The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-01-24

Smile upon ner lips ana she murmufeC
softly, bravo, Pierrer' For q whole
year the memory of those two words
gave me hope, and persuaded myself that
she would find some way of shaking bel
mothers resolution. did not try to meet
her anywhere, but attended to my work
and took no notice Of what went on in the
village, until learned one day that Marie
was going to get married. 1 did not be
lieve that, and determined to hear the de
NAL from her own lips.
That evening met her on a quiet road
and took her hand in mine, but there was
no need of words, for she saw the question
in my eyes and answered:
Eyes, Pierre, it is true" A cry of despair
burst from my lips, and she added
quickly:
Il love you only, Pierre, but my mothers
heart Will break if I refuse to marry
Jacques She is old, and it is my duty to
obey her. You have done your duty. and
must do mine"
interrupted her with a torrent of re-
proacbes, for l was mad with rage and de-
spair, and to my wild, angry words sha
answered gently:
you will be sorry for speaking so,
you can think calmly you will see that |
am right, and you will say to me, Marry
Jacques | will wait until you say so,
Pierre" She turned away and left me
standing there sobbing.
After that reflected that had no right
/ 70 condemn girl to live single all her
( life merely because I could not marry her
myself, and yet ! was not willing to set
l.
their disapproval of my selfishness.
You are like the dog in the manger, -
said one of them, and they all looked at
me askance.
Then heard that Marie's mother was
very i'll, and people said was the cause of
it, and at last Cesarine began to reproach
me:
lyon ought to make Marie take Jacques, ~
she said; you will not be fulfilling your
promise to your brother unless you cause
her TO become the wife of another man"
/ That decided me. / would give Marie her
liberty. | could not bear to see her again,
but | wrote to her. / began several letters
to her, and tore them up before they were
finished. At last / wrote her two words
Marry jacques" Indeed there was
nothing more for me to say. / called lit
tie boy who was passing and gave him
two sous to take my letter TO Marie, but
even then | could not make up my mind to
send it.
The child took the NOR ey and held out
his other hand for the letter, but drew
back and hesitated IC seemed like throw
ing away my last hope of happiness. for
Marie had said that she would not marry
without hiJTinr +Y,rD ha
over and over in my hand, until the boy,
growing impatient to spend his sous,
snatched it suddenly and ran off Hooked
after him as he went down the street, and
saw him turn in at the widows gate
was trembling all over like leaf, and had
to lean against a wall to keep from falling
In few minutes l whispered:
''Sbe has opened the letter by this time
and she has read it. Now, she has told
her mother-that is the endf" and rushed
away to the woods and wandered about
like one crazed, saying to myself over and
over again those fearful words, Marry
Jacques! marry Jacquesr
On the day fixed for the betrothal was
at sea, but toward evening the cruel wind
persisted in driving me to Villerville's
shore, and was obliged to tack back and
forth, where / could plainly see the Ian
terms lighted for the festivity. | have
heard of the tOrtures suffered by the
Christians long ago, of the rack and the
wheel and fire, but l am convinced that
no martyrs agony was ever equal to what
| endured that night.
Suddenly | resolved to see Marie once
more, and, landing quietly, crept along
in the darkness to the meadow where the
people were assembled at the betrothal [
crouched unnoticed among some bushes,
and saw her, my beloved. She was leading
the singing, and as l leaned forward in my
eagerness to look at her more closely a
sailor, who sat near me, began to light his
pipe, and the fame leaped up before could
draw back. The light fell full on my face
Marie saw me, gave a piercing cry, and
fell swooning to the ground. rushed to-
ward her. and at the same instant Jacques,
the betrOthed, was at her side.
In a few minutes Marie's eyes opened
again, and was surprised to see Jacques
glance from her face to mine with an air
of friendly pity. What a good heart had
Jacques!
He called for wine, and began drinking
deeply wine, cider and cognac-quantities
VI NOSAdJ. I1C oiAOulCu anu SdllS, quar-
relied with the men and frightened the
girls, and toward morning took Marie
home and made such terrible scene be-
fore her mother that he was summarily
turned ont of doors.
Holy Virgin gaSped Jeanne when he
had staggered off, what an abOminable
fellow! Thank heaven we have found him
out in time; out who would have thought
he WAS a drunkard? He shall never be my
son-in-law-never, neveri'
Jacques understood Marie and me. and
we understood him-Eood, kind Jacques,
Since that time there ms been nothing
said about Marie getting married, and
though she and l seldom meet we do not
try 10 avoid each other. Every Sunday |
give her the holy water at the door of the
church, and we sit IN the same bench as
we used to do in the days of our youth
Cesarine and her children sit between US. it
Is true, but that does not matter, for we
always manage to exchange prayer books,
and while | am praying for Marie out of
her book she prays for me out of mine
When go TO sea her white kerchief is the
last thing l see on land. and whenever the |
night is clear | look at the light shining
from her window; she is my lighthouse,
my star.
Pierre Aubert stopped speaking and sat
plunged in thought, but gradually his
bead sank upon his forced arms, and
heard the sound of heavy sobbinS.
Suddenly. however, the breeze sprang up
and the fisherman rose 10 his feet, and his
face was calm, though sad, as he called his
men 10 their work
\ few years later / paid another visit TO
Villervilie, 10 find the people dressed in
their holiday clothes.
What is going on'" 1 asked OF the cure,
who was the first person met. He smiled 4
As he replied:
"Cessrine Auberf died SIX months a-n - |