News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1902-05-14

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twice ordered back to the hospital.
Then came the surrender, and we
started for home without rations or
money. We crossed the country by slow
stages, getting food and shelter from
kind country people in West Virginia and
Kentucky, but at times Mr.. Horace
gave out and said he could go no far
vowed to bring him home alive or
dead, for Mile. Estelle was waiting for
him. He would smile and say, Then,
God give me strength come on and
we would march again. At Louisville
! he borrowed a small sum of money,
and we took passage on the steamboat
City of Memphis for Red River Land
ing. We arrived there this morning in
time for the mail hack, and here we
are"
God bless you, Leon, and repay you
for your noble Devotion" exclaimed
Estelle, weeping in sympathy and
thankfulness.
God will bless him. Father Grhe
said authoritatively.
"a truer heart than Icons beats not
in the breast of any man, whatever be
his color or station, and his comfort
and advancement are especial charges
! on my life and fortune" Oakfell added.
'Mr. Horace" Leon protested, 'you
owe me nothing. Remember, you stood
| by the poor negro jockey when all the
world and all the law were against
him. Only be my friend and adviser,
and l will be content"
1t was touching to see Odette's hon
est, comely face flush with pride as
Leon's narration proceeded and her
bosom swell when his praise was spo-
ken by the grateful hearers.
"Estelle," said Horace, stroking her
head lovingly, Gin the long, dreary
nights of Imprisonment l have dream
ed of this and awakened to wish 1 had
died while dreaming"
"And l, too, have dreamed of this"
she softly answered. 'but thought we
had died and met in heaven"
The click of a latch drew the eyes OF
the group on the veranda to the gate.
Evariste, who, to avoid the sun and the
meeting of acquaintance, had ridden
through the swamp instead Of along
the bayou road, entered, slamming the
gate behind him, and started briskly
up the walk with a staggering air.
Estelle blanched. The priest frowned.
Horace smiled and sat up in his chair.
Evariste had almost reached the veran-
ola before he recognized his brothers
countenance. He stopped suddenly, an
expression of CONSERVATION came over
his features, and, uttering an inarticu-
late cry of terror, he turned and ran to
the gate, leaped upon his horse anG sptd
like one pursued by demons. His f!&At
was not slackened until Quillebert's
house was reached, where Laure stood
in the doorway as if expecting him.
He drew rein, flung himself from the
saddle and, his eyes starting from his
head, whispered hoarsely:
"Where is Quillebert?
"Gone to Marksville to sell this place
to DR.. De Roux," Laure replied, with
a calmness wholly unruffled by the ex
element under which he labored.
'How soon will he return?'
'Not before o'clock tonight. Come
in and tell me what has happened"
He followed her into the house and
exclaimed:
"Laure, l have seen a ghost"
"You have not. You are not of the
kind that see ghosts"
Il tell you 1 have seen my brothers
ghost"
"You have not 1t was your brother
himself"
''Then he lives? He has come back"
Evariste cried in agony.
Eyes. l sensed he would"
"And l." groaned Evariste, "foiled,
detected, exposed and beggared, T.
"Have come to me at last, as l knew
you would" Laure finished his SEN
tence with the assurance of one who
viewed a result of her own designing.
She threw her arms around him in a
sudden burst of passion and pressed
him unresisting to her breast hungrily
kissing his clammy brow and whisper
ing: 1T is fate, Evariste. Submit"
The listlessness of early Sunday
morning was unbroken until the dust
of the road began to be stirred by the
faithful going to the 10 o'clock mass
at the Mansura church. They were in
greater numbers than on ordinary Sun
days. for the desire to hear Father
Grhe tell of the marvellous reappear-
ance of Oakfell was universal. OF
course, Quilleberts absence was not
noticed nor was any Importance at
tached by those who observed it to the
fact that the door of his house, opening
inward, was partly ajar, though no
movement or sign of life was about the
place. 1t was only at noon, when the
cavalcade of worshipers was returning
from the service, that DR.. De Roux
stopped to speak with him concerning
the sale Of the previous day. Having
knocked and waited in vain for re-
spouse, he pushed the door against
heavy but yielding obstruction and
stepped inside An instant later Ne
sprang back upon the veranda with an
exclamation of horror and, gesticulat-
ing wildly, summoned the passersby. A
spectacle which froZe the marrow met
thnir avnc Rehind the door Strptchpd