Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-11-23

walked with difficulty, and every instant
slipped upon the pebbles, round and polished,
Arrived at last at his bark, he threw down
his burden; it fell with thud upon the nile
OF stones that constituted the ballast. The
eiae mad turned, and already the waves were
apping under the keel of the little vessel.
Inc fisherman seated himself in his accus-
TONED place, propped his feet upon the sack
III 1ne bottom, drew out his pipe and began to
smoke' 10 smoke-aye-but not for Tonga
half hour, not more When the movement
OF the boat and tho wash of the waves told
nm the hour had come, he drew up his
ahcnof, cast off his line and the vessel. obedi
ent TO the oars vigorously handled. drew
rapidly away.
The tempest had lulled considerably: in
the harbor the water was nearly tranonil
OUT the harbor was evidently not far enough
lor the sailors purposes; he hoisted the sail
ana STOOD Tor the open sea. An hour perhaps
ne sailed thus in the midst of the shadows,
nut ne stopped at ia~t, Gqd at the moment
the moon broke from the clouds that yelled
1t and spread upon tho water train of
| silver
1T VIII do, " he murrnured, considering it
carefully, "'tis far enough" and he drew
from his pocket broad biaded clasp knife
carried by men of his calling, knelt upon the
sack before him and delivered himself to a
mysterious work that filled him, judging by
the smile upon his lips, with satisfaction
lhls work accomplished, the sack was loaded
with stones from the pile of ballast and cast
INTO the depths of the sea, the fisherman
lighted his pipe anew, threw out his lines
oalted as they had been in the beginning of
the evening and began to fish.
/ Not until broad daylight, later than his
usual hour, did he withdraw them again and
start on the homeward journey. Catherine
he saw her from Abbreviated for him
upon the deserted beach with every SIGN of
profound disquietude, the way of wives in
general, and faithless wives in particular
In transport of discrimination aud tender
ness she threw herself upon the breast of her
husband
Mon Dieun she cried, but thou art late.
knew not what to think of it, and the hor-
ribie tempest that has ragged since thy de-
parture! | do not wish thee to 60 out in
weather like this again! How have praved
to Our Lady!n
Prayed to Our Lady, and for me;n WON
responded with a singular smile: '.ah well
thou seest thy prayer is granted-I have re-
turned, and the fishing was excellent. But
come, have yet so dlSembarraSS nv lines
they are loaded, Thou shalt help me at the
task Beginp
Had Catherine been looking at her husband
as he spoke, the cold and cruel expression of
MS face, the relentless tightening of his lips.
would have made her heart die within her.
but she saw and suspected nothing in her
eagerness to measure the harvest the tempest
had brought them. Bonnets, dresses, frill
trails, and the thousand and one nothinps
dear to a wonan's soul were bound IN in the
thocs scaly treasures. Accustomed to assist
ing her husband, she worked rapifI1v and
well; the pile of fish upon tue gravel beside
her steadily increased in proportions.
All at once she stopped as If stung by an
adder, her eyes, wild and staring. fixed unon
hook that she held in her hand. the only
one in fact upon which the fish had left the
bait untasted She lifted herself with n
bound, and with hoarse and strangled cries
| pointed to the object swinging at the end
| of it.
"What!' said WON. who had watched her
| closely, thou dost not like it, that dainty
oalt with which l fed my tishess Regard it.
oSoAli, my P4St4tGS treasure, regard II AGAIN
| beseech thee; nay, more than that, com
mand thee, thou who hast spent the night in
praying to Our LaGyt9
Alas, poor Catherine, the command was
useless. White as q winding sheet, an imsre
of abject shame and fear, she stood with her
eyes bent always on the end of the line
where, bound securely upon the pointed
nook, swung CHASTITY bleeding fragment, a
mangled, tumelied human finger, the flesh
shriveled and shrinking from the bone and
blush and hideousl For an instant she stood
as tell you, staring down at it, unable tc
credit the evidence of her own senses.
'Dost thou know itl' said WON again.
with a cynical smile.
Did she know it. His voice broke the speu
that bound her-she threw up her hands to
ward off the accusing sight, staggered a step
or two, and fell insensible. -Translated from
the French of Louis Daresne for the New
York Mercury by E. {. Waggener.