The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-05-31
WITH THE SMUGGLERS.
Ian the Year Round.l

but they had spollt him from MS cradle,
and they had not the courage TO 90 con-
trary to his wishes about Pauline.
Its a sad pity" the pere Regnault
said once to my father. "a sad pity he's
set his heart on the girl; but We must
make the best OF il. and anyhow. there
will be the frontier between the girl and
her father after the marriage"
after the MARRIAGE - L said, trying 10
look as if | were only interested for his
sake "You don't mean 10 say it's all
settled?'
Regnault gave a knowing wink.
"Of course he said. Can you imagine
old Pochet refusing such oter?'
And Pauline?" said. Then stopped,
fearing had betryed myself.
But he WAS not thinking of me.
Pauline be repeated. All. well,
she's as plain as she's poor, and she's not
over sharp, but she knows which side her
bread is butteTed.
BY degrees the tale got out that when
old Pochet mad found a suitable house
keeper, Leon would bring home his wife !;
vet, somehow, il ALWAYS seemed to me as
if the report was but the echo of his own
fast-and-loose talking. and when | saw
him look delighted at the chaff he got on
the subject, and heard him limiting at the
footing on which he and Pauline stood, |
longed to hit him such blow straight in
his handsome face as would teach him to
shield her name from gossip in the future.
At last made up my mind TO try to find
out from Pauline herself bow the land
really lay.
1t was the end of September. and my
tobacco crop was all cut and dried. This
gave me an excellent pretext for a visit to
the Gaze Pochet, where | had not been for
some time. When | reached the cross
road in the forest where the house stood.
it was dusk. l walked in; the bar was
empty. Pauline, in the kitchen, was get
ting the children's supper.
Good evening. Pauline l said.
Good evening, Jules, she replied, 60
ing on with her work.
sat down and tried to take the small
est child Oh my knee, but 1t screamed and
struggled away.
silly little thing" said Pauline, as it
ran and hid behind her; that's how she
is with strangers"
Then she'll find it hard" l replied,
when a stranger takes your place"
"A stranger she exclaimed. what
do you meant Who is to take my place ?"
well" | said timidly, I've heard you
mean to leave home"
And who have you heard that from ?"
she asked sharply.
From Leon Regnault," | replied. land
by what he said it seemed he had the
right TO put the news about"
She was silent for a moment, then she
said in her usual quiet way:
"IIe has no right to say any such thing.
IT is not true"
II thought not" replied. More than
that l could not find courage to say; then,
after silence, | drew out my sample of
tobacco. I've brought this for your
father" ! began.
Fathers not here" she said. 81 don't
expect him tonight"
Never mind" / went on; You can
tell him I've got about half hundred
weight, and ask him to send over word
about the price"
NO." she replied bluntly. 81 won't. I'll
have nothing to do with it,
But, Pauline" | cried, why ever not?
did not mean to vex you. You see we've
so often had disagreeables about prices,
and it's best to make sure beforehand"
II know all thai" she replied. That's
not why l refuse. It's because / won't
have anything 10 do with fraud I'm
sick of it. Day after day, nothing but
plotting, and bargaining, and squabbling,
and cheating friend and foe. and then,
u
ting a lot of cOntraband over-that is the
worst of ali. am no coward, but oh. tie
horror of 1.-THE long hours OF waiting
and listening for his signal, or for some
thing worse, which must come some day"
/ had never heard Pauline make such a
long speech before NV heart thrilled at
the thought that she had spoken so freely.
and with pity for the lonely watch she
was about TO keep. Pauline" / said
eagerly, you need not watch alone; l
will stay"
She shook her head. mo, thank you,
Jules" she replied.
did not venture to repeat the offer, for
she had recovered her usual calm. Still
did not oHer 10 90. She gave the children
their meal. Presently she turned to me
suddenly:
why do you mix yourself up with
these dealings" she asked.
How could we all live | asked in re-
turn, ''if we did not follow the custom of
Sugny?"
And what about that great system of
Bookkeeping that some one told you
about?' she said. Weren't YOU going TO
make your fortune out of some grand pat
ent hives? You talked lot about il last
wear"
Il know did but / can't find time
enough to attend to Bookkeeping properly.
Besides, it's a risky business"
Not so risky as fraud Besides, it's a
risk no honest man need be ashamed to
rum"
But. Pauline" replied, I'm as hon.
est as any man in Sugny"
That's not saying much, she rejoined
its not the sort of recommendation
should expect in the man who comes
counting me. Many a time, when L We sat
watching for father, I've sworn to myself
never to listen to word of love from a
man who's mixed up with smuggling"
Her words explained much that | had
not before understood, though they
sounded strange from the lips of POCKETS
daughter.
For moment we looked into one an
others eyes. Then 1 took my sample and
returned it to my pocket. I'm send it to
Liege." / said
You'll do well" she reioined simply.
Then l babe her ood-night. and walk ed
home through the dark forest feeling as if
the winning Of Pauline had become quite
a possible thing to me.
Ali the next day | went about in kind
OF dream, my thoughts full of what had
passed the night before. Why. / asked
myself repeatedly, il Pauline had not
some regard for ne. had she spoken to me
so frankly? Had she not as good a. asked
me 10 give uD contraband dealinp2 In I