Wichita eagle., 1888-08-28
THE MYSTERIOUS GROTTO.


to me:
/ was sitting by the seashore beyond
where the lighthouse stands. A storm
wind was blowing. The strong sea
breezes, made tepid by the sun, came to
me impregnated with sharp saline doors.
Before me the ocean unrolled its waves
upon the fine sand, like green serpent
prolonging the shining coils in the sun.
Behind me was the cliff, with It's gray fis-
sures, whence jetted out here and there
the trunlSs of sickly trees, brawny growths,
and meager furze plants. Sloping inward
almost at the head of the cliff yawned a
mysterious cavern, a spacious grotto-
dark and cold
1 was seized with that unaccountable
emotion with which nature inspires those
alone with her, wnen a hand slapped my
shoulder.
''How do you find yourself this morn
ingg"
1t was the old college friend bad un-
expectedly met the evening before-Ga-
briel E., a native lieutenant.
You must have found your way here
by instinct" he continued. Perhaps
you never suspected that a tragedy once
occurred IL this very place where we now
are7"
"a tragedy-here2"
Eyes, in that very grotto. It has be-
come famous. The country folks call it
The Love Chamber knew of the ro-
nance at the very time when it's charac-
ters performed their parts. Light Gig
arctic, and let mo tell it to you"
II listen"
AT the time / am telling you about
there was very pretty girl at Biarritz.
named Pascaline-a Basque about IL years
of age, tall and slght-with that pecu-
liar grace so characteristic of those little
mountain women. Her black hair cleaned
under the yellow silk kerchief which she
always wore fastened about her head In
the most coquettish style imaginable.
Her rudy lips. slightly sensuous, showed
at every smile rows of delicate white
teeth Pascaline was great dressmalser,
and supported her father, a greet big
man, half paralyzed, who lived in perpet-
ual revery, and rarely spoke except to
reply with some peculiarly vague Spanish
proverb to any question put to him.
Pascaline adored the old man, and took
care of him Like a child. So folks used
always to say, "Pascaline will certainly
do well on account of the way she takes
care of her father" Anyhow, she had
badly; for she had two admirers. One was
Noise Dunez, rich, old and ugly, who of
fered her a fine social position. The other
was Maxine Sarrabeyrous, poor, young
and handsome, who offered her his heart
Maxine was said to be a professional
guide in the Pyrenees. He was really q
smuggler. And, as was only right.
Pascaline loved WASHINGTON love always
calls for love.
Such was the stateof affairs for several
months. Noise Dunez would often stoI
at the store and scratch his nose, ana
gravely observe:
Il can give you a fine social position,
Pascaline-a fine social positions"
And she would always reply:
"You are very kind and good, NJ. Noise,
but love Maxine"
And old Noise would go off grumbling
TO himself:
She'll change her mind after awhile;
she'll change her mind"
But things at last came to such point
that some decision had to be made The
two young lovers often took long walks
along the cliff and people gossiped about
them great deal Unfortunately they
were very poor. a dressmaker cannot
save very much, especially if she has o
father to support, and smugglerS have
their dull seasons. But it is very fins
profession for all that Poor as they were.
however, they loved each other so much
that they went to old Father Pascal one
morning hand in hand and said: 1--WE
love each other and we want to get mar
ried"
The old man shook his head little and
slowly responded:
Very well, very well"
The lovers knelt down before him, and
he blessed them. The betrothal was &C
compEshed. Pascaline accompanied the
youth to the usual scene of their promen-
ade; and that evening they remained out
on the cliffs very, very late. As tbs
young Basque girl was returning home
full of happiness, with the joy Of love
swelling IL her heart, she met Noise
Dunez. who observed very gravely,
scratching his nose as usual:
Il offer you fine social position, Pes.
caline, fine social position"
She answered:
You are very good and kind, NJ. Noise,
but Maxine Sarrabeyrous and / have
arranged everything for the best this
evening"
And old Noise went off. muttering as
be always did: She'll change her mind
after awhile; she'll change her mind"
a few days later Maxine was offered
splendid chance to make q snug little sum-
A whole cargo of goods was to be snug
gled into Guipuzcoa. The young contra
bandista was full Of confidence. but the
weather was bad. All day and all night q
mighty wind was blowing from the sea,
and the sailors muttered in fear: 1T is
Our Lady of Guadalupe passing byp' Our
Lady of Guadalupe, the pale Madonna
with the green eyes, who when she pas
seth by, taketh with her in her chostly
iight all who are belsted upon the vast
gray sea-
Il will return in eight days" said Max
ime Sarrabeyrous, SIS he kissed the rec
lips of his sweetheart.
Bat the eight days passed. and then
mouth-two mopths-three months
went by without any news of the hand
some eontrabandista Pascaline cried
from morning until night. As soon as
her work was done she would hurry TO
The cliff, to remain there for long hours
Rt a time, with eyes fixed upon the Span
ish coast. Ali had she only been free,
how swiftly would she not have departed
In search Of her betrothed, beyond the
mountains towering between her and
lowell But she could not go; she must
support the aged father. One night a
Sa.siiAl r,ir''or came that Maxine had been