The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1910-07-08
CHAPTER XIV.
Continued.


When he arrived there he found
Hntoniette still sleeping.
Arthur stood looking down upon,
the sleeping girl, and a strange dread
was slowly taking possession of him..
II Battiste was condemned, whom he
knew to be innocent, what would be
the duty of this girl? Should he be
called upon to place in her hanc.l
the instrument of a power of the
origin of which he knew nothing,
Was that power of heaven or hades?
He knew not. A terrible confiic..
ragged within him. What should he
do? There was a fierce temptations
to destroy the fatal little talisman
that she had placed in his handsd
but was he justified in doing SO? He
had an indescribable horror Of allow
ing her to exercise this power, but
for this scruple must an Innocent
man die?
He looked down on her, on this
soft, lovely maiden, and a mad long,
ing came over him to seize her in his
arms and flee with her from this
dark, ill-omened place, to place her
in safety, and shelter her in his low
ing arms from the evil Of the world,
and the terror of the gift she had
inherited with her blood.
He walked up and down the room
almost needless as to Antoinette's
sleep. Time passed on. The sunset
died away, and the quick gray twi-
light covered the world and filled the
room. He could no longer see An
toinette's face; only the still outline
of her figure softly breathing. Then
he heard sounds outside, the echo Of
many feet, and the old clock in the
haal trembled out its faint strokes.
1t was eight o'clock; they had
come to carry away all that was left
on earth Of Antoinette's father
40 one disturbed them. Doubtless
the kind-hearted women told the
Mayor that the young orphan was
still asleep, and that her fiance was
watching her, and he would let no
one intrude. He had sympathetic
nature. He felt that if the noise of
their movements should awaken the
sleeping girl, that nothing would so
soften the anguish of that awakening
as the presence of her lover; and
with quiet, silent order the sad littld
ceremony went on. The curious
crowd, which had gathered to cape
and stare, by the quiet authority Of
the Mayor and the Cure resolved it,
self into a procession. AS they
moved away. bearing their burden in
the midst of them, the Cure began to
chant the Ode Profundis.'' Arthur
heard the words as the chanting died
away in the distance, and he also re-
peated them.
Presently Nanon came in with a
light. The poor old woman was hard
~ recognizable, her face was SO dis
figured by crying. She looked so
old and worn, her white Golf was all
awry. and her grey hairs escaping
under it.
"Ah! my poor Monsieur, she said.
@She still sleeps, my lamb, my
precious one; but she will awaken
soon. Alas! If enc could sleep away
the griefs of earth, one would not
ask for Heaven. But came to tell
you that Monsieur Tasset left mes
sage for you. He said he would come
back to see you, and Monsieur le
Cure, both. They said they could
not go away happy tonight before
they heard how our poor demoiselle
woke up, and how she was. So you
see, Monsieur, got Catherine to do
a little cooking for me, and there will
be something to eat. for one must
eat, even though 1t may be the last
Y day itself All! my sweet, my pretty
one." looking down on Antoinette,
@the longer thou sleepest the bet
ter" 4
The poor old woman fingered
about. evidently longing, not daring,
to ask something. At last she got 1T
out.
If ! might ask, Monsieur, IL Bat
tiste will be home tonight? He does
not eat much, as you know, still a
chestnut soup is always comforting
after a troubled day. But If he will
come tonight"
Not tonight, Nanon," said Ar
thur. with feeling of choking in his
throat. "The business is not over
get"
do they still say he did it?" she
asked. twisting her apron round her
hands.
Some do; but, Nanon,r and he
stepped forward and took her hands.
-all that man can do promise you
will do to save your husband"
"God will reward you," she said.
Well, well, it is the first time he
has ever been away from me since
we were married; but what an old
TOOL am to care SO much for only
one night. I must go and see about
the supper" and she went away NUT
tering her words, "Oui dame; one
must eat though the last day be at
hand. p
The time passed aWay Presently