Wichita eagle., 1888-08-28

AIAiOo " OAO NuoSOA4 AOuoO lAAo
in fact whole year passed without fur
ther news Of him
Misfortunes never come singly. One
night the little store took fire and burned
down. No one knew how the thing hap
pened. Pascaline and her father were
ruined. Noise Dunez, their neighbor, had
with his usual good luck escaped His
house was not even scorched But he did
not dare to approach the pretty Basque
any more, knowing she would say to him:
"You are very kind, N. Noise, but l shall
wait for Maxine Sarrabeyrous. He will
come back, am sure. But if he should
not como back, shall be faithful to him
rs though l were his widow. And am q
good girl, resolved to make my own iv-
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 she could
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 M. 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 moro.
'Pascaline, 1 do not now propose to
you merely because can offer you fine
social position. But you are certainly
killing yourself with work; and if any
thing should happen to you your father
would certainly die of hunger. Maxine is
dead, Pascaline. You ought, think, to
marry me and save your father"
She never answered a word, but while
she cried silently she allowed the old man
to take her hand. So Noise went to
Father Pascal and told him all. The old
man shook his head and responded slowly:
"Goodl good! 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-
1ox, the pretty Basque was walking along
he lighthouse path, near the grotto,
sghen voice behind her cried:
"Pascaline! oh, Pascalinei''
Trembling like leaf, she murmured,
sMaximel thee, Maxi1nel" and like a
wounded bird fell into her lovers arms
It was indeed he, still handsome, though
thin and pale. He pressed her to his
breast very, very tightly.
cit is not true-ten ne, It is not trus
thou wilt marry Noise Dunez?"
at is true. If | do not marry him my
father will die for want of food. Why
didst thou not come back?'
because the Spaniards captured me
and kept me in prison. But l am now
free, and | can work"
But what will become Of my father
should they capture thee again.
Speak not of such things, dearest; let
US not discuss them. l 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
of the great cave they talked to each
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:
g '1'is Late latel-let me go now: hear
midnight striking"
Nay. It's not midnight-'tis, oaly a
fight Of sea gulls whirring by"
A long time afterward she said:
''Gh. how the sea roarsl What if we
should he swallowed up!"
Nay! It's not the sea roaring; tits only
the chanting of our love-"
long time afterward she said once
more:
"Oh. Maxine, dost not hear how the
wind raves?"
"Nayl 'tissnot the rsving of winds. it's
Our Lady Of Guadalupe passing by. The
last hours of our life are the first Of our
night of love. Thou shalt never marry
the other now. Lo! love, this is our
nuptiai chamber; and the wave shall be
our vast green winding sheet"
And he closed her mouth with kisses of
Grc.
They found the twain next day inter
locked in the embrace Of death; and that
grotto is still called La Chamere d Amour
Tho old man is now quite paralyzed He
begs for aims beneath the shadow of the
church walls. He seldom speaks, but
from time to time men hear him mutter.
ing to himself.