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


of the new; but the reckless soldiers, traders
and Adventures took them so-called wives
from the West Indias and Caribbean
Islands, women often as wicked and danger
Gus as they were 1.-the and beautiful. Dona
Hortense felt with all a woman's sensitive
ness to such surroundings the unuttera-
BILE suffering which might come to Pau
line de la Chasie on account of her falling
into the power of Captain Cortes. True,
Cortes was apparently an exception to the
general rule among the men of Pensacola,
so far as she knew. He had never consorted
with the most vicious even of the officers,
and his life had appeared to be clean and
noble. Still the danger seemed great;
and besides she had taken Pauline
at once into her heart as her child, and felt
for her all the suddenly kindled solicitude
and tenderness that such a relation under
such circumstances could not fail to engen-
der in breast so long deprived of every
softer experience so dear to true woman.
Il was therefore matter TO start hope In
her over-apprehensive breast when the
young man, instead of assuming the attl-
tude of a libertine, began to treat Pauline
with all the delicate politeness of consld-
crate and high-minded gentleman, who
might become a very gallant ana py no
means unsuitable lover. She had never yet
inquired into the antecedents of Pauline,
nor had she so much as sought to know by
what current of destiny the unfortunate girl
had been cast so far away from her native
land; but it was not il the nature OF things
for Pauline to keep her secret. Indeed, Dona
Hortense was at once surprised and dis,
mayed when the whole truth was poured
into her ear.
"Going all alone to Mobile to marry
French soldier?" she exclaimed, when Pau
line had ended her story. Dear child, do
you dream what you are trying to doT You
can have no impression OF the misery that
you have escaped by falling into my hands
Instead OF into the arms of a brutal"
"Hushp' said Pauline, with such COM
mand in her voice that the old woman
looked at her and started perceptlbly
"Hushl Louis Doucet is not brutal. He
is the very noblest and best man in the
world. would follow him all over the
eartE-I-"
She sank back upon her pillows pale as a
lily and trembling with the intense emotion
aroused by her thoughts
pardon me-forgive me, dear" crlN
Dona Hortense, taking Pauline in her
arms and kissing her. ~ would not wound
vou for all the world. Doubtless your lover
is all that you say; but oh! my child, my
child, it is a dreadful, dreadful life. Think
of dear France and the joyous existence OF
even her working peasants, and then look at
the desolation and the despair which hover
over us herer' As she spoke her shriveled
face was pinched and its sallowness was
touched with hot, hame-like glow. IF L
could 90 back-if i could 60 back once
more" she moaned, ''it would be delicious
to die and be buried beside my nlotherl Oh!
little Pauline-sweet child, how ! wish
could save you, could bear you back to
, France"
"But do not wish to go back to France"
Pauline interrupted. Il wish to go to
Louis. do not care to live if cannot 60
to him."
As if the mere suggestion of being taken
back to France had given her sudden
strength, resolve and courage, Pauline
threw off the arms of her companion and
raised herself again to sitting posture.
"How far is it from here to Mobile 2" she
inquired in a voice so changed that the poor
cid woman caught breath, as if almost sutfo-
eating, and could not answer.
''It cannot be far" Pauline continued.
''and must go there. Who can take me?'
The Dona clasped her hands and held
them out with a gesture of supplication.
When she could speak she said:
SIT is impossible. We are at war. Even
now the commandant here is planning an
expedition to capture Mobile"
The girl sat for some moments gazing
thoughtiully out of the window. Pres
emily she turned quickly toward her com
panlon.
'Please send word to Captain Cortez trat
I should like to see him."
She uttered these words with the steadi-
ness and decision of one who has we'll
defined purpose in view.
The Dona recoiled.
Surely, no!'' she exclaimed. "You do
not mean it. 1t must not be-"
Eyes, 1 wish it Immediately"
''But, my child"
"Lose no time, but 60 send for Captain
Cortes."
The old woman felt the sudden and great
change in Pauline's manner and knew that
it had deeper significance than she could
comprehend at once; but although she more
than suspected that it might be the begin
ring Of bitter shame for the girl she could
not refuse to grant her request.
'tDop't, don't do thisl' she urged with
piteous weakness in her voice. "You are
too young to have any idea of the step you
are about to take. Let me be your mother,
my dear, dear child, and save you from the
dreadful life you would plunge intoi'
Pauline answered with tender frmness,
insisting upon seeing Cortes at once.
.'Well, we'll, it is always So" the Dona
went on refectively and sadly. 81 was a
girl not so very, very long ago, dear. and L
gave up all for man, all for love. Look
at me and at the life / live"
She felt that her words were without eff
feet on Pauline; she did not wait to hear the
reply that might have followed, but arose
and went to send q messenger to fetch Cap
tain Cortes.
An hour later the young officer, evidently
not little embarrassed, was shown into
Psuljnes presence. He stood before her,
tall, respectful, handsome, his fine head un-
covered and his clear eyes fixed inquiringly
upon her.
She moved her lips with a soundless eff
fort at speech and made a motion Tor him to
sit down. He took the designated chair
with the prompt manner of one obeying an
order.
Looking into his face gave Pauline cour-
age to say what was upon her mind, but
even when the courage came the task was
an extremely difficult Que. She felt that
the request she was about to make must ap-
pear very strange, if not impossible of per-
formance, still she did NOT hesitate. In the
directest and simplest way she told her story
to the young officer, leaving out nothing,
aud then in conclusion asked him to help
Der.
'T know you are noble, kind and good"
she said, looking at him steadily but with
eyes whose deep and tender purity sent
thrill of inexpressible pity through him,
"and feel that can trust you. Oh, sir,
will you not help me reach Mobile? 1 have
no one to turn to but you. 1t was yo1 who |
saved me from the terrible danger, the hor-
rible death in the sea; save me now from
this life which is worse than a thousand |
deaths and take me to my dear - to my |
friends at Mobilei''
1t was hard for Captain Oortes to say what |
he had tn say; but there was no honorable |
course for him to pursue save that OF perfect |
frankness. He felt keenly his own situa- |
tion, while his chiyalrous nature burned |
with deep and strange sympathy for the |
sweet, brave invalid before him. 1t abashed |
him 10 think that he had been nursing
tender dreams in connection with this
beautiful being whom he had snatched from
the tumbling waves of the Gulf Now that
he knew her history, and understood her