Rocky Ford enterprise., 1905-01-13
"Ah. Pierre. ! am glad to have found


1t was Murier who said this: and
glancing at the bench. he added. Il
have been sent here to hnd you.
and"
He stopped: for Jean. now awake
sat up and stared at him.
Good morning. young m'sieur. And
] regret 'tis SO truly other than good
morning" said Murier. nodding. and
smiling grimiy. as he looked down into
the white face and dark.circled eyes.
Jean. making no reply. rose to his
feet. staggering as he did so.
Are you hurt. young m'sicur?" in
quired the soldier nnxiously. "Or
either of you injured In any way?"
And he turned TO Pierre. who also
had risen. and stood nearest him.
Hurt" repeated the peasant lad.
AYE. most sorely-in our hearts"
With this he drew the cover from
what lay upon the bench.
Poor dnme!" muttered Murier. his
eyes resting upon the calm white face.
''The devil himself was unclaimed last
night: and he spared neither tho
strong nor the weak. Poor dame-the
saints rest her kind soul!"
Jean. appearing to disregard what
was happening about him. had been
staring duly through the open door.
and Muricr. noticed that he Hhivcred.
touched him upon the arm to attract
his attention.
Young m'sicur'-and the soldier
now spoke more briskly-''you are to
l IA h...
dcrcd that you be brought to him."
Jean glanced at Murior: then his
eyes again sought the open door ns he
said slowly. Pierre and are going to
P.r- Huot. We arc going to iako
Marsnt to his house"
Aye: that IL where am ordered to
take YOU" was the scrHcantH quick
reply. And Pierre also is to come"
lie was moving toward the doorway.
when the same woman who had guild
cd him to tho house came forward
with u cup OF coffee. which she offered
silently To Jean. while nm expression
OF deep commIScration showed In her
hassard face.
hut the boy motioncd her away as
he exclaimed. turning to Muricr. =
will not go without MarHot'"
Surely not. young m'Slcur." the
soldier aSscntcd. Some of my men
shall make n E,rctchcr. and bring the
! s.ot dame after us"
Hc had. while speaking. drawn Jean
to the door and out Of II. leaving
Pierre to follow with the soldiers who
we're to construct litter. and bcai
MarEoi'H body To the convent Of st
Sulpicc. which was now Pcrc Huo,'t
home.
II IL not necessary to describe what
lean and Muricr saw aE they picked
their way through the streets. some oi
them hnlffilcd with debris. and ali oi
them bearing witness to the horrors o,
the night before.
Jean was silent. with white face.
and stony eyes tha; stared vacantly
| ahead. while the soldier held his 1rT
In close grasp. and occasionally ut
tered a few cheering words. to whict
the boy seemed to pay no heed.
And so they went slowly along. un
III. in n narrow street. which was com
paTatiyciy free from evidences Of tho
assault. the two paused before th,
looking stone building. whose lvy.hGns
windows were not much wider than
the loop holes OF n fortress.
Muricr lifted the pOndcrous brass
ktocker. to let Il fall with a pcrcmp
tory clang: and n few moments after.
ward the door was opened cautiously.
while through it's crack n single eye,
under a shaggy brow. scrutiniZcd him
with manifest suspicion.
Open up. Martin. 'Tis I. with tho
young m'sicur for whom our colonel
sent me- said Muricr. pushing
through the doorway, and drawing
Jean after him.
They were in n stonc.paved, walled,
and ceiled passage, along which
Murier led the boy until they reached
the entrance TO large apartment:
and here. without word. the soldier
left him.
As Jean stood upon the threshold Of
the dimly lit rocm-as he stood lean.
ing against the side OF the doorway
his eyes downcast, and the sound rs
of roaring waters in his ears. he
heard. even through this. Perc lIuot's
familiar voice saying. Thank our
Holy Mother. my son. that ! sec thee
safe and unharmed. after this awful
night Then trcmulous hand was
laid tendcrIy upon his bowed head.
A murmuring OF other voices came I
to him: and one of them stirred Jeans
benumbcd senses strangely. half.delir |
ious as he was from all he had suffer |
ed and seen.
Lifting his eyes, he saw before him /
face which seemed to have shaped |
itself from out the drifting haze. It
was thin and carcworn, with tumblej ,
locks falling over the pale forehead:
and tbo rrny-blup pyps wgrp hpnt unnu