Milford chronicle., 1888-12-28


with mis- usual good luck escaped. His
house was not even seorched. But he did
not dare to approach the pretty Basque
any more, knowing she would say to him:
"You are very kind, M. Noise, but I shall
wait for Maxine Sarrabeyrous. He viii
come back, am sure. But if he should
not come back, | shall be faithful to him
as though ! were his widow. And | am
good girl. resolved to make my own liv-
ing. Yes, she was a good brave girl,
poor Pascaline; especially brave and good,
considering how unhappy her situation.
After her little store was burned sheeould
not work for herself any more, but had
to work for others-much harder than
before and for much less money. Now
the old man had to remain all alone the
whole day, and he was visibly declining.
Two years passed, and still no news Of
Maxine Sarrabeyrous. Finally the misery
of the father and the daughter became so
great that NJ. Dunez was seized with pity.
Besides he was more in love than ever,
excited by the very disdaIn Of the beauti-
full girl, so fresh and young. He took
courage and approached her once more.
"Pascaline, l do not now propose to
you merely because l can offer you fine
social position. But you are certainly
killing yourself with work; and If any
thing should happen to you yonr father
would certainly die Of hunger Maxine is
dead, Pascaline. You ought, l think, to
marry me and save your father.
She never answered a word, but while
she cried silently she allowed tho old man
to take her hand So Noise went to
Father Pascal and told him all. The old
man shook his headan responded slowly;
Good goodl There are no birds in
| the nests of autumn"
But they did not kneel before the old
man, and the old man did not bless them.
Three days before the wedding day,
| Just at the moment Of the autumn equi-
nox, the pretty Basque was walking along
/ the lighthouse path, near the grotto,
when a voice behind her cried;
'Pascalinel oh, Pasealinel"
Trembling like q leaf. she murmured,
''Maximel thee, Maximew and like a
wounded bird fell into her lovers arms.
/ Il was indeed he, still handsome, though
| thin and pale. He pressed her to his
| breast very, very tightly.
''It is not true-tell me, it is not true
thou wilt marry Noise Dunez!'
1T is true. If l do not marry him my
| father will die for want of food Why
didst thou not come back2'
because the Spaniards captured me
and kept me in prison. But / am now
free, and can work. "
But what viii become of my father
should they capture thee again."
Speak not of such things, dearest; let
us not discuss them. / love thee.
And he covered her face with kisses
and he drew her gently toward the grotto
/ and she resisted not; and in the soft light
] = 81 foil n
other in low, very low tones, each pressed
to each others heart in infinite ecstasy OF
reciprocal love. But at last, tearing her
self from his arms, she said:
" 'Tis late, latei-let me 60 now; hear
midnight striking"
Nay, 'tis not midnight-'tis only a
/ fight Of sea gulls whiTring by.
A long time afterward she said:
"Oh, how the sea roarsl What if we
should be swallowed upl"
Nay tbs not the sea roaring; 'tis only
the chanting of our love"
A long time afterward she said once
more:
"Oh, Maxine, dost not hear how the
wind raves?'
Nay 'tis not the raving of winds, ti'
Our Lady of Guadalupe passing by. Th'
last hours of our life are the first of oul
! night of love. Thou shalt never marry
the other now. 10! love, this is oul
nuptial chamber; and the wave shall b.
our vast green winding sheet"
And he closed her mouth with kisses o,
fire
They found the twain next day inter
locked in the embrace of death; and that
grotto is still called La Chamere Amour
The old man is now quite paralyzed. IL
begs for aims beneath the shadow of thu
church walls. He seldom speaks. but
from time to time men hear him mutter
ing to himself.