The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-03-13

SO cruelty around.
J~ean-Picrre. the Norman fisherman,
had given up his seafaring life to
watch over the baby girl whose love
illness had grown with each added
year.
There had been times when Jean
Pierre missed the dash of the salt
spumc of the North sea in his face,
and the roll of it's pillows under the
keel of his boat, and the boat songs
of his companions as the fleet sped
onward to the fishing grounds.
1t wa for that reason he had Sc
lected the isolated house on the bat
ture, around which the river spread
in q foaming SCI one day when. leav-
ing the big oAan liner, with his
br~own-eyed sSs in his arm, he
walked along the levee, feeling a
stranger in a strange land.
1t often happened that "Del," as
Jean-Pierre lovingly called her, was
left alone with old Marie, their one
servant, until late hours of the night.
sometimes for several days, while
Jean-Pierre ran down to the gulf
for better fishing. or to work with
the oyster goelettes.
In the summe time the willows
were bright and green, and the bat
ture animated, and Delphine sang her
plaintive Norman songs, read and did
pretty work and played on her man
dolin. and she and old Marie were
contented and happy.
But on this cold. bleak December
afternoon, when the swollen tide
washed sullenly against the levee,
dashed in little wavelets against the
steps and rustled the willows sigh
ingly. old Marie took to chanting
cantiqued in a dull monotone, while
attending to her household duties. to
drown the moaning of the wind, and
Delphine, in spite of her books and
CHEEKY fire, felt distinctly dull and
forlorn-for Jean-Pierre would not
come home until the neNt evening.
On the other side of the river a
young man stood impatiently urging
Il hoatman to row him across in a.
slif which looked like a child's play
thing as it swayed and rocked on the
edge of the broad eNpansc of turbid
water.
"Now, look here, I must get over
to the city. That boat is all right.
Get out Your bars and name your
price" said Hugh Compton, stepping
in and sitting down and taking hold
of the tiller.
The man. thus urged. looked up at
the sky, pointed to the clouds sour
rying over from the north, and with
a shake of the head. got in, united
the rope and pushed off.
A gust of wind dashed a handful
of rain in Hugh's face, the skiff rode
and danced, as the current, catching
it in its strong grasp, swept it furi-
ously along. paying cry little heed to
the vigorous strokes of Ben Barton's
long oars.
When we'll out from the shore
Hugh was better able to understand
the boatman's reluctance to make
the crossing.
1t was a wild and tempestuous
night, and when the frail boat was
fairly in the current of the stream
the sweep of the wind was terrific.
Hugh had an engagement to call on
a very pretty woman, who was just
at that time specializing as to
whether or not the increasing storm
would keep him away, while adding
a few last touches to her elaborate
and artistic toilet.
Dorothy Cameron decided that he
certainly would come, in spite of the
howl of the wind. deadened by the
thick walls and heavy curtains. nor
the black gloom of the night at
all ~appreciable, in the brilliantly lit
room, for Dorothy Cameron lived in
one of the h-andsomest houses on the
avenue.
Yes. there were strong reasons why
he should call that evening. Dorothy
thought. with a contented smile,
while contemplating her rosy, well
polished nails, and the glitter of her
rings. as she stood before the FIRE
place in the drawing room.
pNA AanS AAN d Cail0f was
ushered in, but it was not Hugh. and |
while chatting of the mid-winter CO.
tillon, carnival balls and the latest on
dts and engagements in the world
fashionable, Doroths's ear was
strained to catch the sound of the
of the hall door. Others
dropped in. for Dorothy was a social
leader; evening waned. but Hugh was
one of them. Dorothy was fever
gay. and a brilliant color made
her more lovely than usual. and no
one could possibly guess, that hid
behind her wit and laughter, there
was . keen distress, for after those
words in her box at the |
opera last night and the permission
granted to call he so significantly
solicited, surely she had the right to
expect the words she lenged to hear.
From Others they were irksome.
But Hugh-well. Hugh for this fasci-
and brilliant social light was
The n human being who could I'LL
world with joy. Without him-
Dorothy waited with growing an
suish mingled with anger. But Hugh