The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-02-24

1t-ltiu IN THIS NOrils DcICIt We uau seen !
the last of that craft.
Il was manned BY piate crew
The scene Of terror and bloodshed |
that followed within a few hours was too |
terrible to describe. Manyo the merry |
company of yoyagers wert struck down |
relentlessly, and stripped Of the valus-
ble jewels they had worn. Then their
murderers cast their bodie; overheard.
One black-browed ruflan was max |
ing for Lsprince, but l had my eye upon /
him, and sprsng forward ust in time to
ward off the blow and to send the ras-
cal overheard for food for tle fishes. Le-
pdnce was calm, as it became brave |
man to be but be looked ike one who |
knew the next moment night be mis-
last He saw that II was Who had saw
ed his life, and he put oat his white
hand and gave me hearty grip with it.
whispered to him
Get your violin. master, and give the
rascals tune it may disarm their fero-
cious natures. Evea Wild beasts are
ealmed by music, have heard tell"
He seemed TO see good sense in my
suggestion, and drew forth his precious
Cremona from its hiding place
That tune just played for you is the
one he chose to play 'or those worse than
wild beasts, and itsolnded positively un-
earthly to hear the soft, sweet strains
amid that scene Of carnage.
The effect was magical The pirates,
already gorged with plunder, and with
but two or three le1 alive for new vic
tins, stopped their bloody work and
crowded around Lepriace, listening as
though it was business Of their lives. AZ
ter that Leprincs was eleyatee by them
into divinity. His life was safe, and he
| demanded of them that they should
leave me also unbarmed. The pirates
gave Us all of our own belongings, and
took Us aboard their craft to carry Us to
their own homes.
Leprice amused himself during the
voyage by teaching me, saying that also
had the fire of genius within my soul
When at last We parted, he said to me
am about TO prove my gratitude to
you, Pierre. will give You my violin.
II is as dear to me as though it we're my
own child, and for that reason give it
to you-my preserver-"
Il was 10th to accept it, but he made
me, and now it is the dearest possession
l have on earth"
~Dearer than your sweetheart - laugh
ed Rene.
I have none answered Pierre, very
grSvely or. if have, it is music"
Hear him, Clotilde To think of
man contenting himself in such an IN
gallant way. Let US set TO work to charm
him out of such a notion, and then re-
venge ourselves upon him by turning to-
ward him a cold shoulder"
Clotilde raised her blue eyes timidly
to Pierre's handsome, dark face but blush
ed yividly and looked down ssain in
CONFUSION as sne met the glance of his
bright eyes.
That is like you, Rene. to wish to re-
venge yourself for q fanried wrong but
unless l much mistake, a greater spirit
dwelIs in the breast of your friend.
Would you win q mans heart OUT of his
bosom only to harm him, little maid?"
NO. If l should be 50 happy as to be
loved by brave youth, would give up
my own happiness 10 keep him from sor-
row." exclaimed Clotilde, shyness for the
instant forgotten in that eesiatic vision Of
a handsome.young lover which Pieue's
words had conjured up before her.
And r. said Rene, catching her
breath almost savagely, would kill
him as would a worm if he should pre-
fer his own happiness to mine, if ne
should dare to love me and win my love'
and then prove faithless.'
Rene's flashing eyes were turned upon
Pierre as though to emphasize her fierce
words. Clotilde saw the glance and trem-
bled and turned pale.
1t would not be safe to be an obstacle
in the way ofsuch savage nature. And
why did she look so angrily at Pierre ?
Was he her lover in spite Of what he had
said
| Pierre remained in the place a number
Of weeks. During that tine ne was much
with Rene, and TO be in her society was
generally to be in Clotilde's also, for the
Two friends were almost invariably to-
gether-
Once he came to Rene's cottage, TO find
her absent upon an errand. She had left
CIotilde in her place to keep the house
and to take care of Rene's invalid
mother.
He had his violin with him, and af-
ter nodding TO Clotilde he sat down and
commenced to play so softly and sweetly
that, as though lured by a sirens song,
Ciotilde gradually forgot all but the
charm which was Turing her to stop and
/ listen to Pierre. OF late she had studi-
/ Ously avoided being left alone with him,
as she had become conscious Of q certain
passionate meaning in the dark eyes he
50 often fixed upon her face. Then, too,
her own heart had learned to thrill at his
glance but she also experienced a sort
/ Of terror at her new em0tions-for she
had decided that Rene loved Pierre, and
she well knew that their long and warm
friendship would avail her little should
she come in Rene's way in a love az
far.
Pierre had noticed Clotilde's avoidance
of him, and not understanding its cause,
had been at once vexed and spurred on
in his pursuit Of her. Now, as he played,
he fixed his eyes upon her, with pas
sionate appeal in them. which acted
upon Clotiide more powerfully than
words would have done, and, almost IN
consciously, she drew near TO him, her
sweet face aglow with delight.
Suddenly Pierre laid down his violin.
and held out his arms with an impetu-
Gus gesture
Clotilde, why is it that you are 50
cruel to ne of late ? Is it because thou
knowest that ! love thee Is il beneath
thee TO 30 trife with an earnest lover,
and one, too, who will worship thee IN
til life's end p