Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1902-01-09
lad lhs .aIlry. breathIs.. nIr |. eoaId

ana the sultry, breathless niR I, could
only come back again.
felt as II had passed through an
immeasurable spell, both OF memory and
anguish. before Monsieur Laurentie
came, though he had responded to my
summons Immediately. | then told him
In hurried, broken sentences, what Pierre
had confessed 10 nae. Ills face grew
overcast and troubled. and he at once
started for the factory. He returned az
ter long, long suspense.
MY child" he said. monsieur Is III
attacked. am afraid, by the fever. |
shall remain with him all this day. You
must bring as what We have need Of, and
leave II on the stone there, as II FUSED TO
be-
''But cannot he be removed at onceT'
asked.
my dear" he answered. what can
dot The village IL free from sickness
now; how can run the rlsk OF carrying
the fever there again9 Il Il too far 70
send monsieur 70 Nolreau. Obey me, my
child, and leave him to me and TO God.
Cannot you conGde in me yetf''
"Yes." I said. weeping, II trust you
with all my heart"
go, then, and do what I bid you." he
replied. TEL my sister and Jean, tell
all my people, that no one must intrude
upon me. no one must come nearer this
house than the appointed place. You
must think Of me as one absent, yet close
at hand; that is the difference. am
here. In the path OF my duty. Go, and
fulfill yours"
For three days, morning after morning,
whilst the dew lay still upon the grass,
| went down, with a heavy and forebod-
Ing heart. TO the place where could
watch the cottage. through the long sui
try hours Of the summer day.
Here In the open sunshine, with the
hot walls Of the mill casting its rays
back again, the heat was intense; though
the white cap | wore protected my head
from 1t, my eyes were dazzled, and felt
ready 10 faint. No wonder II Monsieur
Laurentie should have sunk under 1t. and
the long strain upon his energies, which
would have oyertaxed a younger and
stronger man. | had passed the inyis-
bic line which his will had drawn about
the place, and had half crossed the court,
when I heard footsteps close behind me,
and large. brown, rough hand suddenly
caught mine.
"Mam'zelle!' cried a voice knew, ''is
this TouT'
"oh, Tardlf! Tardifr' l exclaimed. /
rested my beating head against him, and
sobbed violently, whilst he surrounded
me with his strong arm, and laid his
hand upon my head, as II to assure me Of
his help and protection.
"Hush, hushl NAM 'zelle," he said. lit
Is Tardif, your friend. my little NAM.
gelle; your servant, you know. | am
here. What shall do for your Is there
any person In yonder house who fright
me what to do"
He had drawn me back into the green
shade OF the trees. and placed me upon
the felled tree where | had been sitting
before. told him all quickly, briefly
all that had happened since had written
to him. I saw the tears start to his
eyes.
Thank God l am here" he said. Il
lost no time. mam'zelle, after your letter
reached me. will save Monsieur le
Cure; l will save them both, IL | can.
He Is a good man, this cure, and we
must not let him perish. He has no au-
thority over me, and l will 90 this mo-
ment and force my way in, IL the door
is fastened. Adieu, my dear little man.
zelle."
He was gone before l could speak q
word, striding with quick, energetic tread
across the court. The closed door under
the caves opened readily. In an instant
the white head OF Monsieur Laurent:e
passed the easement, and could hear
the hum of an earnest alteration, al
though l could not catch syllable of Il.
But presently Tardit appeared again in
the doorway, waving his cap in token OF
having gained his point.
Ii seemed to me almost as IL time had
been standing still since that first morn
ing when Monsieur Laurentie had left
my side, and passed out of my sight to
seek for my husband in the fever-smitten
dwelling. Yet 1t was the tenth day ar
ter that when, as took up my weary
watch soon after day break, saw him
crossing the court again and coming to-
wards me.
What had he to say7 What could i'm.
pei him to break through the strict rule
which had interdicted all dangerous con-
tact with himself? His face was pale,
and his eyes were heavy as If with want
Of rest, but they looked into mine as il
they could read my inmost soul.
(To be continued.l ia