Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-02-07

Pierre, and remembered having seen
him az work with the others. He
showed his callous hands, his soiied
clothing: and suddenly. before he had
spoken. as she saw the look of gentle
sadness which he gave her, she burst
into a fit of tears.
He. finding nothing to say knelt be-
side her, allowing her to weep, only
pressing the young woman's hand the
tighter at each sob, with an express
sion of anguish On his face.
Gradually she became calm. She
heard him saying things the mean
ing OF which escaped her, leaving her
only the sensation of a vague and
very gentle murrlur that lulled her
into childlike docility. And she suf-
fered herself tc be led away, almost
unconscious, re, full of precautions
and attentions, addressing her in
caressing tones, as though she were
an invalid. while, from time to time
also. she stopped to heave long signs
that sudd :nly broke into tears, after
which her head would drop upon the
mans shoulder.
Days passed. The quarrymen were
lost, AID undiscoverable. dead, it was
declared, crushed by the rocks. This
thought was a satisfaction to Claud-
inc. IN the long idle hours in which
the Ie things were talked over, she
listened silently, in mournful atti-
tu9es. finding gradually soothing
re she seemed to awake as from
long sleep, and to return from a great
distance; and at the same time, in
sensibly, the exigencies of life pre-
scented themselves to her mind she
began to live again, with the progress
sive growth of a slow fear, that of
poverty and solitude.
Then she became interested in the
news, in the subscriptions opened for
the relief of the victims. And sud-
denly she had a feeling of rest, al
most of joy, when Pierre, returning
from the city, told her that the sums
subscribed were sufficient to warrant
an annuity for the widows. and that
she had been allowed one of 600
francs.
Then, idle and patiently awaiting
events. she daily returned to the quar-
ries. Often Pierre accompanied her,
with his accustomed gentleness. There
they spoke in low voices and walked
with muffled tread, respectful of the
grave. In these habitual visits as to
cemetery, where both went, over
the hillside, through the melancholy
of the thick woods, under the per-
petual influence of the same thoughts.
Claudine's tears gradually ceased to
flow. Insensibly they arrived at con-
versations and slow and gentle rever-
les in which new possibilities began
to shape themselves.
Gradually weight was lifted from
the young woman's breast; the hori-
zon, long confined, enlarged about
her, and in the trembling dawn Of a
new future there was a new and in
dsfinable impression that grow RAJ
idly in the penetrating charm of ST.
lense. Little by little, in the heat
OF summer, under the breath of tie
treus, her sorrow wore away, and Ia
inevitable death vanished in the dis.
lance, while slowly, like sap, new
love grew up that irradiated and en-
veloped them, but of which they
dared not speak, out of respect fol
the grave which enabled them to med
itate.
"Claudine," said the man at last.
Pierre"
Suppose we marry?"
ut has been only two months. II
said she, suddenly becoming sad.
"Oh, do not hurry you. l NEAR,
later would your"
YES" she sighed, later"
Thenceforth 1t was an understood
thing between them. upon which then
thought centered more and more, az
cording the dead only friendly mem
DRY, a feeling of tender gratitude
They began to make plans. They
wandered about in their accustomed
walks with the manners of open loe
ers; and soon, upon the hillside tomb
amid the entwinings of the flowers
laughter was heard, and then kisses
One evening they went among the
rocks loosened by the disaster. Therc
in the gentle warmth Of the twilight
in their slow reverie of peasants, tsss
locked through the trees below at The
glittering of a stream, and. farther
on, at the windings of the white Rad
and the surrounding hills that inclo SEQ
them in vast amphitheatre.
Suddenly a strange noise startled
them. 1t was in the ground benelt
them, like the stirring of beast a
the bottom of hole. They bent orei
the edge of crevice; and there the
noise, more distinct, seemed to item
like the desperate clambering o. {
man in a narrow ditch. At first they
were transfxed by fear of the un
known; then at the same time ths
the same though struck them--ths
thought OF the quarrymen busieC
alive.
From the bottom an appeal rose
far away, yelled. almost. breath.
1T is he," Kissed Claudine, hel
knees trembling.
Pierre was fairly livid as b,
Strengthened up. Hei then dead al