The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-10-29

went in to see if the place was safe. They
heard his steps upon the stones, the rat
tie OF falling plaster. The waiting was
long before he appeared and beckoned.
They followed him into the little stone
shop. A breath of GOODNESS still fingered
in the dim place, and the fruity odor of
spilled wine. The ash-covered floor was
packed hard, and still was damp from the
gusts of rain through the open door and
the broken-backed roof Steady as a clock
ticking there was heard the drip. drip"
from somewhere among the mercful sllad-
ows, where the old soldier of France was
sitting.
Lara, dearest, I should have spared
you this. Must you go farther?' Peter
whispered "Crusoe and | will be only
a moment"
II am going. too" the girl answered.
The three climbed over the heap of
stones, which was the rear doorway, and
entered the court from whence the song
birds had Gown. Across the drifts of
ash, into the dark beyond. they made their
way. Constable leading, Crusoe last.
They were sitting together-the lovers.
She had been listening, like Desdemona,
as he "spake of most disastrous chances
battles, sieges, fortunes" Soronia had
been the first to see the sinister face of
Iago at the door, She had bent forward
and covered in her arms the face of her
soldier, her painter of pictures.
Thus they had fallen--the adventurer in
the shelter of the golden vine. Pelee
had covered them with dust-each particle
of covering dust fresh-wrought from the
fire in which the stars were forged.
Don't touch, Crusoe." Peter warned.
Something in the tone caused the man
who was accustomed to do as he pleased
to forbear from his Investigations. After
ALL his own life had been spared because
Constable had taken him captive, and the
trip had paid. Crusoe did not understand
what was between the millionaire and the
revolutionist. 1t occurred to him at last
that this something must have been great
or even than dollars: yet he was not sure.
The look upon Constable's face as he led
the woman iato the Sunlight was that of
fortunes lost Crusoe left them there.
and made his own way back to Fort de
France, to wait for his ship. He was
happy to be alive, but he carried crown
ing mystery in his brain. This had to do
with a millionaires generosity on the one
hand, and a millionaire's perversity on
the other. After all, he acknowledged
that he knew less of Constable than when
he left New York.
Peter and Lara had descended nearly
to the shore when she said: IF your
strange friend had not come into our lives.
we could never have known each other as
we do now. We might have loved and
gone our way, without knowing all that
it means to be human. without knowing
all that our hearts could make US do
ut all worked out like mosaic for
you and me- Lara. Our vaiants fell about
us, but we were left. Always in our
greatest need a man arose to help-Breen.
Negley, Ernst, little Denny"
"Was there work for Pugh to do?" she
asked.
"Ah, Pugh-the weak sister. He kept
you from going into the harbor too soon !.
| shall pay him and let him go his way
tonight in Fort de France. The sea is
strange mistress to mother two such
sons as the lion Negley and the poor little
jackal Pugh. Sweetest Lady.
| am in love With you and the world .
Bear witness that l forgive Pugh-aye.
forgive Mondet. See, down the Rue
Victor-the wreck of Les Colonies. The
little editor was there. perhaps. writing
his paragraphs on the stanchness of Pc
lee. Once, Lara, my mother
said. Peter, some slime you will breathe
the breath of life" l know what she
meant now wonder how she knew
Mothers arc close to the heart Of
things"
There were tears in her eyes. To the
right of them, among the ruins, waiting
woman had found her own.
They had traversed the Morne dor
ange. The sun bathed the fields. The
wreck of the great plantation house was
hunched closer to the gs ind. AS he
neared the rim Of the cistern, Peter halted
suddenly by the stricken lianas. and beck
oned Lara back. The well curbing was
broken away. and the earth for yards sur
rounding had caved into the pit.
"Mondet was right. after all. about the
earthquake" he said.
Without speaking. they stood there for
several moments. Then Peter took her
hand and led her back toward the boat q;
the Sugar Landing.
Night had fallen. Up through the
streets of the capital. they STROBE. the
nan and woman. Easements were open
TO the stars and the sea, but the people
were dull with grief. Martinique had lost
her first-born, and Fort de France, the
gentle sister of Saint Pierre, was bowed
in the spirit of weeping. They had loved
and leaned on each other. this boy and
girl of the mother island.
Through the silent crowds Peter and
Lara walked, Il part of the silence, pass
ing the groves and towers, where the laws
of France are born again for the little
aliens; treading streets of darkness and
moaning. streets of light and tears. A
field of fire-lights shone ahead, their red
glow shining upon new canvas. This was
the little colony of Father Damien
brands plucked from the burning of Saint
Pierre. They passed the edge of the
biyouac. A woman sat nursing her babe.
freight upon her face and breast, drowsy
little ones about her. Coffee and night
air and quavering lullables; above all.
beautiful Josephine i'm marble, smiling
dreamily among the stars. 1t was the
most potent instant of Constable's life I;
some great joy or thrilling tragedy was
breathing upon his heart. He saw tear
upon the cheek of Lara. The voice of
Father Damien came from the distance:
go thy way, eat thy bread with joy.
and drink thy wine with a merry heart;
for God hath already accepted thy works.
Let tiny garments be always white; and
let not thy head lack ointment. Live
joyfully with the wife whom thou lowest.
all the days of thy life"
There was a cry from behind. 1t was
from the lips of the woman with the babe
at her breast. She had caught the gar
ments of Lara il her hands, and, half
kneeiing, with her face toward Peter, she
exclaimed in a voice of joy
''IIe is GOMEZ He is come"
The silent camp uprose with a shout of
gladness. The remnant of Saint Pierre
pressed about the man and woman, cry
ing. laughing. kissing their hands. Con-
stable had not dreamed of such glorify-