The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-01-07

The Old woman covered IN Tie :0f-
tttaereorner of the room. and .iac4t!cs
ShffSir4Tk 65;;;ick as far;ls possible from ti!c
intruderS. -,
somewhat surprised }a4fnd ne AUG,
rev there GelUr. BIN. y on fond
rour VIZ ;li@nG tfl9 p;ts.s:,j-,v o:loie me-
and n!aetenaisciI2. tee.
IS and in coed time. Picard.
l.rrc. some oI y0yt guards bind this
;,;!:li;tl.
jacaGe> WAS soon bound. anC not till
;hen did i'c NaudreE approach Hen
rietje. ana folding her in d loving EN-
bruce. exclaimed, in a voice that cen
ye,red the world Of love ne felt for her:
Ilenrlerte, my love, my own.
y second time owe my life 10
YOU" said Hcnr!ette. in Il voice chok-
ing with emotion.
No. not 70 me. replied De NauG-
rey, unwilling 10 receive any praise
for what he had done. Thank Pic
ard, there, whose selfish bravery left
me 10 defend the end of the passage
where there were no foes. while he
stormed the front Of the castle. Your
cries for help guided meto the rescue. .
Louise, nI-Garling sister, said
Ilenliette, taking her by the hand and
leading her forward, thank your pre-
server
TIE blind girls eyes filled with
tears. as ciaSping her hands and turn
ing her Sightiess orbs toward where
De Eaudrey stood. she said. n a
trembling voice, which carried greater
meaning with it thah WORDS could:
'.Ah. monsieur. you do not know
from what a irightful fate you have
saved us.
While this conversation was going
on. all eyes were turned toward the
orphans, ard Mother Frochard was
unnoticed.
THIS was her opportunity, and she
resolved to embrace it.
She had nc wish to taste the reward
which justice had in store for her. and
she resolved to escape.
Stealing cautiously past the soldiers,
she had reached the door in safety.
In another moment she would have
been free; but there was one in the
room who had counted On taking this
same Mother Frochard under his care,
and that one was Picard.
Although his attention had been
diverted from her for moment. bis
eyes sought the place where she was
last standing, and to his surprise, she
was not there.
4 rapid glance around the room,
showed the old woman in the act Of
ope';.:;g the door. and in an instant
pi>ard's hand was on her shoulder,
''Oh. no, you don't !. old LADY," be
exclaimed. as he obliged her TO come
back. You must not run away from
Your dutiful son because he is in d lit
tie trouble. He'll need your motherly
care now, more than ever.
Seeing that escape was impossible.
and punishment for MAN. sins near at
hand, the old hag broke down most
pitiably, and in q most sorrowful voice,
whined:
I'm a poor Old woman. l don't
know anything about their evil ways.
But the appeal was lost on all save
poor Pierre. who stood bending over
his wheel in an attitude Of deep grief.
As his mother spoke, he held OUT his
hands to her. aS though he would bear
her troubles as he had borne his own.
uncompjainingly.
s'Picard. said the cheyalier. take
charge CT this worthy couple. mother
aud son. Ny Gt,:ie. tie count. will see
to their punishment. OF with them.
Authority was sweet 70 Picard. and
he made the mos. Of it. Turning to
the guards. he said, il the most p0n3-
Gus tone:
Take that male, and likewise that
female villain. 20 the prision Of Ii;
RoQuetIe, there 10 await the Justice
Of our lord, the King.
The guards closed around the pris-
oners. and were about to march them
Off. when the old woman. with whine
that was more natural than her habit
ual one. and with the tears rolling
down her villainouS face, said:
please, good gentlemen. am only
a poor old woman"
She had forgotten the many praTers
for mercy that had been made to her
by the poor blind girl. and which She
had answered only with blows: As
she had sowed. so must she reap: but
in the time OF sorrow she had forgot
ten the harvest that she must surely
gather, and she who had shown no
mercy when she would ruin body and
soul, now prayed for rincrcy.
To Jacques brutal nature such signs
of weakness were disgusting, and i'll
betting a Frochard.
He turned upon her with a savage
look.
stop your whining" he soid,
coarsely. Remember that YOU are a
Frochard.."
The appeal seemed to find response
in the old woman'S heart. Perhaps
she remembered that when her hus-
band was led to the Scatfold, not a
word OF fear escaped him: but he met
his doom With curses upon his lips un-
til they were hGshed by death.
Without another word. La E,r0chard
turned to so. and as she passed Pierre
he held out his hands imploringly. and
in the most piteous voice, said:
Jacques, mother, one word before
you 60
His mother did not notice his ap-
peal. Her motherly Instincts were
long since dried up in her bosom. and
she did not deign to oeStow one glance
upon him.
But Jacques favored him with a say
age look. and exclaimed, CRAFTY:
Not one word. 60 t. your fine
friends, md remember that YOU SenT