Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-02

D.es. did not vary in degrees according to
wnether all went well or i'll II was founded in
tne very depths of her being. and should occa-
SION demand, would rise supreme above all
other influences. In her the martyr spirit Law
germany; but there seemed sligbt cause to fear
tnat II should ever be summo I'd 10 awake, as
Win her handsome lover 10y Ter side, she
waikea oe mureiy to morning msss her happys
hesrt keeping time to the peali,lg Of the bells.
After dinner, Francois. eager 10 be rid of the
restralnst imposed by the presence of the elder
Lavoies, invited Melne to 90 out with him ;or
Walk, and she. not less anxious to make the most
% 1l ane Ias1 DAY left TO them, readily assented.
Hnconsciously they turned in the direction of
francois home, and. the afternoon being so
very nne, were tempted to extend their ramble
until they reached a hilltop from which thew
could look down upon Tracadie village and
count the different cottages. although thew we're
still much more than q mile away.
snail build you cottage there some day,
Mellne, said Francois pointing out a vacant
space at the farther end of the village, which
seemed indeed very pleasant situation for
home.
"Ah, no, Francois dear, not there" said Me-
line, with a shudder. drawing close to him and
looking up beseechingly in his face. II would
not like to live there"
Why, Meline, darling?" asked Francois, in
surprise. What's the matter? Why not there?
Is 1t not the finest spot about?"
Meline was silent for a moment She evil
IDENTIFY would much rather not have given her
reasons, but knowing that Francois would in
sst upon having them. she pointed with her
right hand to strange. repellent-looking group
of buildings that stood in the center of a large
field some distance away from the plot Francois
had chosen, yet in full view of it. She had no
need to speak. Francois caught her meaning
at once.
"Ah, Iunderstand-thela zaret. WHY. Ineyer
thought of THAT. To be sure, it would not be
pleasant neighbor. We must find another
place."
1t was not to be wondered at after ALL that
IN selecting site for his future home Francois
SHOULD be indifferent to the presence of the laza-
ret. This saddest of all human structures had
been there before his birth. He had grown to
manhood in sight of its somber walls and IRON
barred windows. He had even played in boyish
thoughtlessness within the shadow of its lofty
pallsade OF cedar pickets. But to Meline il was
avery different affair. Her tender sensibilities
mad not been calloused by constant association,
and she shrank with invincible repugnance from
the thought of having within view from day to
day the place over whose portals might with
truth be written the inscription, 'All We who
enter here. leave hope behind"
by common impulse the lovers turned their
faces away from Tracadie As they walked slowly
back to Pockmouche, Meline found courage to
urge upon Francois a request that had long been
In her heart. 1t was that instead of making his
home in Tracadie he should come to Pock-
mouche. There were many good reasons on her
slde. During the long summer months. when
he was away out upon the Banks, she would be
near her parents and not feel SO lonely Then
In the winter, when Francois was at home, it
would be SO delightful to have all ones friends
at hand, instead of being separated from them
by miles of snow-drifted road. Again, she loved
her church. In it she had been baptized; from
1t she wanted to be buried. And finally-Me-
iine's voice sank to whisper, as though perhaps
1t was not altogether right to bring forward this
reason-there was no lazaret at POckmouche.
FRANCOIS made some show of resistance; but,
10 tell the truth, he was ready to grant any,
thing Meline might ask that golden afternoon,
and no sooner were her arguments finished
than her cause was won. and the decision sealed
with most lover-ike embrace, against which
tins time the happy maiden offered not the
slightest pretense of protest.
They had much to talk about as they saun-
tered on side by side; and it was not the first
time that Madame Lavoie had been TO the door
to look down the road and exclaim: Those
foolish children! Why do they not return"
when she deserted them coming toward her
with faces full of love and light.
The next morning the Rose-Marie bore Fran
| co.'s off to the Ranks, and Meline composed
herself to six months of waiting and on daily
supplication to Ia Sdinte Verge on behalf of
the loved one at sea. The summer passed in
serene expectancy and pleasant preparations
| Hers was the delightful task of making ready
for the new home to be established ere the
snow came, in cottage that stood fortunately
untenanted within easy sight of the Lavoie
| front door. In due time they would dwell be-
meath their own roof-tree. but for the present
| a rented cottage would suffice. Now and again
| tidings would come from Francois, carried by
fishermen who made only short trips to the
Banks, and theywere always cheering The Rose
Marie was having fine run of luck. and there
would be snug sum falling to each shares
man when the profits were divided at the close
of the season.
As the summer waned and the virent woods
flashed forth in gold and crimson in honor of
autumns sure approach, Meline began to betray
degree OF impatient eagerness that was hardly
in accordance with her calm, steadfast nature. A
close observer might at times have thought that
provoking doubts as to Francois fidelity had
somehow found a Judgement in her breast Yet,
was ever lover more simple, more whole-souled
In his devotion or was it that a strange subtle,
inexplicable premonition Of approaching ill dis
turbed the serenity of her waiting? She had no
confdant save Francois, for though she loved
both father and mother dearly, they were both
of the practical, hard-headed kind, toward
whom one never feels the impulse to confession
Whatever it was that troubled her, she kept the
secret in her own heart, unless the breathing
OF 1t In the passionate prayers she offered more
frequently than before to the Virgin Mother
might be deemed revelation of it.
October-cool; clear, and calm-drew near its
close, and Meline's eagerness became almost
feverish. By the first of November at the latest
the Rose-Marie should come to port and Fran
by one, and October's hand would soon be
empty. November began on Sunday and Me-
line hoped that Francois would appear by Sat-
urday; otherwise, she knew right well she
could not pay due heed to the holy mass. Sat-
urday came, and proceeded from dawn to
dark, and still no news of Francois. In the
evening, after Meline had gone to her room,
there was q knock at her door which made her
heart beat wildly, and she listened with strain
ing ears as her father received the message
but she could not catch it's import. In response
to her inquiries her father-surely the angel of
mercy granted him instant remission for his
tender deceit-put her of by saying that it was
Of no consequence, he would tell her in the
morning, with which answer, knowing him too
well to press the matter, she was fain to be con-
tent. Sleep came slowly and ftfully to her that
night, and the morning found her looking pale
and unrefreshed, but the sun shone brightly in
at her window as she dressed. It was the last
and loveliest day Of q late Indian summer, and,
inspired by its cheering influence, she went
briskly about her household tasks. She thought
her father and mother seemed odd and con-
strained in their manner, and more than once
was on the point of asking if they had not news
Of Francois, but something's shrinking, per-
haps, from knowing the worst-kept the words
back. On her way to the church she fancied
the friends she met looked at her with half
inquiring, Multiplying expression that sent an
inexplicahle chill to her heart. What did it all
mean2 Did they possess some knowledge of
which she was still ip ignorance? All. we'll!
was over, and she would be patient.
dispersed, gossiping and laughing among them
oo1v nd OF