The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-12-09
CALLED BACK.

nEANh.
For two weeks had been in 4 cradle
colony. Fifty dollars n month | was
offered for my services. and as | had
not an acquaintance in the country I
gladly accepted. That would BRING
me food. clothing. and shelter-more
than l had been able to obtain in dear
france. My two pupils, NJ. Rabut as
sured me. were well-behaved children.
Inc girl was just Is. already young
iauy' and the lo-year boy was equally
apt at study. After all. l was only re-
quired to give i've hours a day to
teaching. The rest of my time was al
together my own, to be devoted either
TO work or sleep as / pleased.
1t was threatening day in April
well remember it-when | started out
to walk to the great house where was
to earn my bread. As | walked ON
began 10 dream. What future did this
new land hold in reserve for me?
had not come to it with any idea of
making fortune-although a Young
man of %, | had acquired enough COM
mon sense to save me from such illus
lons-but only to earn good living
and lay up enough to enable me, when
an old man, to return TO France and
sleep at last under the shadow of nv
own village spire. Soon | caught sioht
OF the lofty chimney of the sugar mill
then the house itself. buried in a
thick grove of mango trees, and. as |
feared being late. l quickened nv step.
Under the veranda, already crowded
saw people rushing back and forward
running, and no one noticed me as
ascended the front steps except 4 bio.
fat negress, crouchiug at the entrance.
who sobbed and cried with renewed
despair at my coming. There on the
sofa, at full length. lay a young girl
almost a child. Her long, bright hair,
ali streaming with water, fell over the
back of the sofa, and had dripped upon
the yeranda until n little pool had
formeaSkpon the flags. She was whittier
than piece of marble; the violets of
death were on her compressed lips; her
lifeless arms lay rigidly straight by her
side; and Nj. Rabut, on his knees be-
side her, was kissing one of her hands.
Drowned. my dear sir. she got
drowned" said good old lady OF
about 90 years of age, who came to me
holding out her hand in the friendliest
manner imaginable. But you have
walked here" she continued; "you
must be tired. OF course you will take
something. Myrtilr'
Mamma! Oh. mammal exclaim-
ed NJ. Rabut. raising his head. You
see, he said to me. with sob, you
see she was out bathing; the river sud-
denly rose, and
His head fell forward again over the
little white hand to which his lips
clung.
''Myrtil! Myrtilr' again cried the
good lady. ''bring glass of Madeira
to the gentleman. Or perhaps you
would prefer something else?''
| questioned the family The girl
had not been twenty minutes under
water. And yet they had done moth
ing-had not even tried to do any
thing.
gave my orders brieily-they were
obeyed.
Half an hour passed. What! was
not that flush we saw mounting to
the colorless cheeks. Oh, how fervent
a prayer he uttered that moment to
the good Godi And it seemed to me
the arm l held had become less frigid.
At that moment a horseman came up
at full gailop.
"Myrtil! Myrtili take the doctor S
horse to the stabler' cried the good
lady. descending the steps to meet the
physician. ''Ah, doctor. L knew it!
Your powder could not do me any
good. The whole night. doctor, l was
in pain. All! how badly slept!''
The doctor came directly to us.
''Goodi young mani-very good, in
deedl That is just what should have
been done"
Come, comet he cried in Joyous
tone, after few moments had passed.
.We are all right now-we shall get
off with nothing worse than a fright
Why, you old coward, have 1 not al
ready told you so? Here! let me see
a happier face on you?" And he gave
NJ. Rabut a vigorous slap on the
shoulder.
Then, suddenly turning to me, he
asked:
''But you-where are you from?
don't remember ever seeing you here
before"
Il came from Brittany, doctor, by
way of Paris and Port Louis.
"Look!- lookr" he had already
turned his back upon me-''she is open
ing her eyesr'
NJ. Rabut involuntarily seized my
hand, and dragged me to the sofa.
She opened her eyes They were
blue-t the eyes / always liked best.
''Helenel my own Helener" murmur-
ed the poor father, STOPPING to kiss her
forehead.
..Gentlel your exclaimed the doc
tor, pulling him back. Let her have
air. if you please?"
M. Rabut drew back. without letting
go my hand.
Myrtil returned from the stable.
''MyrtilI Myrtil!-wen, how about
that breakfast? Is it going to be ready
to-day or tomorrow"
MA fol! I'm ready for itr' cried the
doctor. That gallop gave me fero-
cious appetite.
why, Myrtil! serve the Madeira to
those gentlemen"
This time Myrtil obeyed.
1t was in the afternoon when | left
my pavilion to return to the house. NJ.
Rabut came TO look for me on the We
randa. Come" he said, you can
see her now.
He brought me close to her bed. Her
dear blue eyes still had dark circles
about them; but the blood was circu-
lating under the clear skin, for she
blushed at my approach.
This is he. my Helene; if it hadn'
been for him and his voice choked.
Don't fret any more. papa | am
only sorry about my locket. Do you
think they will ever be able TO find
it?''
The locket contained her mother 5
hair.
1t was barely daylight when reach
ed the river. The negro who had takez
her out of the water had shown me the
evening before the precise spot where
the current had carried her away, and
also the place where he had found her
about tifty yards further down. 1t
was great narrow basin, shut in by
great jamroses, whose tufted branches
met above and stretched from one
bank to the other. The pale light,
fiickering through the leaves. made
CLEANS here and there upon the water
like the reflection of molten lead; be-
yond the darkness was completes; il
looked perfectly black there.
/ dived and brought up three flat
pebbles, But breakfast would not be
ready until 10 O'Clock; had plenty OF
time.
By o clock the bottom of the basin
had no mysteries for me- There was
not single cabot-fish that | had not
disturbed beneath his rock-not sim
gle camaron that | had not compelled
to crawl backward into his hole. But
the locket was not there-accordingly
it must be farther down. L left the
basin and followed the course of the
stream-interrogating all the roots. ex-
ploring all the boulders, questioning
every tuft of grass l was about to
nass ON vhan 7 saw little SERPENT