Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1908-10-16
CHAPTER III-(Continuedl


, stable was thinking that he would have
Journeyed across the world to study
laboring monster, like Pelee in his pres
ent stress. but the idea of the girl being
in the shadow of danger took all the
relish from the work.
Il should prefer to hear you discuss the
treachery of volcanoes outside of the fire
zone," she said, shiverng. ITS like
listening to ghost stories in a haunted
house"
III tell you the best way out of It,"
he declared. 81 don't say that Pelee is
about to rise and rend Saint Pierre, but
want to take you all out to sea for a
few days. The Madame will behave her
prettiest with you on board"
Il can't imagine anything finer, but
you know mother is not graceful sail
or"
Unfortunately, any effort of mine to
prevail upon her might spoil Matters"
Constable said.
''but it will be something of a conquest
for any one to shake her trust in Pelee
Still I'll do what | cam
"And I'll begin work tonight upon
Uncle Joey. BY the way, Miss Stans-
bury" he added in a lowered voice, don't
you think that if | chose to stay here in
Saint Pierre, your mother. might consent
more Willingly to try few days on the
Madame? You know Pelee is more than
ever interesting to me now"
THAT would be entirely unthinkable,"
she replied hastily.
Pelee rumbled again, and the girls fin
gers frightened upon his arm. The heavy
wooden shutters of the plantation house
ratified in the windless night the ground
upon which they stood seemed to vince
at the monsters pain. The man was con-
scious of the fragrance of roses and mag
nolia blooms above the acrid taint of the
air. 1t was as if, through some strange
freak of the atmosphere, a pressure was
exerted upon the flowers, forcing sud-
den expulsion of perfume. The young
moon was a elbow, formless bloteh in the
fouled sky. A sigh like the whimpering
of sick child was audible from the ser
wants cabins behind the big house.
You'll plead with your mother to-
night?" he whispered, as they walked
back.
Mrs. Stansbury was ON the porch. Her
nicely modulated voice, as she spoke to
her daughter, struck Constable with
cold force. The women went indoors.
Breen and Uncle Joey were in conversa-
ton. Constable drew his chair to the
north end of the porch, and faced the
mountain-a vast black beast couchant
under the dim stars. Since he had gazed
In that direction from the ship the night
before, the whole purpose of his life had
changed. Then he had asked no sweeter
favor of the Fates than to be permitted
to observe the giants struggle to contain
the fury of his fluids. Now his thoughts
were magnetized by a new substance
the substance of fear. Self, the tribune
of all his reckonings heretofore, had been
lifted from his brain, as a familiar vol
ume is lifted from its case.
II knew it." he muttered. 81 knew it
five years ago-that | should come back
here some day, look upon that girl, and
become a raver like other men. To think
that could stay away from her q year
at time ~
He regarded the double chain of lights
out in the harbor-the Madame pulling
at her moorings among the lesser craft,
like|a lustrous empress in the midst of
dusky maid-servants. Between the black
mountain and the illumined ship stretched
a battle. 1t was his own particular bat
tie. His name was called from the lists.
To win was to run away. The old mas
tering complication was his at last. Yes
terday splendid contribution to the i'm
perfect records of seismology, such as
was now within his grasp, was identified
with his highest ambition. To-day the
safety of the woman lowered above it,
head of tourist. He was afraid Of Pc
lee. Breen drew over to him and sat
down upon the railing.
whats on your mind, Peter?"
"a mountain" said Constable.
Rain did not fall in the night and
Constable was abroad with the dawn,
regarding the white world and the source
of the phenomenon, with the sketchy
tints of earliest morning upon the huge
eastern slope. He had slept little, and
that with his face turned to the north.
He would scarcely close his eyes before
a cortege of volcanoes would pass before
him, as in a dream-all the destroyers
of history, each with vivid individuality,
like the types of faces Of all nations
the story of each, and the smear it had
made of men and the works of men.
Most of them had given warning. Pc
lee was warning now. His warning was
written upon the veins Of every leaf,
painted upon the curve of every blade of
grass, sheeted evenly white upon the tiles
of every roof. Gray dust blown by steam
from the bursting quarries of the noun
tain, clogging the cutters of the city, and
the throats of men! 1t was a moving
white cloud in the rivers, a chalky shad-
ing that marked the highest reach of the
harbor tide. 1t settled in the hair of the
children and complicated the toll of the
bees in the nectar-cups Of the roses. With
leapue-long cerements and in a voice that