Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1901-10-24
CHAPTER Xlv.-tContiuuedJ

back to the shore. Tardif shall row us
to the caves, and l will take you into
them. and then we two will return along
the cliffs. Would you like that, man
selle?'
Every much," she answered, the smile
still playing about her face. II was
brown and freckled with exposure to the
sun, but so full of health and life as to
be doubly beautiful to ME, who saw 80
many wan and sickly faces.
doctor" said Tardifs deep. grave
voice behind me. your mother, Is sne
better?''
1t was like the sharp prick Of pom
lard, which presently you knew must
pierce your heart.
The one moment Of rapture had fed.
The Paradise that had been about me ior
an instant, with no hint Of pain. faded
out of nv sight. But Olivia remained.
and her face grew sad. and her voice low
and sorrowful. as she leaned forward to
speak to me.
II have been SO grieved for you.' she
said. "Your mother came to see me once
and promised to be my friend"
We said no more for some minutes, and
the splash of the oars in the water was
the only sound. Olivia's air continued
sad, and her eyes were downcast, as II
she shrank from looking me in the race.
pardon me. doctor" said Tardif in our
own dialect which Olivia could not I'M
derstand, II have made you sorry wneh
you were having little gladness. IL
your mother very ill?"
"There is no hope, Tardif," l answered.
looking round ut his honest and hand
aome face, full Of concern for me.
MAY l speak to you as m old friend:
no asked. You love nam zelle, and you
are come to tell her 500"
"What makes you think that?" said.
NJ see 1t in your face" he answered.
lowering his voice, though he knew Olivia
could not tell what we were saying.
"Your marriage with mademoiselle your
cousin was broken off-why? DO you
suppose | did not guess? knew it from
the first week you stayed with US. No
body could see mam'zeIle as we see ner
without loving her."
1.-The Sark folks say you are in love
with her yourself, Tardif." l said, almost
against my will.
His lips contracted and his face sad
dened, but he met my eyes frankly.
ut is true" he answered.; but wnat
then? Ii it had only pleased God To
make me like you, or that she should DC
Of my class, l would have done my ut.
most to win her. But that is Impossible.
See, am nothing else than servant IN
her eyes. do not know how to be any
thing else, and am content. She Is as
tar above my reach as one OF the white
clouds up yonder. To think OF myself US
anything but her servant would be ire
Igious."
"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 it, 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 is 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 it VIII
be quite different between her and you"
II hope So" thought to myself.
''You do not feel like servant" he
continued, his oars dipping 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 it and feel it. 1t would
be fitting for you to be her husband; 1t
would be shame to her to become my
wife,"
"Are you grieved about it, Tardif" !
asked.
mo. no." he answered.; I'VE have al
ways been good friends, you and l, doc
tor. No. you shall marry her, and will
be happy. l will come to visit you some
times, and she will call me her good Tar
diff. That is enough for me-"
At last we gained one Of the entrances
to 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," l said, you need not wait
for us. We will return by the cliffs"
"You know the caves as we'll as do!"
he replied. though in doubtful tone.
"All right" | said. as l swung over the
side Of the boat into the water, when l
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 Tardif?" she
asked, lingering, and hesitating before
she would trust herself to me.
almost, If not altogether" l answer
ed gaily. I'm strong enough to under
take to carry you without wetting the
soles of your feet. Come, it is not more
than half dozen yards"
She was standing on the bench had
lust 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 l. put my arms round her, and lift
ed her down.
you are quite as light as feather"
! said, laughing, as l carried her to the
strip Of moist and humid strand under
the archway in the rocks. As put her
down l looked back to Tardf. and saw
him regarding us with grave and sorrow.
ful eyes.
"Adieu" he cried; II am going to look
after my lobster pots. God bless yor
both!'
He spoke the last words heartily: and