The Washington times., 1901-07-28


red earth. with as much energy as though
she had not been at the same work since
dawn-indeed. during several days; II
seemed as II her deft brown hands would
never tire of seeking for the rosy
smooth-skinned tubers. Her lilac skirt
was shielded by a large black apron, her
dark hair being tightly strained into the
bag-like crown of her white net cap.
The field in which she was working
mounted steeply with the road that led
from the sandy bay OF Trestraou to the
high cliffs above the sea. fence of loose
flint stones overgrown and held together
by grass and brambles, parted the potato
ground from the steep road on its left;
the fields farther side was bordered by a
few stunted trees and abundant tall grass
and teazles; through this eyer-moving
fringe were peeps of the deep sapphire
sea.
Mon Dieui' hoarse voice from the
road made Louise Lenet turn her white
capped head to the stone fence. and send
a glance upward. See there at la Clarte
how red the sky is behind the church: the
day is done. Nine. Lenet; gather up your
potatoes. and come home. will you not?".
Louise I.enet stood up. and the orange
red light which glowed behind the church
face and it's expression. Brown and thin.
her face was full of intelligence but be-
sides its traces of former beauty the eyes
had a sweet thoughtfulness that made her
noticeable among her fellows.
Yes. Chariot she smiled at the long
haired lame man in the road, the day is
gone, and 1 grieve not to have another
hour; l will put the tubers in the cart,
Jules will soon bring UP the horse, and
take them down to the barn at Monsieur
Meynel's; l am paid by weight, my man;
today's is heavy gathering Come up
hill with me- Chariot, l can give you a
supper tonight"
Grey-haired Charlot's eyes glittered
greedily.
81 come, / come instantly, Louise; but
tell me, is all this hard work still done
for our son. Joseph? You must be earn
ing double wages; the lad does not need
so much money as all that"
She laughed and flung her hands apart.
"Eh, then, suppose he doesi Harvest
will soon be over, and only spinning will
be left me; my wrist has been too weak
for threshing since l hurt it; twill be as
much as l can manage to esrn My jour
ney money by the months end.
Mercy on US, what a journey! Think
of poor lame souls who cannot work, or
earn; how many meals could they not
have out of the cash you squander on
railroads and diligences before you reach
Paris
Louise Lenet laughed yet more heart
ily.
You poor Chariot, Never fear: my
friends shall not suffer because 1 go to
Paris. Listen here. my man. II you were
III. sd wi nn
work braveIy. and was overtaken by an
accident, would you not work extra hard
SO that you might go and comfort him in
the hospital? Mon Dieu! a cat would do
as much for her kitten
She had been walking briskly up the
field to reach the gate at the top. and the
lame man had kept pace with her. hob
bling along the road; his face looked Gym
ical as he answered:
Not so sure, Nine. Lenet. Fathers are
not so credulous as mothers are; how do
you know you will be a comfort to Jo-
seph? By this time he's got friends of
his own, younger maybe; a bright-eyed
girl. belize, not but what your own eyes
are bright, but then you're his mother"
Louise Redeemed with anger.
BE silent, evil tongue: I've mind to
bid you whistle for your supper; you
know nothing of my Joseph, good-for-
nothing that you are; You cannot so
much as guess how he loves his mother.
He is wounded, struck down by an acci-
dent among the machinery Of the great
exhibition. What will you have7 He
cannot come to me, so l go to him. He
was taken from the hospital soon as
he could be moved; he is lodged with
comrade. dear friend; the mother
nurses my boy, may God reward herr
At the point where the hill was at its
steepest the road parted abruptly right
and left; there was gate here and LOU
Use came out of the field.
One of the roads led uphill to la Clarte:
the other followed the circling. ever
mounting cliffs between the bay of Tres
tracu and Ploumana'ch A few steps
along the road on the left took Louise to
small garden fence Of dead gorse. and
its row Of straw beehives. She soon came
out again, with something rolled up In
cabbage leaf, and handed It to her COM
panion.
Mon Dieu, she is kind as ever" he ex-
claimed. Heaven be her bed, there is no
one like her; how she keeps her looks"
She broke into his praises.
DO not stay, Chariot: the way is long
pointed toward the red glow. the light
fades already. i have no time for more
gossip. Good night"
She nodded, and smiling brightly re-
treated toward her cottage door.
"A curse on all women" he muttered; /;
.'the best of them are tyrants: I've court
ed her this year past. and I'm no nearer
than when began. Women love to chat
ter, and yet they grudge man the use
of his tongue"
He went on a few steps, then stopped
and looked into his cabbage leaf. "Ah-"
he smacketl his lips at the sight and set
off more briskly than could have been
expected along the road to la Carte, NUT
tering TO himself as he went.
How angry she wasi AS jealous a
cat She would cast of Joseph if he were
TO take wife Who can say he hasn't
done it? All, there would be my oppor-
tunity; / should walk over the course.
know Louise Lenet; she must have some
one to work for: why not me?'
Louise had fingered at the cottage door;
she was pensively gazing at the sunset.
which, from the heights spread its orange
,ry as far as she could see, almost to
the bay of Tregastei She was thinking
of her husband; he had made her brief
span of married life so happy till he
and his flying boat perished on the cruel
rocks beyond lie Grande. Till that terrible
night, how blessed her life had been. how
few of her neighbors had such a hus-
band as her Matthieu had been; or such
a son as Joseph. As she remembered
Chariot s words, her eyes frightened with
anger.
..As IL my boy could care for any one
more than he cares for his motheri 1