The morning call., 1893-10-15

silently among them as she approached.
| Even Tante, who y6arnod 80 over her,
found no words to offer to her strange.
dry-eyed sorrow.
and a skurry in the lane, and there was
Uncle Marcellus dismountng from his
horse with wonderful spryness and turning
his cheerful, red face toward them and
shouting:
"Irs salla-lis! He's no more dead
than / am! The boat was blown up, my
love-" he added In French to Talte. who
could not help showing. however, that she
perfectly understood his Initial remark !;
'sthe boat was blown up. but Octave was
not hurt by the explosion, or by his dive
in the river after the CIR"
There was no time for further explana-
tion, for here was Octave himself gallop-
ing up to the gate and 1inglng himself
from his horse He wore Michel Bares'
Sunday suit of blue flannel and his wide
Cajan hat, and he looked remarkably bright
aud handsome as he came smiling toward
the excited group. And then
A limp. black-clad figure lay helpless and
s9bbiDg in his arms!
Tante's fine tact WAS proverbial. But on
| this occasion NO tact was needed to sweep
| all the spectators black and white, into the
house or behind it. Even the wide.eyed,
copper-colored pickannny twins, Joseph.
| Marie and Marcsllus, SO named in honor
! of the twin sons OF the house, scuttled ST.
lently after their mother and disappeared
without even so much as backward
glance. So that by the time Octave had
| half led. half carried Cecile to the bench
under the magnolia and thrown himself on
his knees before her, holding her hands in
| his, the rose garden, over which the first
long rays of the morning sun was begin
ming to stretch, was as still and deserted
as a lovers trvst.
s.U. for
nv dearp' he cried, with a sob in his
voice. lifting fold OF her black dress and
kissing il reverently.
''Oh, l Thought" she began. and stopped
| chOked with tears.
But, imagine, my love-" he said pres
emily, when they had grown little calmer
and he sat beside her with his arm about
danger / went up in the air little way,
it is true, and | came down in the water
and then [ saw her close by struggling,
poor Guild"
She drew away ever so slightly, but he
| went Oh.
"Old Jackson Tarver's young wife. you
know you saw her Yesterday on the
tradin boat, didn't you? And so brought
her ashore with me, neither of us the worse
for little wet.ing. How those blunder-
ing idiots could have brought up such a
piece of news l can't conceive. But, them"
he adGed with smile, II, at least, ought
not tn complain.
DO you know, Cecile," he went on more
gravely. that am horribly afraid that it
is who am responsible for the explosion !!
| was very tired after measuring calico
and weighing bacon and sugar all day"
Poor boy" she murmured sympathet-
ically.
And when | sat down to smoke and
dream of somebody's rose garden and
someb body, perhaps even then walking
there. lighted my cigarette and tossed
my match over among the kegs and boxes,
and the next thing / knew the roof as
open 0nd was going skyward."
! "Oh, Octave, Octave, and she nestled
against him. shivering again at the mere
thought of his past danger.
Uncle Joseph-Mare is down at the
| landing now settling up with Jackson Tar
yer, who will 40 doubt in the end gain by
the damage done to the tradin'- -boat-and,
! by Jove. had quite forgot the $50 owe
Michel Bares for lending the his place for
month. But am going to be more care
fnl next time. Cecile. l mean to 60 away
and find something to do-Dow that
know that you love me-sOmeihiug i'll real
| earnest"
She cIung to him hysterIcally. "Never,"
she said, you are never to leave me again,
Octave. Oh, how can you speak so cruel
| lv? Is not my fortune enough for US both
And even if that should fail. is there not
always the good uncle. Joseph Marie ?"-
| Romance.