The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-26

a
Then her jealousy would VANISH ana nef
anxious fears return
AT supper the farmer noticed that
Jacques was absent. He went TO the
stable and found that the morse ana
cart were missing also. coming pacA
with a black scow1 on his face he sWore
a round oath and cried:
1.-THE scoundrel has bolted with the
money!"
There was a profound silence. Every
body knew of the attachment between
Jacques and Clementine. The poor girt
covered in a corner, hoping 10 escape
notice, but the farmer spied her and
sneered: so your lover is a thief
These cruel words haunted her after
she had crept to her garnet over the
stable. Jealous though she was, sne
could not believe them. Jacques was
honest she was sure, even II ne were
unfaithful. She tossed uneasily on her
pallet until the clock struck H. Then
she got up and dressed. She would go
in search of Jacques She would bring
him back, alive or dead Slipping away
noiselessly to the road, she went III
the direction of st. Quentin her pace
soon slackened to a walk. but Sne plou-
ded on, mile after mile, resolved TO go
all the way to the city If necessary
She kept on through the furious StOrra
which soon burst upon her. StralnlnS
her eyes to see the dreadful thing wnlcn
she now regarded as a certainty;
Jacques lying by the roadside, bound
and gagged, bleeding dead perhaps.
T:ut she saw nothing until her weary
limbs had carried her to the bridge,
where she came upon the empty cart
with the horse asleep between the
shafts. Climbing into the cart, she
peefed and CROPPED about until SLe
found the womans hat All, her Jeal-
ouSy had not been unfounded then, ana
she had come this weary way only TO
make certain her lovers treason. The
long hours she had passed in anguish
he had spent in the society OF his city
sweetheart.
andistfnct sound, coming from I'M
der the bridge, startled her and in
tensified her jealous anger. They We're
under the arch, on the towpath-Where
Jacques had stolen his first kiss! she
Sprang from the cart and ran down the
bank. AS she did SO a sharp, despair :
ing cry for help came from little
clump of bushes by the waters edge
1t was Jacques voicel She ran to the
spot and found him half buried in mud
water and tangled grass, battling Tor
life. Clementine waded out to him, and
after much effort succeeded in olsen
tangling him and bringing him ashore
They fell into each others wet arms
with exclamations of 'Jacques!" Glenn
entinei"
She thought no more of the tell-tale
bonnet, and he had forgotten his theft
But when the first flush of the JOY OF
meeting, and Of rescuing and beng res
cued, had passed, Clementine asked;
How did it happen? And the wo-
man? Where is she2'
Jacques did not answer. The only
effect of her questions had been to re-
call him to reality, to his crime and
coming disgrace. And the hat." Glenn
entine persisted. Whose is it?''
Jacques stood stupidity wagging his
head. At last he exclaimed:
Il have eaten the calfi'
ssWhat?" she asked, staring at him.
Il have eaten the calf!' he REPEATED
HE has gone crazy,'' thought Glenn
entine. Taking his arm, she helped him
| up the bank and into the cart, placing
| herself beside him, and began to drive
| homeward. Jacques continued to NUT
| ter: ct have eaten the calf!'' in voice
| which grew weaker with each repeu-
ton. Soon his head dropped forward
| and he fell asleep. Clementine seized
the opportunity to take up the fatal
| bonnet and examine it. She almost
| screamed with surprise and joy when
| she read on the wrapper: Made
| moiselle Clementine Sarron, Etricourt
Now she understood everything
/ Jacques had stolen, but for her. How
| could she refuse to pardon him, espe-
| cially as he had so soon repented to
| the point of suicide? She drew from
| her pocket the little purse that con-
| tanned all her savings, and, shaking the
| sleeper vigorously and laughing
| through her tears, cried:
| .'Jacquesl Jacquesl Wake up! The
| calf has come to life again.