The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1885-1888, 1885-06-24
THE LOVE CHAMBER.

/ was sitting by the seashore beyond
where the lighthouse stands. A storm
wind was blowing. The strong sea.
breezes, made tepid by the sun, came to me
impregnated with sharp saline odors. Be-
fore me the ocean unrolled its waves upon
the fine sand, like green serpent prolong-
ing its shining coils III the sun. Behind
me was the cliff, with its gray assures,
whence iutted out here and there the
trunks of sickly trees brambly growths,
and meager furze-plants. slipping inward
almost below the foot of the cliff, yawned
q mysterious cavern, spacious grotto-
dark and cool.
emotion with Which Nature inspires those
alone with her, when hand slapped my
shoulder, and laughing voice exclaimed:
How doyou find yourself this morn
1t was the old college friend had uncx-
pectedly met the evening before-Gabriel
F., naval lieutenant.
instinct" he continued. Perhaps you
never suspected that tragedy occurred
in this very place where we now are?"
"a tragedy-here?"
eyes, in that very grotto. 1t has be-
come famous. The country folk call it
The Love Chamber knew of the TO-
nance at the very time when its characters
performed their parts. Light cigarette,
and let me tell it to you"
Il listen"
At the time am telling you about there
was pretty girl at Biarritz named Pasca-
Inca Basque about eighteen years of
age, tall and slight-with that peculiar
grace so characteristic of those 1.-THE noun
tain women Her black hair cleaned
,tnlo, tbn xro11nxv 81 IL Of ;nl
she always wore fastened about her head
in the most coquettish style imaginable.
Her ruddy lips, slightly sensuous, showed
at every smile rows of delicate white teeth
Pascaline was dressmaker and supported
her father, a great big man, half para
lyzcd, who lived in a perpetual revery and
rarely, spoke except to reply with. some pc
culiarly vague Spanish proverb to any
question put to him. Pascalne adored
the old man and took care of him like a
child. So folks used always to say, "Pas-
caline will certainly do well ON account
of the way she takes care of her father"
Anyhow she had chance either way--to
do well or badly for she had two adj.
mirers. One was Noise Dunez, rich, old
and ugly, who offered her fine social po-
sition. The other was Maxine Sarrabey-
rous, poor, young and handsome, who
offered her his heart. Maxine was said
to be II professional guide in the Pyrenees.
He was really smuggler. And, as was
only right, Pascaline loved MaXime-for
love always calls for love.
Such was the state of affairs for several
months. Noise Dunez would often stop
at the store and scratch his nose and
gravely observe:
81 can give you fine social position,
Pascaline-a fine social position"
And she would always reply:
"You! are very kind and good, NJ.
Noise but love Maxine"
And old Noise would go OIL, grumbliug
to himself:
She II change her mind after awhile
she'll change her mind"
But things at last came to such point
that some decision had to be made. The
two young lovers often took long walks
along theclifl, and people gossiped about
them a great deal. Unfortunately they
were very poor. A dressmaker cannot
save very much, especially if she has a
father to support; and smugglers have
their dull seasons. But it is very fine
profession, for all that. Poor as they
were, however, they loved each other so
much that they went to old Father Pascal
one morning, hand in hand, and said:
"We love each other and we want to get
married"
The old man shook his head little, and
slowly responded:
~ 49, - cI,''r ~ ''N' wv Wv
PoSSSSCS' Lei US pe pl lne iew.l
ny iovers kIici' 1 a, ptlotS nm, ana
complished. Pascaline accompanied the
youth 10 the tlsual scene OF thelr prom,
enade; and that evening they remained
OUT on 1he cllfis very, very late. AS the
young basque Slrl was returning nome
lull OF happiness WIN the JOY OF love
SSWelllhg IN her heart she met Noise
DuneI VINO observed very graveiy,
scTatcIing ms nose as usual ~
~ oHer you me soclal position, fas-
caliile-a me social positloh'
SRe answered; =,
You are very Soou anu KIM, NJ NOISE;
put MaXlme Sairapeyrous ana nave ar
ranged everything ior the pesI tnis even
ing.
Ana on NOISE Went on, mutterlnS! as
ne always ana; smell chalge her mlhd
aiter aWhlle-she II change her mlndg
a lew DAYS later Maxine was offered a
splendid chance to make q snug little
sum. a whole cargo OF goods was to be
smugSled INTO Gulpnzcoa, me young
cc9tndOdnatad was iuli OF confidence, pul
tne weather was pad. All day and all
ilght nllghty VINO was plowing from
the sea ana inc sailors lhutterea III rear;
~ Is O"r Ldag hhGootuPe passing ~!
our Lazy OF uuadalupe, the pale Ma
donna Win the green eyes, VINO, when
she passeth by, taketh WIN her III hcr
Ehoslly inght all VINO are pelateu upon
tle vast gray sea:
- VIII returh III eiglt days, sald Max,
inc iire oSaIIapeyrous, as he Kissed the red
lPS " ms sMgt'leaIt' 49,, 49,, H..
puI 'he olsnt days passed, ana then |!
1lOnII-IWO DlOnlDS-lnrce months went