The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-09

we went merrily on; through the hushed
I cleaning Of myriad stately chestnut
Z groves; and then on and on and Up and up.
I through the mighty passes, among the
dark ravines and mournful glens of Sierra
{ de Banadeiro. where the bells Of our cattle
| and the shriil whistlings and songs Of our
I muleteers were almost silenced by the
I hoarse waterfalls descending from the
I eternal SHOWS; 10 our last night encamp-
I ment; where, across the red tiles Of Gran
I das. lay the wondrous valley against
whose farthest rim nestled Meira, Mecca
I OF the journey of Pierre Floquet.
I Even here IN our romantic surround
ings, beside the faring. Gipsy-like fires. IL
/ seemed TO press closer and more forebod-
I ingly into my consciousness. 1t was car
ried wildly along on the thunderous noun
tain sounds of the night. 1t trembled in
/ my companions tones. 1t brooded in the
I lowering shadows. 1t even penetrated my
I dreams like shrill challenges. And at last
it startled me from sleep in the actuality
I Of words. the first morning rays i'll
tered through the mighty frs, as Celeste,
| bending over my couch, softly whispered:
/ 'Silencei Remember that whatever in
I the next hour comes, more than one shall
I ever love you for your noble deed at Gil
/ JONI
I arose and dressed. The camp was
/ astir. 1 passed to the edge of the near
rushing stream and bathed my face and
!
I / was seized from behind Instantly
mOrdaza was placed in my mouth, my
| eyes were blind-folded, my arms were
/ pinioned, and 1 was then gently led back
/ to camp.
I Here I could distinguish swift move
ments, rustlings. hurryings. strugglings.
and low words of command and threat.
I More dreadful than all to me were the
| hideous screams of Pierre Floquet, as he
unavailingly strove against his bonds; for
his maledictions were not those of despair
at the ruin of all his earthly hopes. but
were launched at me, at whom he cursed
and clutched, as his betrayer.
Fierce and fiercer grew his struggles
with his captors Some keen instinct
| of horrible vengeance brought him closer
/ and closer to me; as though in his giant
strength, despite all restraint, he would
butt out my life like a raving bull.
could feel his fiery breath upon me. be-
lieved my end had come, when l felt a
little farm dart close aginst my own and
heard Celeste cry:
Father! Father Pierre Floquet! He is
innocent! He is your friend-noble and
good. Seel Know il is my life, sheltering
his, you shall first destroyl"
The Infatuated Cagot sank moaningly
beneath his captors.
Then all was still for a little, until I
heard the elinking of coin as it was cast
hurriedly into leathern pouches.
'All-all"' came from the voice of him
in command. Even the belt hiding the
cheques for golden onzas on the bank of
| spain. Pierre Floquet shall not have left
so much as a centavo for his grand life
at Meira. We will even roast his calves
and sheep for our dinnerg'
A burst of wild laughter followed this
cruel threat, and a pitiful groan escaped
| Pierre Floquet's lips as the last vestige Of
his hoard was stripped from him.
Shortly we were all led forward into
the roadway. Here we were forced to
walk for perhaps half hours time. Then
our course led over narrow pathway.
along the rocky side of some stream which
roared and Numbered far below.
Finally we were halted. The bandages
were removed from our eyes, the NOR
dazas from our mouths, and we found our
selves under guard in covert like space
overspread with frs, defended on the one
side by an almost impossible barrier of
rocks, and on the other by the brink of a
tremendous chasm
There we're but few of the band about
us; and after we had been given bread
and wine, one of the robbers came close
to the side of Pierre Floquet.
Our chief" he said, lis a kindly man,
and he would deal generously with you.
He bids me say he has no use for your
gold, if you will but listen to reason IF
you will give to him in honorable mar
riage such one of your daughters as he
may choose, he viii return to you intact
every real you have lost; and, further,
it shall all be yours, unless that daughter
shall gladly give her free CONSENT
While Pierre Floquet's face writhed
like some savage animal at bay, he cast
appealing looks upon Clothilde and &C.
leste.
IF with your free and lasting will?''
! answered Clothilde for both. Shall first
go to him, Father Pierre?"
lie Diable! 1t shall be sou came sob
bingly from Pierre Floquet
ClOthlde went and returned, dolefully
shaking her head. Then Celeste radiant
ly disappeared. while my own heart sank
despairingly within me at the thought
of this irretrievable sacrifice.
In moment more, one of the brigands
came to Pierre Floquet unbound him.
and poured upon the sward before him
every article of which he had been de-
spoiled. While he clutched at it savagely,
something like a despairing groan tremu-
lousy filed the air.
1T is Celeste! 1t is Celester' we moaned.
AS if in answer to these words the little
sprite came glowingly out of the dark
copse behind the covert leading the bril-
gand chief, a stalwart Spaniard with the
| light of love and victory upon his splen-
did face. He reached out his hand to
Pierre Floquet
pierre Floquetr he began in a low
and pleasant tone.
"Gaspar ValdesT stammered Pierre
Floquett, staggering to his feet in amazed
bewilderment.
"Senor Refugidado!" cried beside N.Y.
self with astounded joyousness; for &C.
leste's blazing eyes sought my own with
lightning glances of intelligence.
The same" said the brigand chief
calmly. who came from Concarneau. for
the love of Celeste, behind the Enrioueta
del Meira's bags of grain and bales of
hay.
Then followed a shout of JOY from all.
even from Pierre Floquet. as a score of
gay bronzed fellows crowded about the
now ecstatic company.
These were my old comrades Pierre
Floquet. They already know l have
gained by honest toll almost as much as
you. We are both in their power; but
they are all and always, for loyal friend
ship, at our command They will love to
know me leading on and on the right
life beside Celester
And thus happily came to its ending
the strange journey of Pierre Floquet;
for in another half hour the mountain