The record-union., 1893-06-03

Ouly lIlCuu, ONSICdiD0 tue lear OF LH1
questions she might ask me. on the
BENCH outside the door, in the twilight,
sat Pauline; at the sound of my step she
sprang up.
"Ah, Jules" she said, lit is you at
last Why have you not been here be-
fore?''
l faltered out excuses-I had been busy.
l had not known she would be expecting
me. She looked at me half-reproach
fully.
And had you nothing to tell me of all
that passed between you and the lawyer"
So had to repeat to her my interview
with Maitre Letellier, and to try to word
my account so as not to tell her what was
absolutely untrue. Net | did deceive
her, and my heart smote me for it, most
of all when at the end she took my hand
in both Of hers and raised it TO her lips,
without speaking, and l heard a
sort Of sob. Then, l scarce know how
it was, but l found myself trying to
speak to her of the great love l had
borne her so long, and when words
would not come freely enough, folded
/ my arms about her, and drew her,
without any resistance on her part,
close to me. She murmured something
| which l did not hear, but still we under
stood one another, and our JOY seemed
purer and more sacred in that sweet 81
lence, which seems like an eternity when
l look back upon it.
Suddenly a step sounded on the road,
and Jeering laugh made me start to my
feet. There, close in front of me, with
pale face and angry eyes, stood Leon
Regnault.
For a moment l changed places with
him in fancy, and pitied him accord
ingly, but at his first words my pity
melted away.
"Confound your impudenceW he cried.
"PVe tracked you, you see, and now L
/ n 4 "
MY meaning is plain enough" | re-
torted. Moreover, you have no right TO
ask it in that tone"
- shall ask it in any tone choose" he
said. Il ask you again what right you
| have to come sneaking here to make love
to the girl who is to be my wife"
''Sneakingr | cried, losing my tenn
per. on, who follow and spy ON me,
are the sneak; you, who tell lies about
your relations to the girl | mean to marry,
are the sneak. 1t is who demand an ex-
PLANTATION from you"
He raised his clenched fist, and | stood
ready for him. / longed for his blow to
fall that l might begin to punish him as
he deserved. But Pauline was too quick
for US. She placed herself between US,
and looking from one to the other said;
"Jules-M Onsieur Leon, please let me
speak. l am not worth a quarrel. 1t
would bG dreadful If you fought for my
sake. Besides, there is no promise be-
tween me and you, Monsieur Leon; |
told you long ago that l could not be
bound by what my father said. He was
afraid Of offending you, and he tried to
persuade me. He was sadly afraid of
you but | should never have given way,
and now that he has no longer to fear
feel quite free. But do not be angry;
there are many better girls than l am.
am not worth Il quarrel"
She spoke so traightfOrwardly that he
ought to have felt the justice Of her words,
but perhaps it was hard on him. His face
grew paler still.
Il have been made a fool Of" he Kissed,
land l suppose you think you've got the
better Of me, but let those laugh who
win; perhaps | shall have a chance OF
making fool of one Of you before long,
and then you may look out"
Then ne turned away and walked off
among the trees in the direction of home.
The next morning at daybreak
started on my venture. L WhiStled mer-
rily as l drove along the high road to
Sedan, partly because it was best to look
quite gay and innocent, and partly be-
cause my heart was ooyeriiowing with
happiness and joy. My scruples and
doubts had all vanished. Pauline really
loved me; what l was doing was for love
of her. | was sure she would forgive
me if she knew.
BY 7 O'Clock 1 was in front OF the
douane, and half dozen officials were
carefully and nOlsily inspecting my
freight. l submitted without uneasiness;
my precautions We're all so well taken
that l feared nothing. When, after d
long examination, | was allowed to pro-
coed, | babe them a civil "bon Jour"
felt so happy that l could afford to be
friendly with any one. even dOuanier.
Then l resumed my day-dreams at the
point where they had been broken off.
We had spoken of our future the previ-
Gus evening - after Leon had gone -
vaguely, but still as of future to be
spent together. For that future l would
now begin to plan, and work, and save.
The Cafe Marteau, the little estaminet l
had visited after my interview with
Maitre Letellier, took me almost by sur
prise when | reachedit. l drove into the
yard beyond the house, and there Lam
bert helped me to carry the horses car
cass into the stables and to unpack and
weigh out my successful ''fraude."
There was none about, yet we spoke lit
tie, for walls have ears and birds can
carry tales.
"Twenty-four kilos, good measure" 1
said, when the last packet was laid on
the scales, aud you'll pocket 30 per
} cent on it, for finer leaf is not to be
found"
~ hope L may" said Lambert, "but
you've made tight bargain"
He pulled out a handful of notes as he
spoke.
Let's settle here" he said. 1--WE are
quieter."
''Sorry to interrupt" said a voice at
the door, "but it is my painful duty to
remind you that as this tobacco has paid
no excise, it is conhscated to the Govern
ment of the French Republic"
Yes, there they We're, the douaniers
whom l had left behind so confidently an
hour before. There they were, with
/ W.
laying his hand on my shoulder.
Jules BridouX. you incur fine of one
hundred francs; in default of payment
you will be lodged in Sedan jail.' Then
he turned to Lambert. We've had our
eyes on you for some time, too. We let
this load pass just to make sure of you"
Then Lamberts fine was assessed, and
when he had paid it and begged hard not
to have his license Cancelled, | was
marched off between two douaniers,
back along the road l had comeback to
Sugny like a beaten hound, with my
heart full of dismay and despair.
Nearly all the village, young and old,
stood round with compassionate faces
while paid out the last sou of my saw
Jugs to the unrelenting douaniers.
There's treachery somewhere" said
old Servais, when the officials had gone,
''treachery and foul play. The country
side is going to the dogs"
But who would betray Jules?" said
my father. who could have a grudge
against lad like him?''
| said nothing. | walked into the Au-
: berge Regnault and looked round.
Where is Leon?" L asked.
He's gone over to Charleville to his
uncle's," was the answer.
Then you'd best tell him to stop
there" I replied, for the day he shows
his face here again he'll have a long
reckoning to settle with me-"