Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-01-15

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the farm just over the sea cliff yondsr;
the house nearest to the sea-
his names Ali she forgot those strange
names. He was tall and handsonl He had
been here off and on. many months lie
was hereto, but kind to poor reople
What did he do with himself in this desc
late place9 All! she knew not True, young
Jean, old Perre's son, said that the gentle-
man shut himself up for hours and hours,
writing, and the cure. who knew him, said
! he was a learned man.
1t was hel My journey had not been in
vain. I longed to ask the girl If lady
lived with him, but forced the question
back. When I had finished with Eustace
Grant l could then think of Viola.
Where was he to be found! Was he at
the farm nova She thought not She had
not seen him for some days. Most days he
! came down the hill and walked along the
+, coast-far, far along the coast. If monsieur
wished to meet with him he would surely
| find him there,
Yes the coast was very fine. Sometimes
| artists came to paint it. Perhaps monsieur
was an artista
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
artist. had come to draw pictures of the
coast. She seemed pleased at having
guessed the nature OF my occupation, AMI
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 my
hand, I had learned that Grant was al
most within stones throw; that nearly
every day be took a 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.
sdFvsyea The scene Of acsass Rar, a al
| away as eye could see was the stretch OF
| smooth yellow sand running from the eigs
| of the glorious sea to the tall, rugged
| cliffs, in break of which the tiny village
| nestled
climbed the hill and from the too, look
ing across the valley could see the small
farmhouse in which the object of my hatred
lived. dared not go near to it. turned
and regained the sea coast, and walked
along under the cliff, picturing with savage
rapture the moment when, utterly unsus-
pecting of cur contiguity, Eustace Grant
called upon to reckon up the cost of his
foul treachery.
But that day, and other days, passed with
out my seeing sign of him. Ispent nearly
all tine hours Of daylight on tn, coast
Again and again went through the scene
which I had pictured. stood few PAGES
from him on stretch OF sand I re-
preached him and exulted in the vengeance
which was about to take. / could see my
self raise my right hand and fire. could
see the man fall hfeless. Over and over
again during those weary hours of waiting
acted my part In this drama.
Igloried in the thought that he was now
famous; that life held great prizes which his
hands could grasp. He bad cut short my
dream Of joy. I could do even more to
him. could kill him when the ball OF sue
cess and ambition was at his feet. In the
first flush of his triumph he would find me
waiting for him. Oh, it was well l had
been tardy in my actsl could now take
far more than life from my foe!
So day after day l sat Or lay on the coast,
full of such thoughts as thess Except when
looking for my fee, spent all my time in
my own room. Day after day went bv
but we met not. 1 supposed him to be
away from home. No matter. / could
wait month, yeas, ten years Had l
not sweet thoughts wherewith to while
away the time? I made no mora inquiries
about him. was afraid he might hear of
them, and guess who wanted him. Iwaited
calmly and patiently.
One morning / staid later than usual in
my room. As glanced through my win
dow. which looked upon the broadest part
of the dusty road running through the
village l saw that st. Ssurin was in such
festival guise as it could assume. Men.
women and children were standing about
dressed in holiday clothes. Then remem
bered that the girl who waited upon me had
said something about to-day being great
festival of the church. had given little
heed to her words. / watched the crowd
for a few minutes, and presently saw a
sight which, had my mood been happier.
would have delighted me- Girls and boys
came. bearing tall wicker baskets fell os
leaves, pulled from vs-l '.us flowers and
green shrubs The sandy space in front of
me was cleared. A young man ran nilnbly
from point to point, tracing as he went
lines in the dust. Then, seizing the baskets
one after another, he distributed their glow
ing contents in such way that in less
than twenty minutes what looked like a
carpet Of variegated pattern. formed of
flowers covered the dusty space.
As he hastily threw the last splash of
crimson rose leaves into its place the pro-
cession Of priests, acolytes and choristers
appeared It paused on the fair carpet, and
some ceremony, such as blessing, was gone
through. Every hat was dotted, every knee
was bsnt-all save one. There on the out
skirts Of the crowd, with head uncovered,
in Difference to others, but standing erect, +
saw the tall form of Eustace Grant
he had returned A thrill of delight ran
through me as gazed on the hated features
OF the man who had robbed me OK all cared
for. drew ba OK into the room, and watched
him through my window. My tina had
comet
The procession resumed its march. Tbs
people followed Utmost likely to the church.
The space was all but deserted. The various
hues of the flower carpet were now blended
together without order or pattern. Grant
replaced his hat, crossed the road. and struck
down path which could only lead to the
sea. laughed as saw him disappear.
With grim deliberation threw open the
barrels of my pistols and loaded them
afresh. No lack of precaution On my part
should and the escape OF my enemy. Then
/ sat down and waited. l wanted him to
have fair start, so that our meeting might
take place as far up that deserted coast a.
possible
When thought had given him sufficient
grace, l sailed forth in pursuit turned
down to the sea as he had turned. Iroundad
the foot of the hill which sheltered st. Seu
rim from the nor west winds, and then stood
with the unbroken cliff on my right hand
and the sanl stretching away in front of
me for miles and miles, In the distance !
could see nina white spot on the yellow
sand. The heat was great, so he had clothed
himself in dazzling white garments. He
was, perhaps, half a mile in front Of me,
walking near to the edge of til, sea. I
quickened my steps, and rapidly dinin-
ished the distance between us.
did not want to get so near that, il he
turned, he might recognize me- I did not
mean to overtake him. meant to follow
him until he turned to retracs his steps;
then, as soon as he liked, be might dis
cover me. My only fear was that some
path up the cliff might unknown to me, ex-
ist-a path which he might take, and SO go
home across the table land.
Grant walked leisurely; so I was soon
within 800 yards of him. Inoticed that his
head was bent forward, as is natural to
those who think as they walk. His hands