Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-07

Of the trees, or sought the rude amusements
offered by the low-roofed buildings wherein
gaming and drinking were INDUCED in by
the very officers whose orders prohibited
such indulgence.
To Pauline life grew irksome and depress-
ing day by day. After the interview re-
corded in the foregoing chapter she saw no
more of Cortes for long time. The Dona
Hortense, after exhausting every means in
her power to distract the girls thoughts
from the subject of going to Mobile, had
given over the task in bitter grief and dis
appointment. This gave Don Alphonso
most excellent excuse, as he seemed to think,
for much sarcasm at his wife's expense.
"Yonr daughter" he was fond saying,
"is certainly a model of dutifulness and
gratitude. Just see how she honors all your
wishes"
"She is q girl, Alphonso, as was once
girl. She has seen a man to love, as 1
did. He has beckoned, as you did, and she
would follow, as did. Will you tell me
how much honored my mothers wishes
when"
"Not much when you married me. That
was devoid of mirth. 'But after all have
you not done fairly well?'' -.
"Perhsps then Pauline might do fairly
we'll if she could go to her lover"
'Let her 60 to him, her lover is Captain
Cortes."
''She does not love him."
"Well, but she ought to love him;
her life Is his, he snatched it from the very
jaws of death. 1t is base ingratitude, it
is soulless peridy in her to reject him."
"You do not understand women"
eyes, understand them. This is no
very rare instance OF their utter lack of
high sense Of obligation. Every dictate of
conscience, every impulse of unselfshness
would force high-souled woman in
Pauline's place to give herself to the one
"But she loves another"
'Loves anotheri There is the gross self
ishness L spoke of. She is thinking all the
time Of herself That's the way with a
woman. True gratitude, noble unselfsh-
ness would address itself to considering the
happiness of her chivalrous and brave de-
liverer. All she cares for, however, is to
gratiiy her own love"
"And what terrible mistake she some
times makes by so doingP' -
"Granted," said Don Alphonso, rising
and making a superb obeisance before his
wife. He took his departure without further
remark.
Pauline was compelled to overhear most
ing room, and it came Just at the moment
when il could affect her most strangely.
With the swiftness of light her thoughts
flashed back over all the Kindness and un-
selfish nobleness of Cortes, from the moment
when he took her in his arms, there
amid the boiling waves, down to the pres
ent, and something like q chill of self-ab-
horrence ran through her breast. She
had not been kind to Cortes, nay,
she had been bitterly unkind to
him it now seemed to her. She had been
absorbed in herself without room in her
heart for any thought save that of 'igratify-
ing her own love-" as Don Alphonso had
said. How far from home she was. and all
alone, with such a burden in her heartl
The tension upon her nerves was greater
now than at the time when she was clinging
to the splintered spar in mid-sea Again
and again the words of young Cortes came
to her: ST would sacrifice more than life. 1
would cast away honor for you" His proud.
fine, passionate face, with its sudden fash
of strange pallor after its heat ofmomentary
anger, haunted her vision. She had not ex-
pected to see him again; but early on the
morning of the 18th he came to the house
and asked to see her.
She met him with distrust of both herself
and HIM. He was pale, and his eyes showed
that recently he had been suffering.
IT have come, Mademoiselle," he began
at once, speaking in the manner Of one who
acts under the force OF ill-suppressed emo
tion with the necessity of haste upon him.
ST have come to do what cannot help do
ing, what have struggled not to do, but
what cannot be resisted. Mademoiselle, 1
love you." In the old knightly style he
went down upon his knees, his sword clank-
ing against the door. i'I adore you and
I must tell you so. What word have you
for me, Mademoiselle? Speak and let me
live or die"
Pauline could not command herself She
sat silent, the stupor of an overwhelming
upon her.
II have tried to stay away from you" he
went on, but have not been able to do it.
You have filled my whole life; can think
of nothing but you. Oh, Mademoiselle,
me when love you so."
81 do not hate you, I do not spurn you,
Captain Cortes, she exclaimed, the effort
sending a rich sympathetic timbre into her
voice. "You have been so noble and so
good-you have done so much for me-"
His face took on look of hope and he
reached forth his hand to take hers.
In those days melodramatic things did
happen. The jarring thunder of heavy
cannon rolled up from the bay and shook
the house from roof to foundation. Another
and another crash were followed by the
heavy pounding sound of falling round
shot. Cortes was too good soldier not to
respond instantly to the summons of battle.
In moment he had sprung to his feet and
was standing in a hearkening attitude.
Like some perfect actress in a tragedy, more
than like startled girl in real life, Pauline
sprang forward and flung out her arms with
a cry more of joy than of terror.
"They have comel They are herel", she
exclaimed. "They have attacked the
town.
Cortes did not hear her words; he saw
only her wondrously lovely face and her
arms outstretched toward him.
"Darling!" he cried, and clasped her
close to his bosom.
Again, like the bursting of thunder storm,
the cannons roared out their startling
detonations. Trumpets were sounding, in
every direction arose the noise and hustle of
soldiery making ready for battle.
Cortes pressed one long kiss upon Pau
lines lips and rushed forth to do his duty,
leaving the dazed and trembling girl stand
ing in the middle of the room.
The fleet of the, Compile DE Champmeslin
had sailed into the bay, and was pouring
broadside after broadside against the slight
works on the island, while, at the same
time, Bienville, at the head OF 900 men, was
by land to attack the fort on the
hill behind the town.
The Dona Hortense, very little excited
by an experience not in the least new to her,
came into the room and put her motherly
arms around Pauline. The girl returned
the caress with fervor born of the emotion
that was making a wild tumult in her
breast. To her every cannon shot, as it
followed and doomed, told sweet story of
hope and love. She faEaied that it was
Louis Doucet's hand that was firing every
gun; she even imagined that she could hear
his voice, vague and far, but clear and
sweet, above the general din, calling to her
to have courage.
''He is comingl He is herep she cried,
with her head on the Dona's shoulder.
"Be quiet, my child" was the calm an
swer, eve cannot know what may be the
end of this"
They went to the window and looked out
10 see the heavy ships drawing in toward
ha nd G-sn 4hau n.