The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1893-07-15

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her, and she called again in a frantic
voice: e5l* sSSs-@
Theodore, Theodore! It is : I,
your own Marguerite!n :szz.sz
Presently there was cracking of
tWlgs and rustling sound, like some
forest creature was rising from his
lair; then a mans form emerged from
the darkness, and walking waist
deep in the saffron tinted flowers, he
reached her side. %a.<' - y = " ,
Marguerite threw her arms about
his neck and clung to him in delight.
+ The sunshine filtered through
some scarlet creepers and fell upon
the mans face. He was not much
more than a boy, but tall and slightly
built, with an easy bearing and a
smiling countenance. He wore a
pair of trowsers and a shirt of native
homespun and had an old straw hat
on his head His complexion was. a
clear olive and his eyes sparkled with
unconcealed pleasure: - = .
'You didn't go against me,''' he
said, returning Marguerite's caresses.
She released herself from his ten
der grasp and looked in his face and
smiled g.
s'No, no! Nothing on earth would
tempt me to do that. You know 1
told you yesterday, but come, Antoine
has gone for the day. We can enjoy
it together and be so happy"
She clapped her hands like an eager
child and led the way back to the
cabin where she prepared a hearty
breakfast.
They spent the, long hou1s of the
spring day together, sheltered from
the heat by thevines about the porch.
Marguerite worked at her rough loom
while Theodore fingered near playing
with the child Or talking to her in
the soft accents of their native region,
while she, very pale, with a steadfast,
frightened look, repeatedly clasped
him about the neck and with great
tears brimming from her eyes be-
sought him to stake care"
Contrary to his usual custom, Sou
let returned before sunset, enjoying
in imagination his wife's delight over
rare species of water lilly which he
carried wrapped in magnolia leaves.
A delicious langrous light streamed
over the little rose embowered cabin.
The blossoms on the walls were NOV
ing with gentle gulf breeze and the
futtering of some birds that made
their homes there. Butterflies gllt-
tered like glints of yellow light ii
and out the green foliage, and from
away off came the hoarse call of a
bittern.
Soulet felt tired, and when he had
moored his bateau to cypress knee,
he walked slowly through the tall
grass which stretched far away to
the right in interminable undulating
plains of emerald tints. The breeze
bending the grasses in long burrows
brought the heavy odors of Jasmine
and magnolia and the silence was so
absolute that Soulet involuntarilv
wondered if the baby were still
asleep.
He lifted his face to the cloudless
skies and drew a long breath as
though breathing in something of
the boundless freedom of the air and
vast prairies. No one was in sight.
and he went through the sweet
scented house without finding his
wife, although the baby, naked save
for one short garment, slept peace
fully on an old quilt near the door.
There was one spot Marguerite
ever loved, shaded nook just half
way between the cabin and the forest
1t was close behind one of those cir
cular pools that abound in Acadia,
and which the superstitious will tell
you were the ancient places where
humans were sacrificed in olden
times. The little pool was fringed
with a few orange and magnolia
trees and some blush roses and tall
lilies. Soulet and his wife had often
gone there in the first months of
their marriage, and he knew it was
yet her favorite spot, so he went in
that direction with the magnolia leaf
enveloped lily held carefully in his
hand. He caughu glimpse of his
wife's dull yellow nankin gown gleam-
ing through the green foliage like
threads of gold, and quickened his
usually slow pace. Suddenly he grew
very pale, and the blood seemed to
leave his swarthy face, and he stared
ahead of him with a wonderful emo
tion in his deep-set eyes. A terrible
tremble ran through his huge frame,
and he looked again with dazed
questioning. The lily dropped from
his nerveless fingers, and his lips
Strengthened into an acrid
line, while his whole expression
hardened into one of extreme cruelty,
and an agonizing pain seized him.
He saw his wife and her companion
sitting upon a fallen log with their
backs to him. Her head lay on his
shoulder and his arm lightly clasped
her waist. Once in while as she
moved Soulet could see the scarlet
lips, the cleaning eyes and the round
brown arms, with heir yellow sleeves
rolled above the elbows as they
twined about her companions neck.
He could not hear their conversation,
but she seemed to be entreating and
the man expostulati ting.