The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-12-24

which continually rests upon your spirits
1t is, as you must be aware, a matter Of
some anxiety to me. You do not deny
that, if not precisely unhappy, there is
| yet some wish to be granted--sOme desire
to be fulfilled, which could restore to you
your usual serenity"
Il will not deny it. monsieur" sh re-
turned, quietly and sadly
And you will not tell me what it is
this wish? Dear Rose, this reserve
pains me extremely. | am sure you would
not wish to cause me moments dis
| quiet, and yet you unconsciously give me
the utmost apprehension. You confide
neither in Helen nor Louis; then | en-
! treat You to be, at least frank with me.
Is it anything which | can do to crafty
you. my child?'
Indeed. ! scarcely think So" answered
Rose; II do not think any one here could
| bring me what | wish 1t is
| Rose. l think l know what you wish.
| have thought of it more than Once-Of
! the very subject, doubtless, upon which
you are secretly dwelling at this moment.
| 1ou have not seen your father in long
| time. You are about to take most i'm
portant step, and you wish to see him,
| to tell him of all this. Is it not sou
The tears quietly escaped from the
young girls downcast eyes.
1T is true, monsieur | wished to see
him. | could not forget him in my hap
piness-my poor father
And it was very natural, dear Rose,
that you should not. Neither did for
| get him: but l hardly knew where he
could be found"
hat cha
land it was partly ON that account that
| have been silent all this while
| And the good marquis could easily com
prehend the restraint that had also been
instrumental in preventing her from Civ
| ing utterance to the wish she had so long
and sorrowfully cherished. Much as she
loved them all, she had shrunk from re-
minding them, in their seeming forget
fulness, that while her future was occu-
pying them continually, that her father,
poor and homeless and forgotten, might
be glad to clasp his only child once more
in his arms and breathe fathers bless
ing over her.
They had not quite forgotten it, how
ever; and now that her desire was made
known. the marquis and Louis We're
equally anxious to seek for him. Though
nothing absolute was known concerning
his whereabouts, there was some reason
for believing that he had gone to Lyons,
and a faint hope of finding him there.
Accordingly the matter was taken into
consideration.
1t was about this time that the Count
and Countess de Clairville. with Lord Egg
ertOn. had arranged to continue their
route to Paris, and as they had been en-
deavoring to persuade their host and his
family to accompany them and spend the
time with them there until their return,
before the union Of Rose and Louis, it
was decided to adopt the proposed plan
and remain some days at Lyons on the
way, in order, if possible, to hear some-
thing concerning Hugh Lamonte.
This course having been fixed upon,
preparations were Immediately commence
ed for the journey. The Countess de
Clairville could not suppress her joy at
this arrangement. Rose began to re-
cover the gentle vivacity and animation
natural to her; and Louis charmed at
observing the change, was the happiest
of men.
And how was it with Helen Montau-
ban: 1t was well known that she was
pleased with this arrangement. She had
expressed her satisfaction more than once
in abiding to it, and took an active part
In the preparations making for the &C.
caslon. But there was no one in all that
party-nOt even Rose LamOnte herself,
seeking tidings of her father-who took
so deep an interest in the thoughts Of
this journey. For Helen MOntauban had
purpose-the bare skeleton of plan as
yet-Over which she had been brOOking
in secrecy and silence through many a
day past. Her desire, her thirst for re-
venge. was fierce and unquenchable.
Long had she been meditating upon the
mode of it's fulfillment; but her hands
had been in a measure bound; the neces-
sary facilities for action were difficult
to be attained. Now, however. means of
forwarding her wretched scheme were
at hand: the approaching journey opened
to her ways and means that she only too
eagerly snatched at With calm and un-
impassioned deliberati ton which but as
sured more terrible consummation Of
her hateful design, she meditated upon
the new assistance afforded her now; she
looked forward to the method to be
adopted, and CAREFUL made her calcu-
Enthusiastically and coolly. She had
no fear-nO hesitation. Hers were strong
passiOns-strong and fiery, and deep and
deadly as well. Love and hate had equal
violence when reused in her breast; the
love was forgotten now; the hate was
uppermost; it was meat and drink to
her; it had turned her heart to steel.
Compassion, tenderness, pity-all were
banished. The iends themselves could
plot no more mercilessly than this wom-
uvho bod Ior
object.