Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-01-16
ST. JOHNS EVE.
by the Author OG"Patty."
CHAPTER I.

|
1t had been a wild day. The sky when it
could be seen was blue and clear, but gray
storm clouds had 80 continually been blown
across it that sometimes a leaden canopy had
covered it altogether, and the atmosphere
had been given up to storm and wind.
| Towards midday. however, the clouds had
| bulged downwards, their color had deepened
into blackness, and first heavy drops, and
| then sheets Of diagonal rain had swept over
the wild rocks that stretched out long thirsty
tongues into the sea- The wind, which had
cIrecred mady all round the compass, was
now due west, and the streams of rain swept
landwards along the rocky points till they
reached the long cliffs that formed the coast
line
Then the rain ceased for while, and a
vivid flash Of lightning brought thunder as
rolling chorus which drowned even the roar
| ing of the angry, turbid sea with its deeper
notes. Then the sky had become black as
night, the rain had dashed down again and
again, the lightning had scorched the air into
for low growls of thunder far away and quick
moving masses Of gray vapor, which seemed
| to float as wells to the dazzling whiteness of
the clouds above them lying on the clear
| blue.
at is over, there will be no more storm"
said deep voice.
| The speaker rose from the point of rock on
which he had been sitting, and stood out
against the pale gray of the horizon, looking
even taller and bigger than he really was
His face was brown and weather beaten, with
deep-set, honest, dark eyes, and good white
teeth, which showed just now as he smiled at
| his companions. His hair was much shorter
than that of most western Bretons, and his
large white collar gave him trim, clean as
| pect. He wore fsherman's jersey and
dark blue trousers, and O black woollen cap.
His companions middle-aged woman and
her daughter, a girl of twenty wore black
| gowns, white, square-shaped linen caps in
| form resembling those of the women of
| Quimper The elder woman had evidently
been fair and handsome, her eyes were still
very blue, but her face was now a dull, uni.
form pink, and without expression There
was no likeness between the young girl and
her mother. Marie Gourin was short, dark.
| eyed, and plump, with world of sparkling
mischief in her loving eyes and sweet, rosy
mouth.
She looked up saucily as the fisherman
| spoke. What thing it is, to be sure, to
| be fisherman! JehAn is never really off
the sea-" she said to her mother. "He is al
ways thinking of the weather"
Jehan's manly face had gone back into its
usual expression of grave thought and this
| expression deepened into melancholy as he
looked down into Marie's bright eyes. In
stead of answering her he turned round to
the older woman, who sat placidly gazing
| over the sea.
The storm had scarcely stirred Barba
Gourin She took it as she took all existence
now, placidly. 1T was meant to happen"
she always said, what need to be glad or
sorry 2"
1t seemed to Barba that a woman's life had
two periods. The period of gaiety and free
dom before marriage, and ever after time
of drudgery and dull, slayish toll. So when
neighbors bade Barba rebuke and check Ma
rie's coquetry and somewhat wild spirits, she
used to shake her head and smile.
"Time enough" she thought in her placid
way. when Marie marries Jehan, and has
to work for him. and maybe for six children,
work will clip my childs wings and dim her
brightness soon enough, why should check
her? Everything will be as it was meant to
Mother" Barba looked round at Jehan
when he spoke. He did not let his eyes stray
once to Marie's bright face, though he knew
she was watching him. Mother, when
next come home, if come home safe, will
you give me Marie l shall not take her
from you, " he went on. Il want a mother
as well as a wife, and you will be company
for Marie when I'm away fishing. must be
away before the feast of St. John, and can
not hope to see you again til Christmas-tide,
for you know the fishing lasts six months.
Will you give rue Marie when ChristmRs-tid
is over ?"
Barba's face was paler, but otherwise she
betrayed no sigh of emotion.
"One time will be as good as another" she
said, "but Jehan, shall not live with you.
Young folks are best by themselves"
Jehan had turned away he was watching
Marie now, for the girl had risen and was
walking away from the rocks, going home
wards.
Barba went on in a monOtonOus voice. 80
you must say where you mean TO live, that
we may get your home ready for you. Ma
rie will have plenty of linen. There is mine,
and my mother's and my husbands mothers
also, and there is all that have spun for
Marie. You will tell me your wishes before
you go, Jehan."
''Yes, yes" he spoke impatiently, his eyes
fixed on Maries figure, for the girl was near
ly out of sight. "Where is Marie going,
mother? What ails her to leave us in this
manner?"
Barba was not offended by his inattention.
She looked on mankind as a superior race,
and though she had just calmly pronounced
her own doom,-her words had torn her
heart as she spoke them,--it seemed only
natural that Jehan should not care for her
feelings.
go after Marie, my son, she said, quiet
ly. 81 cannot run fast now; she should not
walk alone in the evening" you can bring
her back to me-"
Jehan was off at once. Marie and her
mother were SO inseparable that he had rare
ly found chance of speaking a word alone