The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-10-26
OUR STORY TELLER.
A P0RTENTOUS DAY IN MAR.
SEILLES.

and joyous day in the Queen City of the
Mediterranean, Marseilles, which even
then was one of the finest places in the
Old World, and which to-day is dazzling
in the splendor of its gorgeous buildings,
its magnificent situation and its sunny
sky.
On that day great event occurred in
the commercial history of Marseilles
The first ship from the Levant, laden
with precious cashmere wool, had ar
rived, and it was to be woven at Mar
settles, whose great ambition was to
eclipse the spinners of Lyons aud Rouen.
The sailors of the shi p were treated to
a collation. at the public expense, and
until late hour of the night crowds
singing joyous ditties were passing
through the principal streets of the city.
Alasl had the people of Marseilles
known the dreadful calamities the wool
ship had carried TO them
It had sailed from Smyrna, and at
Smyrna that terrible scourge of former
ages, the plague, was raging.
Dlsinfecting processes at the time were
never resorted to, and the narrow streets
of Marseilles, near the harbor, were kept
in very filthy condition.
Next day the wool ship was unloaded,
and two hours later most of the work
men engaged on the dock near it were
writing in the agonies of the plague.
A cry of horror resounded through
out the whole city when the dread news
became generally known. The stores
were shut up and the people locked
themselves in their dwellings. Some of
the weather. residents hurriedly left
the city, and departed for the pine-clad
hills north of Marseilles, where the air
was bracing and salubrious.
But the vast majority of the people
stayed. Stayed to die-to die in man
ner too horrible to imagine.
Z 1t was at setting in of dusk that a
well-dressed and very handsome young
man entered a narrow street in the
northern part of the city. He stood
still in front of a low house, the window
shutters of which were tightly closed.
From his pocket he drew a silver whistle,
and blew three shrill notes from it.
A few minutes later the front door of
the house was cautiously opened.
In the dim twilight the young man
recognized frail female form, dressed
in flowing white wrapper. He rushed
toward her, and, clasping her in his arms,
exclaimed, rapturously:
Sephronial"
"Antoinew
For minute they remained locked in
a fervent embrace. Then she drew him
gently into hallway. They exchanged
many tender caresses.
At last she ushered him into cozily
furnished back room, lighted by hang
ing lamp, which shed dim light over
the room. They sat down on a low
divan.
She was a girlish beauty of the true
Eastern style, graceful as fawn, per-
haps eighteen years old, perhaps a year
or two younger, with hair raven black.
complexion faultlessly pure, magnif-
cent eyes, and mouth as charming as
that of the Venus of Milo.
The young man took her hand, and
gazed lovingly into her eyes.
Sephronia," he said at last, al have
come to hear your decision"
A cloud at once darkened the brow of
the lovely girl.
Antoine de Couras," she said, press
ing her hand against her heart, "you
have been the most generous of men to
me. You have surrounded me with
Injuries. You love mel love you
with all my heart. But"
Butw he exclaimed, impatently.
But, Antoine, dearest Antoine, can
not marry youi''
He sprang to his feet, uttering wild
imprecation.
Why, Sephronia, whyF" he cried,
stamping his foot on the ground.
Listen to me, Antoine" she said
calmly. What am in the eyes of the
world but a wretched outcast? The
daughter of woman who was broken
on the wheel as a witch" Her bosom
heaved convulsively as she uttered these
words.
Poor mother" she sighed. "She a.
witch because she cured some sick people
whom the stupid physicians of Mar
settles had given up"
1t was an abominable outrage p MUIR
INJURED M. De Couras.
1t was Antoine. My own life was
in danger. You saved me, and con
cealed me herel And then think of who
you are! The only son of g wealthy
counselor to the Parliament. Your
father would disown you"