Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-01-29
THE LOVE CHAMBER.

Via
This is the way they told the story
to me: I 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 odor. Before me the
ocean unrolIed its waves upon the fine
sand, like a green serpent prolcnglDg
it's shining coils In the sun. Behind
me was the cliff, with its gray assures,
whence jutted out here and there the
trunks of sickly trees, branDly
growths, and meager furze alants.
Slipping inward, almost below the
foot of the cliff, yawned a mysterious
cavern, a spacious grotte-dark and
cool.
was seized by that uncomfortable
emotion with which nature inspires
those alone with hep, when hand
slapped my shoulder, and a laughing
voice exclaimed:
''How do you find yourself this
norningH
1t was the old college friend I had
unexpectedly met the evening before
Gabriel F., naval lieutenant.
You must have found your way
here by instinct, a." he continued. "Per-
haps you never suspected that q trag-
edy occurred in this place where we
now aro2"
"A tragedy-here?"
Eyes, In that very grotto. It has
become famous. The country folk
call 1t, The Love Chamber I knew
of the romance at the very time when
its characters performed their parts.
Light cigarette, and let me tell it to
you"
Il listen"
AT the time I am telling you about
there was a beautiful girl at Blarritz,
eighteen years of age, tall and slight,
tcristIc Of those 1.-the mountain
women. Her black hair cleaned
under the yellow silk handkerchief
which 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 supper ted her
father,-a great big man, half para
lyzed, who lived in perpetual revery,
and rarely spoke except to reply with
some peculiarly vague Spanish pro
verb to any question put to hlm. Pas
ealine adored the old man, and took
care Of him like child. So folks
psed always to say, "Psscaline will
certainly do well, on account of the
way she takes care Of her father"
Anyhow she had a chance either wsy,
to do we'll or badly; for she had
TWO admirers. One was Noise Dunez,
rich, CID and ugly, who offered her
ine social position. The other was
Maxine Sarrabeyrous, poor, yOung
and handsome, who offered her his
heart. Maxine was said tn be pro-
fessiOnal guide in the Pyrenees. He
was really a smuggler And, SIS was
only right, Pascallre loved Maxime,-
FOR love always calls for love.
Such was the state of affairs for sew
cral months. Noise Dunez would
often stop at the store and scratch his
nose, and gravely observe:
II can give you fine social posi-
zion, Pascaline-a fine social posi-
ion"
And she would always reply:
You are very kind and good, NJ.
Noise, but I love Maxine"
Aud old Noise would 60 off numb
ling to himself:
She'll change her mind after
vhile; she'll change her mind"
Bat things st last came to such
point that sope decision had 10 be
made. The two young lovers often
took long walks along the cliff, and
people q0ssiped about them great
deal. Unfortunately they we're very
poor A dressmaker cannot save very
much, especially If she has father To-
dull seasons. But It is a very fine
profession for all that. Poor as they
were, however, they loved each other
SO much that they went 10 Father
Pascal one morning, hand IN hand,
and said: 1--WE love each other and
we want to get married"
The old man shook his head a little
and slowly responded:
Very well, very well. SedmOS
de los po8eos" (Let us be of the
few
The lovers knelt before him: and he
blessed them. The betrothal was
+. accomplished Pasealine accompanied
the youth to the usual scene of their
promenade; and that evening they
remained out on the cliffs very, very
late. AS the yoang Basque girl was
returnir G home full of happiness, with
the JOY Of love swelling IN her heart,
she met Noise Dupez, who observed
very gravely, scratching his nose as
usual:
81 offer you dne social position,
Pascaline-a fine social position"
She answered:
You are very good and kind, NJ
Noise; but Maxine Sarrabeyrous and
] have arranged everything for tbs
best this evening"
And cid Noise went of, muttering
IS ne al says did: She'll change her
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