The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-04-27

debauchery. Very few women came
from the OLD world to share the hardships
of the new, but the reckless soldiers,
traders and adventures took them so
called wives from the West Indies and
Caribbean Islands, dusky women often
as wicked and dangerous as they were
1.-THE and beautiful. Dona Hortense felt,
with all woman's sensitiveness to such
surroundings, the unutterable sufferings
which might come to Pauline de la
Chasie on account of her falling into the
power of Capt. Cortes. True. Cortes
was apparently an exception to the gem
eral rule among the men Of Pensacola,
SO far as she knew. He had never con-
sorted with the most vicious even Of the
officers, and his life appeared to be clean
and noble.
Still the danger seemed great; and be-
sides she had taken Pauline at once into
her heart as her child and felt for her all
the suddenly kindled solicitude and ten
derness that such 3 relation under such
circumstances could not fail to engender
in a breast SO long deprived of every
softer experience SO dear to true wo-
man. It was therefore q matter to start
hope in her over apprehensiye breast
when the young man, instead OF assum-
ing the attitude of a libertine, began to
treat Pauline with all the delicate polite
ness of considerate and high minded
gentleman, who might become q very
gallant and by 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 cur
rent of destiny the unfortunate girl had
been cast so far away from her native
land; but il was not in the nature of
things for Pauline to keep her secret.
Indeed, Dona Hortense was at once sur
prised and dismayed when the whole
truth was poured into her ear.
"Going all alone to Mobile to marry
French soldier she exclaimed when
Pauline had ended her story. Dear
child, do you dream what you were try
ing to do? You can have no impression
of the misery that you have escaped by
falling into my hands instead of into the
arms of brutal
IldSiAA ctAAQ < tsuiitlS Will H1Cu Cciu-
mand in her voice that the old woman
looked at her and started peroeptibly.
"Huslll Louis Doucet is not brutal He
is the very noblest and best man in the
world would follow him all over the
earth--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" cried
Dona Hortense, taking Pauline in her
arms and kissing her. II wound not
wound you for all the world. Doubtless
your lover is all that you say; but, OIL
my child, my child, it is dreadful life.
ThinEof dear France and the joyous ex-
istence of even her working peasants,
and then look at the desolation and the
despair which hover over us hereip As
she spoke her shriveled face was pinched
and its sallowness was touched with
hot, hame-like glow. "If / could go
back-if / could go back once more, she
moaned, sit would be delicious to die and
be buried beside my motherl Oh. little
Pauline-sweet child-how / wish i
could save you, could bear you back to
France
'sBut / do not wish to go back to
France" Pauline interrupted. II wish
to go to Louis. | do not care to live if
cannot so to him"
As if the mere suggestion of being
taken back to France had given her sud-
den strength. resolve and courage, Paul
inc threw off the arms of her companion
ard raised herself again to q sitting pos
tllre.
How far is it from here to Mobile?"
she inquired, in a voice SO changed that
the poor old woman caught breath, as if
almost suffocating, and could not answer.
at cannot be far" Pauline continued,
"and must go there. Who can take mes'
The dona clasped her hands and held
them out with gesture Of supplication.
When she could speak she said;
sit is impossible. We are at war.
Even now the commandant here is plan
ming an expedition to capture Mobile"
The girl sat for some moments gazing
thoughtfully out of the window. Pres
emily she turned quickly toward her
companion.
please send word to Capt. Cortes that
l should like to see him."
She uttered these words with the steadi-
ness and decision of one who has well
defined purpose in view.
The dona recoiled.
"Surely no' she exclaimed. "You
do not mean it. 1t must not be-"
eyes, l wish it immediately
''But, my child
Lose no time, but go send for Capt.
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 beginning of bitter shame
for the girl she could not refuse to grant
her request.
Don't, don't do thisi" she urged with
q 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
xr,,, F,.,,,, l,. 4