The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1870-01-06
~,.~.~@ ST CLOUD. MINNESOTA THURSDAY

quite still, a quiet figure against tn
long line Of coast, staring at the rcoed
ing tide. Some sailors not tar off wer'
shouting to ono another, and busy Will
fisbing-snack which they had dragget
up high aud dry and safe from tho va
tor. Presently one Of the men cam
plodding up over the single, and
asked him if he wanted his boat.
"Even If I wanted it, I should no
think of disturbing you and Madam
oiselle Reiue," answered the old fellow
He had kindly puzzled wcather-beat
en- face. "Remain, remain" he said
"He, huh - shouted his companions
filing of, "oome and eat" But ht
paid no attention to their call, and wen1
on talking. He had been ont all night
but he had only caught cuttle-isb, he
told me. They were not good to eat
they required so much beating before
they could be cooked. They seize tht
boats with their long struggling legs.
+. Did I hear of their clutchins
hold Of poor old Nanon Lefebvre th,
other day, when she was setting lie,
nets? Mademoiselle Rainc could tell me
the long and the short of it, for sht
was on the spot and called tor help"
"And you came and killed the beast
and there was an end Of it," said Mad.
emoiselle Reine, shortly, glanoing
round with a pair Of flashing bright
eyes, und then turning her back upon
us once more.
Here was a striking and heroic type
Of physioguomy. She interested me
then, as she has doae ever since thai
day. There was something fierce
bright, ood-humored about her. There
was heart, and strength, and sentiment
in her faces, / thought, at least, as
she flashed round upon US. 1t is a rare
combination, for women are not often
both gentle aud strong. She had turn.
ed her back again, however, and I went
on talking to the old sailor. Had be
had good season-had he been fortu:
nate in his fishing?
A strange doubling look came into
his face, and he spoke very slowly. II
have read in the Holy Gospels," he
said, turning his cup round in bis
hands, "that when St. Peter aud his
companions were commanded to let
down their nets, they enclosed such a
multitude of fishes that their nets
brake. I am sorry that the time for
miracles is past. I have often caught
fish, but my nets have never yet broken
from the quantity they contained"
"You are all preparing to start for
Dieppe? ?" I said, to change the sub
ject.
awe 50 in day or two," he an
s~ered "perha2s hundred boats will
be starting. We 60 here, We go there
may be at leagues distance. 1t is
curious to see. We are drifting about ;
We ask one another, Hast thou found
the herring?' and We answer, mo
there is no sign and perhaps at last
some one says, 1T is at such aud such
. place. We have landmarks. We
have one at Asnelles, for instance y
and he pointed to the glittering distant
village on the tongue OF land which
jutted into the sea at the horizon.
"And then it happens" said the old
fellow, 'fthat oil Of a sudden VIC come
upon what we are searching for
We have enough then, for we fad them
close-packed together like this; )" and
he pressed his two brown hands agains,
one another.
"And is no. that a miracle to satisfy
you, Christopher Lefebvre ?" said the
woman, speaking in deep sweet voice
with strange ringing cord in it, and
once more flashing round.
"Ah! modemoiselle," he said, quite
seriously, "they are but herrings. Nov
Peter caught trout In his nets. I saw
that in the picture which you showed
me lust Easter, when I went up t
Tracy. I am only a rough man." h
went on, speaking to me again. 81
can't speak like those sharp geuslemei
from Paris, who make 'calcm5ours,
and who have been to college; 20,
must forgive ME if 1 have offended you
or said anything wrongly. ! have on
ly been to one school at our village; y:
learnt what I could there :"
"And to that other school, Christie
phe," said the deep voice again an'
the young woman pointed to the sea.
Then ho frightened up. "Thcre
indeed, have learnt q great man
things, and I defy any one Of thos
fine gentlemen to teach me a sing
fact regarding it"
"And yet there are some Of them
Of the fine gentlemen, as you call them,
she said, looking him full in the fac.
"who are not out of place on board
boat, as you ought to know we
enough"
Lctebvre shrugged bis shoulder
"Moasieur Richard," he said, "and n
do Tracy too, they liked being y
board, and we're not afraid Of wettin&
| Mnuasonr Touk>:no nauv~o hanna