The record-union., 1894-12-08

! conjectures at last brought me with fixed
| purpose face to face with Pierre Floquet.
We were sitting quite alone between the
anchor aud the jib.
/ Pierre" L asked, laying my hand
! gently upon his broad shoulder, will
you answer me truly one question:"
w lth my heart challenged thrice be-
fore my lips shall speakn' he radiantIy
| answered.
! wv here is Gaspar Valdes?"
have seen in southern latitudes a
! glowing sky quickly overspread with the
black furleS OF the tempest, but never be-
| lore or since have l seen the face of hu-
man so swiftly changed from light to
darkness, from tranknoss to distrust from
loving TO peace to deadly bate.
'Gaspar Naldes, the fisher of Concar-
| neau!" l unialterIng1y added.
Impeiuously he made the sign of the
cross. With bound he sprang to his
! ieet. lie Hung his massive cienched fists
! before him, behind him, above him, as if
! TO beat out the very wrath OF some ab-
hOrrent recollection.
Then he began TO speak in shrill,
! screaming key. He suddenly ceased
/ plunged 10 the right and left backward
and forward, and whirled around and
around.
This spent, ne turned as if in furious
mood, to leave me alone.
"Pierre!-Pierre Floquet?" I said with
the lnHeXIon OF quiet but determined
! command.
lie swung around again and came close
/ 10 me IKE repentant child. He locke
! long and searchingly into my face, as if,
/ thought, to know ii his trust in me could
! be complete. Then, as he slowly nodded
ms great curly head, he muttered tremu-
! lOusIy:
"Gaspar valdes ?-Gaspar valdes II
! nope his soul iS-With his Godr'
/ "A ment' | said GDIap,ply-
And amen again!' he added as
though the storm within his shaggy
| breast was almost done.
then knew the fate of Gaspar Valdes:
;, could dlmly understand the wild and al
| most savage content of such nature in
! the certainty OF never again meeting a
deadly Toe, and realizing for q time at
least was in the power of man whose
| very love was almost as dangerous as his
hate, said quickly and soothingly:
'1 ou will be happier for having told
me this. That he is gone is best for all
| all poor but Ceieste!''
knowing now what she knew, the pa
thetic tragedy Of her heart sunk deeply
! into mine.
| But Pierre Floquet was laughing mer-
! rily in another moment.
Celeste is young. 1t is easy for the
! young to forget. | will give her to you!
Make her remember only that you are
L
my Marthe!''
Even while our hands were grasped he
! was departing 10 the cabin TO convey
: these astounding commands to his wife.
AT that moment Celeste appeared in the
companion way OF the cabin. She stood
! upon the steps, not seeing US while we
| regarded her, her dlmpled hands resting
on the hatch, her fair head bent back
across, its upper edge in vagarous, idle
| mood, her whole little 1.-the figure poised
forward eXquisitely.
"See!-See! Is she not beautiful enough
| for you? Make her forget! Celeste, come
| here!"
The little figure cleared the steps at a
leap and ran forward to US, so marvel
! ously obedient for what she knew, |
! thought! SO fair and demure and brave
Notwithstanding this consuming scourge
/ within her!
Celeste" began Pierre Floauet. with
a rogulsh laugh, Il have given you to
our stranger friend. He is learned and
ilne aud grandly above the fisher lads
| you know. If he shall make love to
! you, Celeste, Pierre and Marine shall not
! see 1t, nor rue it-so his loving or YOUR
| loving makes you torgetv"
| lie left, roaring with such loud laughter
! that we could still hear its hearty ONT
! bursts after he had reached Marthe in the
! depths of the cabin below, and obedient
/ 10 my gesture of invitation Celeste sat
| down beside me upon the iron anchor
shank.
$50 we are to be lovers, Celeste?" l said
! kindly but teazlngly to my pretty little
! companion.
Rather Pierre has so bidden," was her
! quiet reply, but her eyes were averted
and downcast.
Would you have it as he has said, Ce-
| lester"
| l do not know why I so tormented the
helpless thing. But was l not at sea-
shut closely within the confines of few
! square yards OF schooner's beam, with
| naught but dalliance now TO relieve the
monotony OF my strange imprison-
| ment? 1t was a human if not a noble
thing to do.
Yes and no." finally came with a
DAINTY flush mantling her pretty cheeks.
why, yes, Celeste?"
ITO comfort Father Pierre"
And why nO?'
because if one loves there can be but
one in the heart"
And there is already one in Celeste's
| hearth"
Ever but one!"
| She turned her beautiful eyes full upon
| my own face now. They were abiaze
| with the loyalty and sanctity OF a perfect
! devotion. Our natures are so complex
and strange that now said with a tinge
/ of bitterness:
| "And that one is Gaspar Valdes?"
sit is none other!'
But Gaspar Valdes is dead?" per-
| sisted.
dead. I fear, to all but Celestev'
| She cast furtive glances toward the omen
! hatchway and toward the companion
! hatch, where her fathers curly head was
now appearing, followed by his JOYOUS
face as he saw US in such earnest con-
verse.
lyon have a noble soul, Celeste. and I
half love you myself Tor your fidelity to
the dead. Make what you wish clear and
plain to me-"
Her face glowed with trustful happi-
ness as she said with perfect frank
ness:
I'VE will each seem to love the other.
! We will be as-as are ClothiIde and Ce-
leste-only caring always that it does not
come to harm.''
Here the tremulousness of forebodipp
seemed to possess her.
Gan you love me that way that
much?" she asked appealingly.
es, yes, yes. With all my heartp'
NO, no! Never with all your heart,
| Only with your words and ways before
Father Pierre. ! shall then almost ever
love you for such help!'
All, thought, this poor distraught soul
needs unselfish kindliness now. 1t is
much TO hear her secret knowledge of
| others crime-more 10 have welded the
| hopelessness of despair.
| 1T shall be so, Celeste; just as you have