Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1909-02-12

SbAuVluR III tuG upper halfway sue
heard what passed between Breen And
the planter at the front door. Why did
not Uncle Joey demand extenuating cir
cumstances? She was sure that Breen
would have dropped some hint, at least,
of Constable's part in the mysterious al
lance, had it not been for the barbed
iron of the others words. Lara's palms
ached from the pressure of her nails.
She did not go downstairs to luncheon,
but often crossed the hall, entering Con
stables room to look at the mountain and
cityward along the smoky highway. In
one of these watches she saw the little
black carriage of Father Damien APP
preaching. He would have driven by, but
she ran below and called to him from the
veranda:
"Come in and rest a minute, father. Is
there any good to tell?"
Every little, Lara. The gray curse is
on Saint Pierre, indeed. have grown
afraid for my people, and am warming
them to seek refuge in Fort de France.
Your guest suggested this step, and has
helped nobly with money to care for the
people fleeing to the capital"
She drew from him an account OF his
meeting with Constable on the highway
in the morning. He told her, too, how the
young man had sent sick native mothers
| and their children out to the ship for
| refuge from the heat and sulphur fumes,
and of the large sums Of money he had
volunteered for the care of the favored
few who fed to Fort de France. Lara
bent her head forward toward the priest.
"And what do you think of this man,
father?" she questioned suddenly.
The old mans mild gaze fell before the
glowing eyes of the girl. II did not
think when l first met him that he was
gifted with such ZEAL" he answered
weakly.
Where is he now, Father DamienP
''That I cannot tell, dear. We have
not seen him since morning. Some say
that he has gone to Morne Rouge; others
that he has assembled to the craters of
Pelee.'
She sprang up, but repressed the ex
clamation upon her lips Her mother had
entered.
Good morning, Father Damien" Mrs.
Stansbury said pleasantly. us Lara re-
hearsing private theatricals for your?
The priest made haste to depart, saying
that he was on the way to Fort de France
with the money Constable had given, to
make the refugees there as comfortable
as possible The ladies followed him to
the door. 1t happened that the old man
faced Lara as he said:
II hope it may be false rumor that
your friend has sought the craters oil
Pelee. Such services as his we cannot
afford to do without. There Is power in
the man"
81 think l have felt it, father" the
girl answered quietly.
"What does this mean, this talk Of
friend in connection with the confrere Of
a theft? Mrs Stansbury asked.
81 did not bubble in the use of the
word"
do you count as a friend one WHIT
, would try to put you aboard ship which
, bears the reputation of the Madame d.
Stael?-one who would bring to our houst
the notorious Nicholas Stembridge%
'You were also invited to go, remem
ber."
my dear child, you are overweight
cannot believe that you are appealed t,
by this sudden interest of his in your vel
! fare; nor that you dreamed of accepting
terms that would have frightened ou
Domremy saint who braved wars"
al do not like your talk of terms, moth
: err. There were no terms. Mr.. Constable
: asked me to board his ship, that nigh
be safe. His care for my welfare is no
, important in this talk"
= do you think you would be safe to g
= with him"
"Safe as the sea-safe as the blacl
women and their babies now crowded up
on the terrible de Stael! do not car
to talk further. You have followed you
inclinations regarding Mr.. Constable, an
.. until now I have allowed your inclination
: to be mine. l am guilty as you are o
outraging the sensibilities of a man VIII
. deserves at least the consideration of
: gentlewoman. shall learn the trut
about these reports, and If they are a
: false in substance as believe, l shal
make up for my incivilities."
Mrs. Stansbury felt that here was
resistance no less formidable than sudden
1t must be crushed, of course, but tn
present moment was not propitious. Sh
laughed gently.
Ito be continued.)