Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1901-10-24
CHAPTER xIv.-tcontiuued.l

Duck 10 the hnufe. thIulI tnhi K"W ""
20 the caves. and | viii take you Into
them, and then we two will return along
the cliffs. Would you like that, man
seller
"very much." abe answered, the smile
Btill playing about her face. II was
brown aud freckled with exposure 20 the
sun. but 40 full Of health and life ~ TO
bo doubly beautiful 20 me, who saw 80
many wan and sickly faces.
Doctor" said Tardlfs deep, grave
voice behind me, 'your mother, IL she
betterf"
II was like the sharp prick OF q pom
lard, which presently you knew must
pierce your heart.
The one moment OF rapture had lied.
The Paradise that had been about me for
an Instant, with no hint OF pain, faded
out OF my sight. But Olivia remained
and her face grew sad, and her voice low
and sorrowful, as she leaned forward 70
speak 10 me,
II have been 40 grleved for you" she
said. "Your mother came to see me once,
aud promised to be my friend"
We said no more for some minutes, and
the splash OF the oars la the water was
the only sound. oliyia's air continued
sad, and her eyes were downcast. as "
ahe Hhrank from looking me In the face.
"Pardon me, doctor" said Tardlf In our
own dialect which olivia could not un.
derstand. II have made you sorry when
you were having little giadness. sh
your mother very mr.
"There IL no hope. TardIf," ! answered
looking round at his honest and hand
some face, full OF concern for me.
''May speak TO you rs an old friendF
ke asked. "You lows mam'Eelle, and you
are come 10 tel her sof'
"WhAt makes you think thatT said.
IL see II In your face" he answered,
lowering his voice, though he knew Olivia
could not tell what we were saying.
''Your marriage with mademolsello your
cousin was broken ofE-why? DO you
suppose | did not gueasl knew Il from
the HrAt week you stayed with US. No
body could see mam'gello as We see her
without loving her."
"rhe Sark folks say you are In love
with her yourself, Tardif," said, almost
against my viii.
His lips contracted and his face sad
dened, but he met my eyes frankly.
"It IL true" he answered; but what
thenl II II had only pleased God to
make me like you. or that she should be
OF my class, would have done my ut
most 10 win her. But that Is lmpossiblel
See, | am nothing else than n servant In
her eyea. do not know how to be any
thing else. and am content. She is as
far above my reach as one OF the white
clouds up yonder. To think Of myself ~
anything but her servant would be irre'
llgIous."
"You are a good fellow, Tardif." ex-
claimed.
"God Is the judge Of that" he said
with a Sigh. MAN zelle thinks OF me
only as her servant. My good Tardif, do
this, or do that like II. do not
know any happier moment than when !
hold her little boots In my hand and
brush them. You see she Is as helpless
and tender as my little wife was; but
she IL very much higher than my poor
little wife. Yes, love her as love the
blue sky, and the white clouds, and the
stars shining In the night. But II will
be quite different between her and you.'
II hope So" thought to myself.
"You do not feel like a servant" he
continued, his oars dipping a little too
deeply and setting the boat a-rocking.
"By.and-by, when you are married, she
will look up to you and obey you. do
not understand altogether why the good
God has made this difference between US
two; but see II and feel 1t. II would
be AttinR for you to be her husband; It
would be- shame to her to become my
wife,"
Are you grieved about 1t, TardifY !
asked.
mo, no." he answered; 1--WE have al
ways been good friends, you and |, doc
tor. No, you shall marry her, and l will
be happy. will come to visit you some.
times, and she will call me her good Tar
dif. That Is enough for me.
At last we gained one of the entrances
70 the caves, but we could not pull the
boat quite up to the strand. A few PAGES
OF shallow water, clear as glass, with
pebbles sparkling like gems beneath 1t,
lay between us and the caves.
'Tardif," said, "yod need not wait
for us. We will return by the cliffs"
'You know the caves as we'll as dor
he replied, though In doubtful tone.
"All right" said, as | swung over the
side OF the boat into the water, when
found myself knee-deep, Olivia looked
from me to Tardif with a flushed face
an augury that made my pulses leap.
Why should her face never change when
he carried her In his arms? Why should
she shrink from me?
"Are you as strong as TardifT" she
asked, lingering, and hesitating before
she would trust herself to me.
almost, II not altogether" answer
ed gaily. "Im strong enough to under
take to carry you without wetting the
soles Of your feet. Come, 1t Is not more
than half dozen yards"
She was standing on the bench had
Just left, looking down at me with the
same vivid flush upon her cheeks and
forehead, and with an uneasy expression
in her eyes. Before she could speak
again put my arms round her, and lift
ed her down.
"You are quite as light as feather"
/ said, laughing, as | carried her to the
strip Of moist and humid strand under
the archway In the rocks AS put her
down looked back to Tardif, and saw
him regarding us with grave and sorrow
ful eyes.
"Adieup' he cried; II am going to look
after my lobster pots. God bless yor
bothp'
he spoke the last words heartily; and
we stood watching him as long as he was
In sight. Then we went on into the
caves.
had known the caves we'll when
was boy, but 1t was many years since