Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-12-22

NILES Udl6nD6II ldlu Q6I uaIlu lIup1UI-
ingly On her arm. Then she seem ed to
lose all command of her long-pent pas
sions, and grasping that gentle hand in
a grip of steel, she hurried her outside
of the shed and along the beach till
they were alone. Here she released
the young lady, and lowered over her,
grief. hatred and revenge in Ter face.
''Now, miss, out with it. What has
my sweetheart to say to me that he
couldn't say to myself" demanded she,
in quivering tones.
Miss Galembert. trembling with weak
ness, yet rejoiced at even this oppor-
tunity OF speaking confdentially to the
passionate creature, took out a letter
which she had just received from Silas.
He had not been seen in Carradoc since
the night when Miss Galembert had
surprised the wreckers at their evil
work. Without offering an explanation
to any one, he had strobe away, gun
in hand, next morning, and this letter
to Miss Gaiembert was the first anti
nation Of his whereabouts.
Without one word of reproach, Azay
put the open sheet in Raldy's hand,
and watched her face while she read it.
Wanderiul were the changes which
passed over that eloquent facel She
began with looks of burning jealousy
AID bitter pain; these merged into
amazement, this into dawning pity,
peace and joy; and at the end Raldy
burst into delicious tears, and gazed at
Azay with passionate admiration and
gratitude.
$50 all the time you was our best
friend !" cried she. can instead of
takin' him from me, you was leadin'
him to be an honest man !" She wept
with mingled remorse and Joy. 'I
hain't deserved no kindness from you,
miss, said she humbly. "I've hated
ye, an done my best to drive we from
the place. Thought Silas had thrown
me over. That night when Tim Trane
come home with father he talked an'
talked bout you en- Silas till most
went mad. The men they was riled
cause We see 'em at some o. Their dark
work. Well, ] wanted to rouse 'em up
to drive ye off altogether. 1t was me
that put the ticket on to your wall, an
l spoke agin ye. Oh, miss, 1 don't de-
serve ye to forgive mel"
But Azay Galembert did forgive her
from the heart, and with shining eyes
and tenderest words she told her how
she had longed to see this day, when
Silas Cfewe and his betrothed wife
would resolve to lead nobler lives than
the wreckers Of Carradoc.
AS she conversed with Raldy she
discovered that the women and child
rem were kept in utter ignorance of
the real crimes perpetrated by their
men. The worst that Radly suspect
ed was little smuggling. She suppos-
ed that Miss Galembert had detected
Silas anu his comrades landing contra
band goods under the cliff, as, indeed,
they had often enough done. Silas's
letter was simple, manly acknowl-
edgement to Miss Galembert of the
good influence she had exercised over
him. He promised to lead and honest
life III future, and to do his best to in
duce his neighbors to do the same. 1t
had been hard struggle for him to
decide on this step, for he knew too
well the obdurate natures he would
have to deal with; but the memory
of Miss Galembert's courage in the
face Of danger shamed him out of his
vaciliation.
"And now that 1 know my mind"
wrote Siias, In conclusion, 'I'm COM
ing home on Christmas. Will you
please tell Raldy Leslie all this, because
we were to be married on Christmas,
only couldn't let her marry bad
man till he was sure he could repent"
This was sweet beginning of that
Carradoo Christmas, but a fearful
ending was st hand.
Even while Miss Galembert and
Raldy paced the shore arm-in-arm,
their young hearts overlooking with
sympathy, the body OF man was cast
at their feet by the advancing tide-it
was Dandy, the wickedest man in Car
radoc.
He was the first to come of the whole
fleet of fishermen who went out the
previous morning, but not the last.
Before evening fell most Of the women
of Carradoc knew themselves widowed.
When the hour struck for the ball to
commence, the ballroom was occupied
by the dead, laid side by side on the
snowy floor under the wreathing ever
green's.
A singular and APPALLING incident had
brought these men to their deaths.
Their own boys, wishing to light a
grand bonfire on Christmas Eve, had
built it in that same cleft of the cliff,
where it roared and glowed through
half the night, and when the boats APP
preached the shore driven by the wind,
the mist fell suddenly, and they saw
80 Sc
Lookout Light, and swept boldly for
ward, rs many a good ship had done
before them, and were swamped on the
bar
1t seemed like judgment on the
wreckers of Carradoc that their own
children should have lured them, rs
they had lured others, into the death
trap!
But Silas Crewe was safe; he came
home to Rsldy as he promised; and
these two, hiding their sacred happi-
Ness in their awe-struck hearts, turned,
hand finland, to aid and console the
wretched souls who had lost all they
had to love.
The hated stranger, too, seemed to
have found her place among them at
ihsb. TIOul nOuS6 W lbuS6 sue Went,
quiet, loving, helpful. No memory of
their GOODNESS to her marred the heart
felt sympathy she gave them now;
they wondered at her blindness, and
were ashamed.
When Azay went to her cottage that
Christmas eSening, fainting with wear
mess, yet comforted in spirit, she
found visitor awaiting her in the
quaint, artistic chamber.
Wonderfully eloquent was the blush
on her cheek and the sparkle of the
dark eyes when she recognized him in
the rudddy freight. 1t was as if a
suowdrop had been transformed into
royal rose.
II have come to claim my sweet
wife. Am welcomed" said st. John
Arsndel, with solemn fervor.
81 am not quite worthy Of happiness
yet" answered she humbly.
"You have won renown, my Azay.
Your name is reverenced in the world
of art"
She tenderly touched his proud lips
i'll silence.
az have changed my ambition, dear
love-" she said. 81 don't want fame
now; want to help the helpless"
The young pstrician heard this with
kindling joy.
Surely [ have chosen well!" he cried,