The Argosy — page 242: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Old Stone Cross. 225 to speak lightly, for in truth he knew how vindictive his brother was. ‘‘ Have you not just promised before the good Christ that you will be mine—my own dear wife? Courage, my dear.” “T tremble when I think of him. He says he will murder you if I marry you,” Jeanne whispered, between her sobs. The Breton uttered some fierce invective. ‘ Let him try,” he said to Jeanne. The sun’s rays were getting low when Jeanne re-appeared at St. Ebven. To judge by her bright face, her lover’s words must have reassured her, and his parting caress was a sweet one. A storm in the meantime had been brewing at the farm. Mere Pichon’s usually kind and comely face wore a portentous frown. It darkened when she saw her elder daughter. “ Teanne,” she said, “I cannot have you trifling with that Michel youth. I hear he is but laughing at thee; he is in truth betrothed to Annette Ferrier, the rich heiress in Vannes.” Jeanne looked at her mother in amazement. What could she mean? Gaston could not trifle! ‘““Who has told you this, mother ?” she asked, quietly. “Pierre Michel, his brother. He has been here, and he told me that Gaston could but be playing with thee, when in sooth he ts pro- mised to Annette. Pierre, ma fille, loves you himself; he waits but our consent to ask your hand.” Jeanne laughed ; a scornful, angry laugh. “You don’t believe him! He is a vaurien, a scélérat—va!” the girl burst out. ‘“Well, I am not going to say but that thy father and I prefer Gaston,” admitted Madame Pichon. ‘“ But . “Mother, listen to me for one moment: Gaston and I are betrothed. We have been to the old Cross, now, this very after- noon ; he can get his arms round it, and I have promised him before Heaven, to be his wife. You will not deny it—you will say yes?” And Jeanne threw herself down on her knees before her mother. ‘Stay, stay, mon enfant ; tu vas trop vite. Tell me more quietly all about you and Gaston.” Jeanne, relieved to find by her mother’s tones she was not angry with her, told her everything. Mére Pichon had not been blind ; she had known of the love the two. young people had for each other; but like her daughter, she feared the elder Michel. Vindictive, sullen, and morose, Pierre was an object of dislike and dread to the whole village. The good woman, remembering the days when she had been young herself, dismissed her daughter with her blessing, together with a pro- mise that she would break the news to her father. Jeanne left the house in search of her sister, when suddenly Pierre Michel stood in the path. She would have passed him without speaking, but Pierre was not so minded. NOL. XL. | Q CoOnniclooolkks (CO)