The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1902-01-10

the latch, and peep through the windows
After that he goes into the factory; there
is a door from it into the house. He
passed through. dared not follow him,
but in one short half-hour | saw smoke
coming out of the chimney. The smoke
is there. The Englishman has sojourn.
ed there all the night"
'But, Pierre" Isaid, shivering, though
the sun was already shining hotly-
Pierre, the house is like a lazaretto. No
one has been in it since Mademoiselle Pi-
neau died. Monsieur lie Cure locked 1t
up, and brought away the key"
THAT is true, madame" answered the
boy; mo one in the village would 90 near
the accursed place, but | never thought
of that. Perhaps monsieur your enemy
will take the fever and perish"
"Run, Pierre, runw cried; Monsieur
Laurentie is in the sacristy with the
strange vicaire. Tell him | must speak
to him this very moment. There is no
time to be lost"
l dragged myself to the seat under the
sycamore tree, and hid my face in my
hands, while shudder after shudder quiv-
cred through me. | seemed to be watch
ing him again, as he strobe weariedly
down the street, leaning with bent shou-
ders on his stick, and turned away from
every door at which he asked for rest
and shelter for the night. Oh! that the
time could but come back again, that |
might send Jean to find some safe place
for him where he could sleep! Back to
my memory rushed the old days, when he
screened me from the unkindness of my
step-mother, and when he seemed to love
me. For the sake of those times. would
to heaven the evening that was gone,
and the sultry, breathless night, could
only come back again!
| felt as If | had passed through an
immeasurabe 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 to me. His face grew
overcast and troubled, and he at once
started for the factory. He returned af
ter long, long suspense
"My child" he said, monsieur is i'll
attacked, | am afraid, by the fever.
shall remain with him all this day. Yol
must bring us what We have need of, anC
leave it on the stone there, as it used t,
be-"
but cannot he be removed at oncey
| asked.
my dear" he answered, what can
do? The village is free from sickness
now: how can run the risk of carrying
the fever there again? 1t is too far Il
send monsieur to Noireau. Obey me, m!
child, and leave him to me and to God
Cannot you confde in me yetf"
"Yes," | said, weeping, Il trust 20,
with all nv heart"
Go. then, and do what | bid you," h
repRed. Tell my sister and Jean, te
all my people, that no one must intrud
upon me, no one must come nearer thi
house than the appointed place. Ho
must think of me as one absent, yet clos
at hand: that is the difference | al
here, in the path of Hy duty. Go, an
fulfill yours"
For three days. morning after morninl
whilst the dew lay still upon the gras
} went down, with heavy and foreboC
ing heart, to the place where | coul
| wat. the cottage, through the long su
/ try hours Of the summer day.
! Here in the open sunshine, with n
hot walls Of the mill casting its ray
. back again. the heat was intense; thoug
/ the white cap | wore protected my hea
5 from il. my eyes were dazzIed, and | fe
4. ready to faint No wonder il MonsieJ
[, I.aurentie should have sunk under it. an
e the long strain upon his energies, whiC
5 would have OvertaXed a younger an
o stronger man. had passed the invis
b BILE line which his win had drawn abol
4 the place. and had half crossed the cour
e when | heard footsteps close behind m
and large. brown, rough hand sudden
5 caught mine.
!, "Mam'zelle." cried a voice knew, "
e this FouT'
J. "Oh. Tardifl Tardifr' I exclaimed.
rested my beating head against him, al
- sobbed violently. whilst he surround,
me with his strong arm, ani laid
|, hand upon my head. as il to assure me
2. his help and protection.
K Hush. hush, mam'Eelle." he said. -
/ is Tardif. your friend. my little man
.e zelle; your servant you know. | a
n here. What shall do for youg Is the
% any person in yOnler house who frigi