The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1870-05-19
HE j..
VIILAGE0N THE CLIFF. a
r HE
BY MISS THACKERAY,
CHAPTER XVII. !

All the autumn blaze Of dahlias ard
marguerites in front Of the chalet had
been put out by tho wintry rains and
winds; only the shutters looked as
brilliantly green as ever, and the little
weathercocks were twirling oheerfally
upon the tall iron spikes, when Dick
came walking up to the chalet one Feb
ruary morsing about twelve o'clock.
Ho rang the bell. Madame Mcrard
saw him through the dining-room win
dow, and called in Justine to let the
gentleman in.
"Monsieur was not at home,"' Jus.
tine said. "Madame Fontaine was on
the terrace. Would be like to see
Madame Merard ?"
Dick hastily replied that he would
try and find Madame Fontaine, and he
strobe off in the direction Justine indi-
Gated.
"You can not lose your way" she
said, as she went back to her kitchen,
well pleased to escape 50 easily, and tho
dining-room door opened to invite tho
gentleman in just as he had disappear
ed round the corner Of the house.
As Dick went walking down the lit
tie slopes which led from terrace to
terrace, he took in at : glance the look
Of Catharine's life and the sound Of it,
the many-voiced sea with its flashing
lights, the distant village on its jutting
promontory, Petitport close at hand
With its cheerful sounds, its market
place and echoes, the hammer Of the
forge, the dogs barking on the cliff,
the distant crow of cocks. The sun
was shining in his eyes, 80 that it was
Toto who saw Dick first, and came rum
ming up hastily from the cabane, calling
to his step-mother. Then C.tharine
appeared with glow upon her cheeks,
for the morning air was fresh and de-
lighted.
The two met very quietly. A gen.
tleman in mourning took off his hat,
a lady IN scarlet hood came up and
held out her hand. A. she did 50
Catharine thought she was holding out
her hand across a great gulf: Heaven
Nd been mercifal to her, and she was
safe, standing on the other side. Nov
that she saw him again she knew she
was safe. This was the moment she
had secretly dreaded and trsmblsd II
contemplate, and it was not 10 very tor
ribls after all.
Mem,souy my husband il out
said Catharine, after she had ..askei
him when hs had come, and heard thai
the Beamishes had crossed with hlu
the day before and wanted to see hs'
4 again. We will talk 4 sort Of alxebr'
now aud then, ~ Catharine talked jos
now. The history Of the past, th
faith Of the future, the pain, the hope
the efforts Of her poor little life, it
tremulous unknown quantities, were a
expressed in these few common plat
tudes-"How do you do? I am gla
to see you. My husband is not q
home"
II To all of which, indeed, Dick pal
but little heed, though he returne
suitable answers. He was sorry to mil
1 Fontaine, and yet ho ives glad to fin
her alone, he said. Something ha
vexed him, and, like Reine, be ba
come to Catharine for sympathy an
> advice, only before he began upon b
own concerns he looked At her. No
: that the flush had faded he saw th'
+ Madame Fontaine was : little thin On
worn !; her eyes were bright IS eve
: but there was: 4 touching tired look u
= der the dropping eyelids which mao
= him fear all was not we'll. And ,
:. her manner was very sweet, cordial q
r rlacid, like that Of happy woma
She seemed uuafectedly glad to .
!. him, q indeed she WAS and it Y
= with an innocent womanly triuwl
:: thAt she felt she could welcome him
i. her own home for the first time. T
Or time had come, she t,ld herself, VII
i she could hold out her hand and
:, Of help 70 him, and show him b
4; g truly and sincerely she VAS his fricl
! Il was all that shs ever dared to he
:. for, and the time hsd come s ~.