Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-03-20

dispropor TONED to the village. There we're
the shops necessary to supply the needs OF
the scanty population So far as l could
see there was nothing else
struck my heel on the dusty, sandy path
Was it for a life in such place as this that
VIOLA had left me! Had she given up all
the comforts and Injuries with which 1
woul1 have surrounded her to hide with the
partner of her fight In a wretchei hole
where she could see no one save rough
fishermen, peasants, and such Ikes II so,
her love for Grant must be more thon NOR
tai to tring about such a sacrifice of all
that woman, from the time Of Eve down
ward, have been credited with longing
after. These questions, and the only answer
l could give to them did not improve the
state OF my mind
1t was now growing dusk. / walked
back to tine little inn, went to nv room,
and asked for lights and coffee. A broad
faced, broad -shouldsred Breton lass minis
tered to my wants. / entered into con-
versation with her, and in spite OF her
patois maneg-a to understand her.
l asked about the place and the people.
She shrugged her shoulders. All! hut the
place was decaying-going down-gone
down. Olce, she had heard that PEOPLE
could live there and make money; but that
was hun ireds of years ago. Now. every one
was poor as POOR could be. Parents could
not give their daughters dots-grls could
no. save them. Besides, many OF the
young men went away. Tdey went to
LOrient and became sailors. 1t was
rare thing TOR girl TO get married in st.
Seurin
We're there no vistors-no En- dish, for
Misunderstanding in the neighborhooi! No
yes. There was one monsieur-h was
English. He lived at Pierre Bouiay's farm
-tne farm just over the sea cliff yonder;
the hou 10 nearest to the sea-
His name. All she forgot those strange
names. He was tall and handsome. He had
been here off and on many months He
was a hereto, but kind to poor people.
What lid he do with himself in this desc
late p.ace2 An! she knew not. True, young
Jean, old Pierres sol, said that tue gentle
man shut himself up Tor hours en-. hours,
writing, and the cur,. who knew INN, SAID
he was learned man.
II was he! Nv journey hal not been in
vain. | lolgaa TO ask the girl il lady
lived with HIM, but l forced the question
back. When l had finished with Eustace
Grant could then think of Viola.
Where was he to be founn Was he at
the farm nows She thought not. She had
not seen him for some days. Most days he
came down the hill ami walked along the
coast-far, far along the coast. II mon ;ieur
WISHED to meet with him he would surely
tin him there.
Yes, the coast was very fina Sometimes
artists came to paint 1t. Perhaps monsieur
was an artist!
She glanced at me- No doubt my coming
had created curiosity The question sug-
gested an excuse for my staying at such a
place as St Seurin.
Yes; she had guessed right. | was an
artl t. had come to draw pictures of the
coast. She seemed pleased at having
guessed the nature of my occupation, and
quickly left me, no doubt to make her dis
covery known to all who were interested in
the matter. NEEDED her no longer had
learned enough.
Fate seemed shaping everything to nv
hand. l had learned that Grant was al
most within stones throw; that nearly
every dav be took solitary walk along the
coast. 1t was on the coast, far away from
fear of interruption, that would arrange
for our meeting to take place. All / now
wished to guard against was premature
discovery of my presence
The next morning l stepped oue and
surveyed the scene OF action. Far, far
away as eye could see was The stretch of
smooth yellow sanl running from the g Ice
of the glorious sea to the tail, rugged
cliffs, in a break of which the tiny village
nestled.
climbed the hill, and from the TOP. look
ing across the valley. could see the small
farmhouse in which the obj ct of my hatred
lived. dared not go near to it. | turLel
and regained tie sea coast, and walked
along under the cliff, p curing with savage
rapture the moment when, utterly msus-
pecting OF our contiguity, Eustace Cant
would find himself confronted 10y ME. AMI
called upon to reckon up the cost of his
foul treacterg.
But that day, and other days, passel with
out nv see NJ sign of him. | spent nearly
al the nours of daylignO on tn. coast.
Again ana again went thu ougA the scene
which hal pictured. l stood few PAGES
from him on a stretch OF sand | re-
preached linn and exulted in the v.ngeance
WHICH | was about to take | coull see N.Y.
self raise my right hand and fire | could
see the man fall lfeless Over and over
AGAIN durl lg those weary hours of waiting
acted my part in this drama
glo"led n the thought that he was now
famous; that life held great prizes which his
hands could grasp. He had cut short nv
dream OF 10y. l could do even more to
him. | cojhI kill him when the ban of snc-
cess and ambition was at his fee, Ia tha
first flush o. his triumph lie wou.i find ma
waiting for him Oh, it was we'll | ba /
been tardy in my acts! coull now take
/ far M re than life from nv foei
So day after dag l sat or lay on the coast
full o; such thoughts as these. Exon when
looking Tor my foe | spent all my time IN
my own ROOM Day after da7 went by
but We met not. l supposed him to be
away from home No matter | could
wait a month, year. ten years Had T
not sweej thoughts where with to while
away the time' l made no morA iuou,rios
about INN. | was afraid he might hear of
them, and guess who wanted him. WAITED
calmly and patiently.
One morning 1 stad later than usual i,
my room. As glanced through NV win.
dow, whlcl looked upon the Droa ies5 mart
! OF the dusty road running through tho
| village saw that St Seurn was in such
! festival guISe as 1t couli asSuna MN
| womaA AM children were standing about
| dressed IN !!oI Law clothes. Then | remain,
bered that the girl who.wa upol mo had
| said something a5out to-day Elm n oraar
festival of the church. / had wen little
/ heed to her wor Is l watched the crowd
| for few minutes, and presently saw a
sight which, had my MOOD been happier
would have delighted me Girls and p1vs
came, bearing tall w.cier baskets full of
leaves pulled from various flowers AMI
! green shrubs. he sandy space in front Of
me was cleared young man ran nimAlv
from point to point, tracin. as he vent
lines in thu dus5. Tlen, seizlnr the baskets
one efter another. he distrbute their glow.
ing contents in such a wa taa5 in less