Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-11-03
GaIts and Sketfkfs.
RONALD AND xIsErrE.
From, the French Of AiJer Delpit-
CONTINUED from Yesterday


She answered gaiIy, ..Oh, how amusing
that will be- She put back her hair.
which fell in masses across her face, wiped
avay the rain which drowned her checks
and clun9 round RonaId's neck. At first
the Young man walked quickly, Misetie
weighed no more in his arms than bird
on a holly bough. Then little by little
came fatigue. His breast heayed, he was
painting, his steps wayered. The storm
cast SO many obstacles in his way, against
which his unsteady feet stumbled heavily
Ronald would gladly have rested an in
slant. breathed little, but he did not dare
And then MIsette had gently fallen asleep.
Ronald could feel her pure. even breath
against his bare neck. A halt would have
awakened the poor child, and it was his
duty to protect, even in small things, tins
pretty creature, who abandoned herself To
him with the confidence OF a tame bird.
No! fatigue should not conquer his reso-
luton. At length he set foot on the messy
platform wherein stood the smuggler
hut. He braced himself once more that
he might not let Misette fall. He deposit
ed her gently, tenderly among the leayes.
When she felt herself lying down she
hardly opened her eyes, she only laid her
head upon her arm and hoated away on
winged dreams into forgetfulness. Ronald
stole round the house. He knocked at
the door, at the window. saying in low
voice:
.sOpen the door. Jose il is |, Ronald. :"
No answer. Could it be possible the
smuggler was absent on such a night? At
length the latch of the door yielded and
Ronald entered. Nobody there. Jose
had profited by the storm, no doubt. and
the darkness to carry on his trade. \
profound encouragement fell upon the
young man. They would come next day
To take him away, and separate him from
Misette. Fly? but when and how' He
could not stand his strength was gone :;
he would never be able to take Misette in
his arms and carry her down toward the
fountain. He fell upon his knees on the
moss, murmnring, my God, My God.'
And tears sprang to his eyes.
Ronald was beaten. He lay down near
Misette, and, worn out with fatigue, he
slept the heavy sleep which is but a re-
mission of suffering.
The sun rose. The rain ceased falling
and the storm fled away to the west, over
the open sea. o. the lovely day, full of
quivering gayety. Trees. earth, moss,
mountains. sent forth penetrating odors.
"There they are there in the grass, :"
said the dry voice of Mr.. Thornton. do
your duty gentlemen"
II was the Englishman. escorted by two
gendarmes of fatherly countenance and
peaceful bearing, and who in the bottom
of their hearts were consigning this spare,
yellow, dry English Puritan to the devil
These poor fellows adore1 Ronald and
Misette; but how is one to resist the
Mayor? The Mayor himself was not a
bad man but what could he do against
the sub Project? And the sub-Perfect had
enjoined upon the authorities to lend their
aid TO the Rev James Thornton.
With one bound Ronald was on his feet
Misette walked also. pretty as an angel.
with bits of grass in her hair.
Collar this vagabond.' said Mr.
Thornton, land make an end of it. The
comedy has lasted too long"
Ronald said in low voice. Quick I,
Into the hut - And before their advasa-
ries could take step Ronald and Misette
took refuge in Jose's little hut. In one
corner an old gun. loaded. leaned against
the high-chimney-p piece. The young man
biiOu sCtLtu W.
IF these brave men advance one step,
my uncle" said he. IL fire on you.'
He had a superb bearing. this young
lion at bay. Mr.. Thornton trembled in
his ugly skin like Goliath before David
Ronald looked him in the face. A thou
sand cruel thoughts were iostling each
other in the boys brain. A crime. Was
his young loyalty capable OF it ? No. That
weapon would arrest by fear for mo-
ment the wretch who would tear him
from Msette. But afterwards Could he
resist these honest men who were not to
blame for doing their dutyP Could he re-
main at Ustaritzp So he must lose his
darling. his beloved. his Misette, and 60
away under the gray skies of misty Eng
land into the cold fogs of the Thames /?
Should he yield that he might
come back to Misette when he
should be of age and free? But there
would be four mortal years in exile in the
midst of strangers who did not care for
him. and who would deceive Misette and
persuade her that her betrothed had for
gotten her. She was weaker than he I;
she would not perhaps resist repeated
efforts. All these ideas rushed through
Ronald's mind. In that moment he felt
that in this life our dreams and hopes are
forever crushed against the inevitable.
Standing before Misette the boy main
tanned his defensive attitude.
''Sir." said he. ''these honest men know
me. They know that never told lie.
Withdraw quietly; leave me alone with
Misette. and will give you my word OF
honor that in an hour will go away"
Mr.. Thornton shook his long hair. Oh
he asked nothing better than to obey now q.
Jose's old gun had an irresistible elo-
quence.
He added, however:
IL have your word ?"
ION my honor. in just one hour, will
go"
Now they were in their favorite shelter
under the thicket of the trees. on the banks
of the Nive. The river swollen by the
storm. rolled its yellow waters with a
sinister roaring, breaking its foam against
the tree trunks and fragments of rock that
it dragged onward in its course. Misette
was sobbing.
'.You are going to leave me! And |
shall see YOU no more, and we shall be
sa,,arafad fnrpver' How ahall I live