The Holly chieftain., 1905-01-13
"Ah. Pierre, en- glad to have found


1t was Murier who said this; and
his dark face was full of pity as. after
glancing at the bench, he added, Il
have been sent here to find you,
and"
He stopped; for Jean. now awake
sat up and stared at him.
Good morning, young m'sieur. And
l regret It's so truly other than a good
morning." said Murier, nodding. and
smiling grimly, 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'sieur?" in
quired the soldier anxiOusly. "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 dame!" muttered Murier, his
eyes resting upon the calm white face.
'The devil himself was unclaimed last
night: and he spared neither the
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 Murier, noticed that he shivered.
touched him upon the arm to attract
his attention.
,'Sin nd bo
now spoke more briskly-"you are to
come with me. My colonel has or
dered that you be brought to him."
Jean glanced at Murier; then his
eyes again sought the open door as he
said slowly, Pierre and are going to
Pere Huot. We are going to take
Margot to his house."
AYE; that is where am ordered to
take you." was the sergeant's quick
reply. And Pierre also is to come.'
He was moving toward the doorway.
when the same woman who had guild.
ed him to the house came forward
with a cup of coffee. which she offered
silently to Jean, while an expression
of deep commiseration showed in her
haggard face.
But the boy motioned her away as
he exclaimed, turning to Murier, 81
will not go without Margot!"
Surely not. young msieur," the
soldier assented. Some of my men
shall make stretcher, and bring the
good dame after u.s."
He had, while speaking, drawn Jean
to the door and out of 1t, leaving
Pierre to follow with the soldiers who
we're to construct a litter, and beaI
Margot's body to the convent of St
Sulpice, which was now Pere Huot's
home.
1t is not necessary to describe what
Jean and Murier saw as they picked
their way through the streets, some OF
them half-tilled with debris, and ali oi
them bearing witness to the horrors o,
the night before.
Jean was silent, with white face,
and stony eyes that stared vacantly
ahead. while the soldier held his arm
in close grasp, and occasionally ut
tered few cheering words, to which
the boy seemed to pay no heed.
And so they went slowly along, In
til, in narrow street, which was com
paratively free from evidences of the
assault, the two paused before the
heavy, iron-studded door of a gloomy
looking stone building, whose ivy-hune
windows were not much wider than
the loop holes of fortress.
Murier lifted the ponderous brass
knocker to let 1t fall with a peremp.
tory clang; and few moments after.
ward the door was opened cautiously,
while through its crack single eye,
under shaggy brow. scrutinized him
with manifest suspicion.
"Open up, Martin. 'Tis I, with the
young m'sieur for whom our colonel
sent me-" said Murier, pushing
through the doorway, and drawing
Jean after him.
They were in stone-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 room-as he stood lean.
ing against the side of the doorway
his eyes downcast. and the sound as
of roaring waters in his ears. he
heard, even through this, Pere Huot's
familiar voice saying, Thank our
Holy Mother. my son, that see thee
safe and unharmed, after this awful
night" Then a tremulous hand was
laid tenderly upon his bowed head
A murmuring of other voices came