The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1903-03-13

INC nonrse Rurghng edoleo sW1rIi0l
!so cruelty around.
Jean-Pierre. the Norman fisherman
had given up his scattering life Il
watch over the baby girl whose love
illness had grown with each addet
year.
There had been times when Jean
Pierre missed the dash Of the sal
spume of the North sea In his face
and the roll Of it's pillows under thu
keel Of his boat. and the boat song
OF his companions a. the feet sped
onward to the fishing grounds.
IL was for that reason he had %
lected the isolated house on the bat.
ture. around which the river spread
in foaming sea one dag when. leav'
ing the big ocean liner, with his
brown-eyed girl in his arm. he
walked along the lcvee, feeling Z
stranger in a strange land.
II often happened that DEL" -
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-Pierrc ran down to the gulf
for better fishing, or to work with
the oyster goelettes.
In the summer 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 lsvee,
dashed in little wavelets against the
steps and rustled the willows sigh
ingly, old Marie took to chanting
cantiqued in 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 next evening.
On the other side of the river Q
young man stood impatiently urging
a boatman to row MIN across in .
skif which looked like child's play
thing as it swayed and rocked on the
edge of the broad expansc Of turbid
water.
"Now, look here, I must get over
to the city. That boat is all right.
Get out your oars 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 very little heed to
the vigorous strokes of Ben Barton's
long oars.
When well out from the shore
Hugh was better able to understand
the boatman's reluctance to make
the crossing.
1t was wild and tempestuous
night, and when the frail boat was
fairly in the current of the stream
he sweep of the wind was terrific.
Hugh had an engagement to call on |
! very pretty woman, who was just |
It that time specializing as to
or not the increasing storm
would keep him away, while adding
"a In. II. A.. l.. IL
md artistic toilet.
Dorothy Cameron decided that he
ertainly would come, in spite Of the
lowl of the wind, deadened by the
hick walls and heavy curtains. nor
vas the black gloom of the night at
ii appreciable, in the brilliantly lit
Dom, for Dorothy Cameron lived in
ne Of the handsomest houses on the
venue.
Yes, there were strong reasons why
c should call that evening. Dorothy
bought, with a contented smile,
lille contemplating her rosy, well
olished nails, and the glitter Of her
Ings, as she stood before the fire.
lace in the drawing room.
The bell rang and a caller was
shered in, but it was not Hugh. and
lille chatting Of the mid-winter CO.
lion, carnival balls and the latest On
It's and engagements in the world
'shonable, Dorothy's ear was
'rained TO catch the sound OF the
osing Of the hall door. Others
Popped in. for Dorothy was q social
ader; evening waned, but Hugh was
,t one of them. Dorothy was fever
hly gay, and a brilliant color made
r more lovely than usual, and no
lie could possibly guess, that hid !
hind her wit and laughter. there
rs keen distress, for after those !.
hispered words in her box at the
'era last night and the permission
'anted to call he SO significantly
licited. surely she had the right to
pcct the words she longed to hear.
From others they were irkscme.
It Hugh-well. Hugh for this fasci-
ting and brilliant social light was
e one human being who could fill .
e world with joy. without him +
Dorothy waited with growing an
ish mingled with anger. But Hugh
! not come.
Her callers dropped of. one by one, I,
G hours grew late. and ringing to :,