Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-05-22
CHAPTER xvIII.-tCoNr1SurD)


want returned, and others with him. Out
side the nut heard the paving of horses
feet. Sesing his mistress in tears upon the
ground, the man raised his whip threaten
ingly.
"'I warned you to be civil to my lady,
he said.
"sBe careful, cried, with look which
prevented the blow; if you strike, your
life will be in danger
+" The lady rose, and stood between US.
You forget, she said TO her servant,
with more dignity than supposed her
capable of, that this man has given me
the shelter of his roof And turning to me,
she held out her hand, and said in tone Of
Much sweetness, j thank you, friend
g touched her hand, and bent my head
to her; was more than repaid. Soon she
was gone, and the storm was raging round
her; but there was a more enduring storm
in her young heart. Friendless, too, she
appeared to be, and dependent on herself,
despite that she was surrounded by servants
who addressed her as My lady
at was not until an hour afterwards
that discovered she had taken the baby's
shoe with her.
During the night l thought much of
her her grief, her youth, her beauty, her
apparent innocence and inexperience, had
deeply impressed me. In the sobbing of
the storm seemed to hear the echo of her
wall, o, baby, baby o, my heart, my
heart And with the eyes of my mind l
saw her slight and delicate figure winding
its way through the mourniul forest,
searching for love that was dead. These
thoughts kept me awake and was also
in some anxiety about myself, deeming it
almost certain that the adventure was the
prelude to more startling events.
"This proved to be the case. did not
visit Evangeline on the following day,
fearing that l might be watched and track
ed in the afternoon two gentlemen on
horseback drew up at my hut, and, alight-
ing, gave their horses in charge of groom
who attended them. The gentlemen con-
Yersed together for few moments, and it
appeared as if one were trying to persuade
the other to come into my hut with him.
saw their actions through the creyice of
my door, which was not quite closed, but
did not see the faces of the gentlemen,
their backs being towards me. The younger
man shook his head, and waving his hand
around-with an air of affectation, as it
appeared to me-threw himself languidly
upon the ground, and interlacing his fin
gers behind his head, gazed up at the
clouds through the intervening leaves and
branches. The other gentleman uncere-
moniously pushed open the door and en-
tered.
" Before me stood Mauvain.
"The same easy, polished gentleman as
Of old, richly dressed, arrogant, supercil-
ious, and bearing, as he always did, the air
OF a man accustomed to be obeyed. Time
had dealt lightly with him something he
may have owed to art, but he seemed
scarcely five years older than when l left
him on the seashore quite fifteen years ago.
He regarded me with gentle smile.
Rant, he said in quiet, questioning
tone, not his spirit ?
RANT replied, in solid flesh and
bone
"'I am delighted, he said.
1t is good thing, said, initiating
his tone of courteous banter, to be able to
delight so fine gentleman.
"' Whimsical as ever. 1t is surprising.
''' That am whimsical?
'' That you are alive. It is-if you
will pardon me-really astonishing.
g l pardon you readily. The unfortu-
nate have an unfortunate knack of living
Aud your philosophy has ripened.
Rant, did you know l had returned from
exile? ?
"sRe.'
"'You did lot take the trouble to as
certaing'
"'ko."
"'Why2'
al did not wish to be troubled.
You believed 1 should trouble you
ri our paths in life crossed again p
"'I was sure oft. It is your way
"'Truly, it is my way. Myself first.
others afterwards A selfish nature, ana
afraid.
"' You are good judge
Ranf. in all my experiences l have
never met shrewder observer than your
self, nor shrewder reader of character
Shall read yours 1 asked.
For Heavens sake, no. he cried,
laughing heartily and gently; in his
angriest moods, Maurain was never vio-
lent Spare me, beg
Gle went to the door, and called, Har-
old { and receiving no answer, called again,
Harold : and walking to the spot where
his friend was lying, leant over him. I
stood on the threshold observing his move
nents.
"'The fellow is asleep, he said, rejoin-
ing me, dreaming of the fantastic and
impossible Like myself, Rant. man OF
sentiment Well, let him sleep; you and
l can talk together more privately. will
take seat if you will allow me. pointed
to one. and presently he continued 1 can
hear the sound of the waves beating on the
shore; can feel the fresh morning air
blowing on my hot cheeks. In the light of
a beautiful sunrise We spoke some hard
truths to each other. ]
"' You expressed, in your fashion, graft
tude for the service l rendered You
"'T remember; you were scarcely
more complimentary to me, but what I
said meant.