Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1906-03-16
-Ah. Pierre. I am clad to have fourd

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
I | regret tbs so truly other than a good
morning. said Murier, nodding, and
| smiling grimly, as he looked down into
4 the white face and dark-circled eyes
Jean. making no reply, rose to his
feet, staggering as he did so.
Are you hurt. young Missouri" 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. y
With this he drew the cover from
what lay upon the bench.
Poor damel" 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.
Young 'sieur"-and the soldier
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 I 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, Il
will not go without Margoti"
Surely not. young msieur," the
soldier assented Some of my men
shall make a stretcher, and bring the
good dame after u.s.
He had while speaking, drawn Jean
10 hn of
Pierre to follow with the soldiers who
were to construct a litter, and bear
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-illed with debris, and all Ct
them bearing witness to the horrors oi
the night before.
Jean was silent, with white face
and stony eyes that stared vacantly
ahead, while the soldier held his arm.
in a close grasp, and occasionally ut
tered few cheering words, to which
the boy seemed to pay no heed.
And SO they went slowly along, I'm
til. in a 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-hung
windows were not much wider than |
the loop holes of fortress.
Murier lifted the ponderous brass
knocker. to let it fall with peremp- |
tory clang; and a few moments after
ward the door was opened cautiously, |
while through its crack single eye,
under a shaggy brow, scrutinized him
with manifest suspicion.
open up, Martin. 'Tis l, with the
young m'sieur for whom our colonel
sent me- said Murier, pushing
the doorway, and drawing
Jean after him.
They were in a stone-paved, walled,
and ceiled passage, along which
Murier led the boy until they reached
the entrance to large apartment;
and here, without a 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 Huots
familiar voice saying, Thank our
Holy Mother, my son, that l see thee
safe and unframed, after this awful
hight" Then a tremulous hand was
aid tenderly upon his bowed head.
A murmuring of other voices came
o him: and one of them stirred Jeans
,enumbed senses strangely, half-delir-
Ill L. l.. 4