Wichita eagle., 1888-11-08
TIE AVENGING FINGER.


skiilfuly bringing has boat to anchor; mot
oven sardine for my painsl Bot the wind,
erd che fishing, TOO, viii be 50 much the bet
ter tomorrow"
a I'd WON WIS right in his estimate Of the
xeat, Ter. for the roaring blasts that swept
the Sc, at the moment, linging it upon the
sands II ! spray and heaps of foam that buried
then,sef, -es with furious howl.lgs in the 81
lent and eonlber streets Of the village, would
all be gone by morning.
The baat at anchor, the fisherman drew
from the bot, ON OF 1t the huge fishing sacks,
81 now absohttel empty, threw them upon his
back. remounte the strand and turned his
steus toward his distant dwelling. A rough
sailor. this mast, WON, tall, broad shout
dered and tanned o the color of an orange
by the salty windA who never sulked at
work, and whom Il ey saw twhen others,
FRIGHTENED by the Tegn pests, remained in the
oillage, smiling and IN iliferent, make ready
his boat unaided and pm 70 sea
This evening even, Gsss ute the counseIS OF
his companions and the S, lppncatlons OF MS
wife be he'd embarked as q 'uaI, not 10 return
ill morning, but decidedly the weather was
too heavy-the harvest da5 not come, and,
ma fol! he had put about, ar11 ny - O'Clock
was safe in port again. One thought alone
ing to surprise his Catherine, Lis dear treas
ire and TO pass beside her the hoa rs OF work
that the ocean refused to allow Iii. 10 take
from it. All, well, happiness gave nm pa
tience, and tomorrow, aftera nighth re thiS
the game would be hungry-tne fSGiul mar
velcus!
He loved his wife so much, this p. ave
WON, she whom lie had seen play whet a
little one before the shop Of her father, q 70
wheelwright They had passed these ioycL
moments together, participating in the Same
plays, IN the same stream of sunlight enter
ing between the wheels Of the chariots I'M
dergoing repairs and minEling their cries
and shouts Of laughter with the sOnorOuS
strokes of the hammers. Then Catherine
had grown up, and WON, who had com
IHenced to pass his days upon the sea, 10
longer dared to talk wiki her rs of old !
Nevertheless, on Sundays wner all the coun-
try side climbed the coast TO the little chapel
ut Morllch, lie followed from afar the move
nleutS OF tie village SWANS about this beau
{ tiful girl, his jealous eye resting always upon
one above ali Others.
This one was the handsome Dominique, the
assistant Of the whea wright, GATHERINGS
father. Invariably clothed in a fresh blouse,
clean and well fitting, his hair brushed
smoothly and scented with poLncde, and
flower nodd;ny in his butJorh0le, he ira
vlrsel tie Ii &c de Ia AIarche with the air Of
q coaoueror, addressing himself with smiles
and coudgsceuIug mods to the wives and
girls OF the village, and TO which they as
uTaby responded On fete days, when be
noueared at ihc bah thai closed the exercises
OF the occasion, aIi eyes were turned upon
him again, while they awaited with evident
anxiety his selection OF a partner for the
evening.
But Dominique in nowise hurried himself,
but aiade the your of the hall, examined them
TRANQUILITY, and then cast his choice on the
most beautiful Frequently 1t seemed to the
lockers on at this Same of vanity that re lost
his tine when lie stopped before the dauCh
ter OF the wbcelwri ght, for Catherine mary
tested for TIE workman of her father an in
difference bordering upon aversion. The
women cnafled her about II, accused her of
being proud, ana declared that the handsome
Dominique was spoied FOR her eyes by a
fri-h.ful Disagreement that lac carried upon
his lef5 hand--a fieti~urcrnont that he lad
received when g from the hammer OF
t. co,nrade The 6lo finger OF the land
hung useless and tUmeied, tho flesh shriveled
from the bone, blush and hideous.
As time passed on, and under the spur Of
DomIuigues ga4lantrICS, won rcgaIued his
COURAGE, and one beautiful morning made
lbs demand upon Father Francois for the
hand oil his daughter. lie was steady, hon
ct. full Of ardor for work, and loved her
dearly Hhe old man consented, moved. per
hars. by tie avowal that Catherine had made
- him OF her preference for the fisherman.
- Tor Dominique, from the moment Of the
public betrotancnt he af5e--cd 10 see the
Young girl no more and Kept himself Ia retire
1ne1r.
All, but the wedding was truly beautiful;
rathcr Francois wished 10 do everything
wei: half dozen vioLus and horns were
hlrul for the occasion. and The supper was
the &sJonishnent Of The village. Il was two
years now that Catherine had been called
tJ.ae. Nvon.
Never had the fisherman been able to dream
O. Eis wife aS re was or7alning OF her iris
right without evoking Aost OF sweet mem
oTleS Jhat brought tle smile % happy man
/ 10 soften his swarUhy face and At times tear
Cf tenderness TO giisten N ElS eye.
"Tonuerre. what 4 wlAd.n and he ran for
Ais cap, that the blast had carried away.
''Poor Catherine!7 he added immediately,
t'de2r soul, who believes me stiu upon the
sea-
BY this tine won had come 70 the corner
OF the street, Al the end OF which was bis
tidy colt isolated and far away from ali
Ats neighbors lie raised his head like horse
in sigL0 OF its stab.e--he was home &gain-he
started on vlth longer serideS-uo stop lInIos-
Gl2JeIy, GstoundeGl
"Tions" SAID he, ats lighted; she's not
abed yet, but rlays, perhaps, for NY safety"
As the WORDS tel from his lips the outline
OF : human form showed Itself upon the half
curtain that shaded A-Jle vindow-the
OF lie OF a mans form. \ man IN his house
at - at nlSCU-WItl Ca.ler.ae-Mop
Dieu! II it were-buJ no. ne refused to com
uretend or To 5aish the thought that had
flashed across has miuo-Le refused even TO
suspect his ua1&ppLuessi a. tie same time,
ss tho hoysi.n- Of TIE wand masked ne uois>
of his footsteps lie would be able 10 a;luIu:.ch
but leave them uTSUsplc.oUs OF bis presence
lie pressed himself against the wall OF lis
Qwel.ing-he mounted upon the stone that
supported the gutter-he looked III the
chamber. Catherine was there reclining in
her chair. beautiful, rosy aBd smiling, loside
her a man who at the rfoment-even rs
Yvou's eyes fell upon him-drew hIs wife
into his arms and pressed upon her lips mss
If adisu. That mana thousand devils!-
that man was Dominiauel
Under this blow Of fate the colossus stag
gerod ike beef under the butchers ham
Iner; he supported himself against the win
dow frame, his legs trembling. his hands
convulslTely tearing at the scarf that
seemed TO STOP his breathing. And thus,
-. -