El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-02-01
The HeraId's
Daily Short. Story

, the brick floor damp and cold and the
walls bare. table AN old bureau
| and a chair was all the furniture be-
sides eoub 5he SIGHED 0sd5 Ae was longing for
his books and solitude.
Goodnight, mademofselle," he said
and put out the light May you sleep
WELL
Good night, monsieur
Her voice. childlfke and trusting.
rang in his ears as he wrapped him
self in his mantle and sat down in
the chair. He could hear her take of
her wet dress, then kneel down and
! pray to God and crawl beneath the
tattered coverlet.
In the morning when he arose she
I was still asleep and her face looked so
tired that he did not have the heart
to wake her so he set the table and
wrote on a slip of paper: do not
make any noise until 1 return
In the evening he came back. and
! after she had thanked him for his
kindness she said:
you ought at least. to know/who
your life for me-"
q want to know nothing but your,
! name"
Charlotte de -"
Enough, mademoiselle!. My name is
/ Jean Tunoleon Goubin. AS we have
nothing to speak about, perhaps you
VIII do as I and read I have few
books
Not now, monsieur Jean. To read
one must feel more at ease than 1 do.
No, DO not pity me. it is just that I.
cannot forget what 1 have lost yet.
We will not speak about it,
Inns md n
gan to grow used to his new life. In
| the morning he avoided looking at
! her knowing that she pretended sleep.
When he returned in the evening his
hand trembled as he looked for the
keyhoIe and he did not grow calm
until he heard her voice and knew she
was still safe.
She had washed End repaired her
dress, her face was calm and fair and
] he noticed how, she grew more beau
tiful every day. She had begun to
read aloud to him in the evening now
! after supper and he loved the sound
of her voice, though he was always
afraid somebody might hear her and
call out the relentless patriots to ar
rest her.
Thus several days and nights passed.
They talked very little, but Goubin
knew that he loved her and felt happy.
Still he knew that her presence must
sometime be discovered and though
his heart bled at the thought Of part
ing from her, he sought way to help
her to escape.
He found one. A family was sus-
pected of having connection with the
Vendeeans and Goubin knew, as the
magistrates clerk, that they were to
be arrested He planned to warn them
through his protege and have her flee
/ with them. In the evening he told
her about his plans.
She listened to him attentively, but
in vain did he look in her face for any
sign of joy.
Il never thought escape possible"
she said. "I thought 1t was all over.
But as the chance of saving my life is
offered me, why shouldn't take 1t? To
I you, monster Jean, who risked your
life for me every day I owe a part Of
future, the value and length Of which
know nothing about"
No more was said. They sat silent
all night She looked at the poor bare
room with an interest she had never
felt before. How small, bare and cold
it wasl
Goubin read her thoughts and sighed
when he thought how lonesome he
would now be. The candle had almost
burned down before the hour came.
They stood up and looked silently into
one another's eyes, then went out into
/ the dark night.
Many months after, when calm was
restored in the country he received
letter through secret messenger. He
Immediately knew it was from her. 1t
read:
| M. Jean Goubin,
Il was happy with you. The air was
not heavy. life seemed richer. when we
thought every day our last. That time
has gone and my thoughts often wan
/ der back to you in your loneliness
! VIII you let me share it with your
! Charlotte de Combalot."
! Goubin read the letter over and over
again while pacing up and down the