu-
nifty, and instead of leaving tho house she
Just mounted tho staircase leadingsto tho
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 tho door opened and
Pere himself entered the loft.
g. what are you doing up here, Sigis-
bert:' asked the schoolmaster. 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
rest, II. Grabu.''
Tho loft was very large one, and It
was absolutely dark. Sigisbcrt pushed tho
young girl along, whispering to her:
Hide yourself; don't let him sec you. Get
away somehow or 1 shall lose my siGua-
ton
Tho schoolmastor thought no heard
"'Who is up here with you? You are
not aloncr he called cut.
Yes, NJ Grabu, am quite alone,
answered Sigisbcrt.
"'No, you arc not. 1 heard you talking
to some one
{" Il swear 1 am alone NJ. Grabu,' an
swcrcd the young man.
III find that out for myself, said the
old man. Whcrcupon he went out again,
locked the door from the outside and de-
seconded the staircase in search of n candle.
Tho young man, who was n verjtable
coward, WIS perfectly furious now and
too excited to know what ho was saying
Or doirg.
:" Hide yourself, tell you, he said to
the poor girl. Il shall lose my situation,
and all through you. My whole lifo will
be ruined by you. Hide yourself, can't
you?'
''.Tust at that moment they heard the
key being put into the lock again.
"Hcrtense ran to the little window
which looked out on tho street. She open
cd it quickly, and then, i'll Il low, resolute
voice, she said:
When he goes away, you will come
round and pick ne up, won't your
''Without waiting for any reply she
srrang out of the window. Pero Grabu
was very much surprised to find that Sig
isbcrt was alone, and he soon went down
stairs again. y quarter of an hour later
the young man came and told me the
whole story. The POOR girl was lying by
tho wall and could not stir. She had fall
en- from the second story. 1t was rain
ing in torrents. l went with NJ. Sigis-
bert. and we brought Hortcnse to ny
house with her leg broken in three places,
and tho bone had come through the skin
She made no complaint, but Just inur-
INJURED in resigned tone, 1t was my own
fault-it is just, my punishment.
Il sent for woman to come and nurse
her, and then sent for her parents, To
whom 1 made up story about Il horse
that had taken fright and a carriage run
ming over the poor girl just near my door.
Every one believed my story, and tho pc.
lice were engaged for about IL month i'll
trying to find out the owner CT the runa-
way horse.
''That is tho story, then" said the old
doctor, land l maintain that that woman
was heroine. She Fever had another
love affair, but died an old maid. l mean
to say that woman WAS sublime. She
was Just "a martyr, and it is because of my
great admiration for her that l have told
you her story now. During her lifetime
1 would never have breathed it to any
one.'
The old doctor said no more. Ny
mother was crying, and my father said
something which l did not catch. Pres
emily they all went out of the room again,
and 1 stuid there knecling Ey the low
armchair sobbing bitterly, until ct last
heard strange sound of heavy footsteps
and of something being carried down
stairs.
They were taking poor Clochetto away
From tho French of Guy dc Maupas-
SAINT