The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-03-29

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20 she told him where she had left
me and how she had tricked mel She
had made me the village laughing
stock! My rage flashed out afresh at
the thought. and. at the sight of his
hooking face. raised nv fist.
But he read the threat in my eyes.
and was up in a moment. snarling. with
his hand on his knife mot again. Mon
sieur!" he cried. In his vile patois.
MY head is sore sim. Raise your
hand and will rip you up as would a
pigl"
"Sit down, fool" said. Il am not
going to harm you. Where is your
wife?"
about her business"
which should be getting my sup.
per-" retorted sharply
He rose sullenly. and. fetching a
platter. poured the mess Of broth and
vegetables into IT, Then he went to u
cupboard and brought out loaf Of
black bread and a measure Of wine and
set them also on the table. you see
IT," he said laconically.
"And a poor welcome," I exclaimed.
He famed into sudden passion at
that Leaning with both his hands on
| the table. he thurst his rugged face anc
blood-shot eyes close to mine. His
mustache bristled; his beard trem-
bled. ''Hark ye. Strait" he NUT
tered. with sullen emphasis-"be con-
tent! have my suspicious. And II
| Il we're not for my lady's orders ]
would put a knife into you. fair or
foul. this very night. You would lie
snug outside. instead Of inside and |
do not think any one would be the
worse But. as 1t is. be content. Keep
a still tongue; and when you turn
your back on Cocheforet tomorrow.
keep il turned"
Tut, tut" I said-but 7 confess
was a little out of countenance.
Threatened men live long. you
rascal"
I'm Paris," he answered significant
ly. mot here. Monsieur
He Strengthened himself with that,
nodded once. and went back TO the fire.
and shrugged my shoulders and be
gan to eat, affecting to forget his pres
ence The logs on the hearth burned
sullenly, and gave no light. The poor
oil-lamp. casting weird shadows from
wall to wall served only to discover
the darkness. The room. With its
low roof and earthen floor. and foul
clothes flung here and there. reeked OF
stale meals and garlic and vile cook
ing thought of the parlor at Coche-
foret. and the dainty table. and the
stiffness. and the scented pot-herbs:
and. though was too old a soldier to
eat the worse because my spoon lacked
washing. felt the change and laid
1t savsgely at mademOiselle's door.
The landlord. watching me STEALTH
ly from his place by the hearth. read
my thoughts and chuckled aloud
Palace fare. palace manners." h
muttered scorufully. set beggar on
horseback and he will ride-baek to
the innl"
Keep a civil tongue. will you," !
answered. scowling az him.
Have you finished?" he retorted.
rose. without deigning TO reply,
and going to the fire drew on my
boots. which were wet through. He.
on the instant. swept off wine and loaf
to the cupboard. and then. coming back
for the platter had used. took IL.
opened the back door. and went out.
leaving the door ajar. The draught
which came in beat the flame Of the
lamp this way and that. and gave the
dingy. gloomy room an air still more
miserable. I rose angrily from the
fire and went TO the door. intending
to close It with a bang.
But when I reached 1t saw some
thing between door and jamb which
stayed my hand. The door led to
shed in which the housewife washed
pots and the like. felt some sur
prise, therefore, when found a light
there at this time Of night; still more
surprise when | saw what she was do
ing.
She was seated on the mud door.
with a rushlight before her. and on
either side Of her a high-piled heap Of
refuse and rubbish From one OF these,
at the moment | caught sight OF her.
she was sorting things-horrible. filthy
sweepings of road or floor-to the oth-
er; shaking and sitting each article
as she passed II across, and then TAX
ing up another and repeating the ac-
ton with 1t, and so ON: all infinitely,
warily, with an air OF so much pa
thence and persistence that I stood
wondering. Some things--rags-she
held up between her eyes and the light,
some she passed through her fingers,
some she fairly tore in pieces. And all
the time her husband stood watching
her greedily. my platter still in his
hand. as II her strange occupation
fascinated him.
stood looking. also, for half a min
ute, perhaps; then the mans eye,
raised for a single second TO the door.
way, met mine. He started. muttered
something TO his wife, and, quick as
thought. kicked the light out. leaving
the shed in darkness Cursing him for
an ill-conditioned fellow, l walked back
to the FIRE laughing In a twinkling
he followed me, his face dark with