The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-01-05

SlSHO vi ltS SIdDle-I6 was nome
again-he started on with longer
strides-to stop Immediately, as
founded
"Tionsl" said he, ''its lighted; she's
not abed vet, but prays, perhaps, for
my safety"
As the words fell from his lips the
outline ola human form showed it.
self upon the half curtain that shad-
ed the little window-the outlines of
mans forml A man In his house
at twelve at night-with Catherine
Mon Dieu! If it were-but no, he re.
fused to comprehend or to
finish the thought that had
flashed across his mind--he
refused even to suspect his unhappi-
ness! At the same time, as the howl
ing of the wind masked the noise of
his footsteps, he would be able to ap-
proach but leave them unsuspicious
of his presence. he pressed himself
against the wall of his dwelling-he
mounted upon the stone that sup
ported the gutter-he looked in the
chamber. Catherine was there, re-
clining in her chair, beautiful, rosy
and smiling; beside her q man who
at the moment-even as Yvon's ewes
fell upon him-drew bis wife into his
arms and pressed upon her lips a
kiss of adieu. That mana thou
sand devils!-that 1nan-was Dom
miguel
Under this blow of fate the colossus
staggered like o beet under the
butchers hammer; he supported him
self against the window frame, his
legs trembling, his hands convuls
sively tearing at the scarf that
seemed to stop his breathing. And
thus; while he exposed his life to win
the bread for the household, his wife,
whom he had adored like a mailman
his wife-profted by his absence to
treacherously deceive him! The
shock was too 1nuch--the strong
man began to cry, and many things
that had passed unnoticed by the
confding husband returned to mind
to torture him. Parbleul but it had
gone on a long time, this pretended
hate for the wheelwright's workman
this pretended hate that was to
turn suspicion. And those marks of
passionate love given to him, the
husband? Lies again-vile hypoc-
risies to capture his confidence Bah,
the miserable guilty wretch whom he
had loved so machi
The noise of the door closing softly
and a shadow moving away reused
the fisherman from his trance of
agony-in an instant he was trans
fgured-a whirlwind of fury stirged
into his brain-blood blinded him!
With a turn of the wrist he threw off
his heavy shoes, bent his body like a
runner making for his goal, and
bounded upon the tracks Of the lover
so full ofsecurity and satisfaction with
himself, and who followed, careless
~ whistling a tune, with hands in his
pockets, a narrow pathway Unframed
between two hedges. He had arrived
almost at the main street ofthe ham
let, when suddenly two, powerful
hands closed upon bis heck, clutch
ing it with d grasp of iron. Domi-
hique gasped, wavered,, bent to his
knees-and lay with without a moan!
Twenty minutes later won re-
TURNED to the strand, moving in the
direction of his boat. He still car
ried upon his shoulders a fishing
sack, but so heavily loaded this
time that he walked with difficulty,
and every Instant slipped upon the
pebbles, round and polished: Ar
rived at last at his bark, he threw
down his burden; it fell with a thud
upon the piles of stones that consti-
tuted the ballast. The tide had
turned, and already the waves were
tapping under the keel of the little
vessel. The fisherman seated him
self in his accustomed place, propped
his feet Upon the sack in the bottom,
drew out his pipe and began to
smoke. To smoke-aye-but not
for Tonga half hour, not more.
When the movement of the boat and
the wash of the waves told him the
hour had come, he drew up his an
Choir, cast off his line and the vessel,
obedient to the oars vigorously
handled drew rapidly away.
The tempest had lulled consider
ably; in the harbor the water was
nearly tranquil, but the harbor was
evidently not far enough for the
sailors purposes; he hoisted the sail
and stood for the open sea. An hour
perhaps he sailed thus in the midst
of the shadows, but he stopped at
last, and at that moment the moon
broke from the clouds that yelled it
and spread upon the water a grain
of silver.
at will do" he murmured, consid-
ering it carefully, "'tis far enough!"
and he drew from his pocket a broad
bladed clasp knife carried by men of
his calling, knelt upon the sack be-
fore him and delivered himself to the
mysterious work that filled him, judy
ing by the smile upon his lips, with
satisfaction. This work accomplish
ed, 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 baited 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 home
ward journey. Catherine-he saw her
from abbreviated for him upon the
deserted beach with every sound of
profound disquietude, the way of
wives in general, and faithful wives
in particular. In transport of dis
stimulation and tenderness she threw
herself upon the breast of her hus-
band.
':Mon Dieup' she CRIED" but
thou art late. I knew not what to
think of it, and the horrible
tempest that has ragged since thy de-
parturel do not wish thee to go
out in weather like this again! How
I have prayed to Our Lady,"
prayed to Our Lady, and for me"'
l. I, ~ 10 .