Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1917-01-25
THJJRMONT FREDERICK COUNTY, MD. THURSDAY JANUARY

the sack-it was only little one.
"Jean, you acted foolishly," said Al
phonse.
Jean rose to his feet and came to-
ward him, looking uncertainty about
him. II am sorry Alphonse," he NUT
tered.
Alphonse stretched out his hand.
Jean Petit made a lunge, and the hid
den knife went into Alphonse's breast
below the heart.
Alphonse staggered and fell, the
mail bag on top Of him. The blood
gushed from the wound. Family he
heard Jean shouting triumphantly; he
saw the crazed MAJ. lean over him
and then Jean was srriding away upon
his snowshoes as fast as he could 90.
When he was out of sight Alphonse
staggered to his feet and carried the
blood-drenched mailbag to the sleigh
He collapsed inside it, but not before
he had ordered the dogs to 'mush."
The dogs started, and now even the
thought of Nanette had gone from AL
phonse's mind. One instinct remained
to get the mails through. Half faint
ing, Alphonse braced his body in the
narrow sleigh, propping up the mail
bags lest they should fall.
The dogs went on at gallop. but,
finding that their masters hand no
longer stayed them, they went more
slowly. At the foot of the next hill
they stopped. Alphonse opened his
eyes, to see Jean before him again.
All the drink had gone out of Jean
Petit. Realizing what he had done, he
had run before the sleigh through the
birch woods. "Alphonse!" he shouted,
''let me look at your woundw
Alphonse groaned. "If you kill me,
Jean Petit, wait until the mail reaches
Esquimaux," he said. "Nobody will he
about in this cold. 1t will be easy to
finish me after the mails are in the
village, and to escape"
II did not mean to wound you, AL
phonse," sobbed Jean. II was mad be-
cause of Nanette. Let me see the
wound"
He stepped into the sleigh and tore
open Alphonses sheepskin coat. AL
though the wound had bled profusely,
it was only flesh one. The rib had
turned the point Of the knife, and a
small artery, which had been severed,
had stopped bleeding already. Jean
bound up the wound and fastened AL
phonses coat about him.
The sleigh went on. Alphonse began
to revive. Naturally strong. the loss
Of blood had not seriously hurt him; ii
was rather his fear for the mails that
had weakened him. He began to I'm.
derstand now what Jean was doing.
At intervals Jean would halt the dogs
and come to him.
"You are getting stronger, Alphonse,"
he would say. Courage. In an hour
you shall see Nanette again"
"Jean," said Alphonse, when the ter.
minus was in sight over the hill,
"leave me now. l can get the mails
in"
Jean shook his head. 81 must repay
YOU" he answered. II shall give my.
self up to the police"
"You did not know what you were
doing, Jean"
I'm truth l did not" answered Jean
fercely. II was mad with rage be.
cause of Nanette. Does she really love
you, Alphonse?'
"You shall hear her say it," replied
Alphonse. "But you had better leave
me-"
The sleigh rolled on, the dogs burst.
ing into shrill barks of joy as they rec.
ognized the end Of their journey. The
little station beside the gulf looked
very lonely in the half-light of the
short January afternoon.
AS the barks of the dogs we're heard
the inhabitants rushed out into the
street. The sleigh came to a stand
still in front of the little store owned
by Nanette's father, which was the
post office.
Alphonse staggered to his feet just
as Nanette came into the street. In
moment the girls arms were about
his neck. "Alphonsew she sobbed
with joy, II love thee! I love thee"
Jean Petit heard her words, as AL.
phonse had promised him. He ground
his teeth. 1t was almost more than
he could bear. For a moment he
fought desperately with his evil ma
ture, which prompted him to thrust
his knife again into Alphonse's side.
p,,t bo ronI triu oc Nonatta
turned toward him. She took his hand
and there We're tears in her eyes 81
always hoped for this; I prayed for
this" she cried.
"Eh?" stammered Jean Petit.
Il was afraid that you would meet
on the road, and that you would fight"
said the girl. 1T was told to me that
you had threatened Alphonse. But
knew you did not mean it, Jean, be-
cause you were always very gentle
with me. And I want you to be my
brother, JEAN"
The tears in her eyes were renact-
ed in the mans. "You do not un ler-
stand!' he cried wildly. "You do not
know how we met and came here"
II understand that you have come
in together as friends" she answered.
Then she realized that Alphonse was
standing weakly against the sled.
you are in p she cried. "Therc is
blood on your coat!'
at is all right, Nanette," answered
Alphonse. II was thrown from the
sled and cut my body upon a piece Of
flint in the road. Jean was passing
and he picked me up and carried me
to the Sleigh"
And he went into the post office with
an effort Of will that forbade any dis