The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1912-11-28

"a sanguinarE nharacter!" Eul lie
0thor's '@u"h r-.'- false
alas, such wicLeunagG! But I was
too content; the rose-coyered cottage
too comfortable; its garden, an Eden.
1t was more meet | should be driven
forth; go out into the highways, where
I found-such misery! l reproached
myself l had not sought it sooner
voluntarily From north to south
peasants dying, women and children
starving, no one to administer the last
rites-on every side, work, work for
the outcast priest! For ten years it
has occupied him-a blessed privi-
lege-"
And then" the young man, who
had seemed absorbed in other
thoughts, hardly listening, looked me-
chanically up, you came back?"
"A weakness OF age! To see the
old place once more! The little
church; Gods acre at it's side; to
stand on the hill at Verranch and look
out last time over the beautiful
vale toward the Mount" Briefly he
paused. yet l am glad l yielded to
the temptation; otherwise should l
not have met your old servant, San
chez; who told NE all--how you had
long been looking for me, and ar
ranged our meeting for that day-on
the island of Casque!"
But not" the young mans de-
meanor at once became intent; his
eyes cleaned with sudden fierce
lights, for what followed"
The priest sighed. Shall I ever
forget it? The terrible night, the
troop-ship, the killed and wounded.
And the poor fellows taken prison
ers! can not but think of them and
their fate. What will it be-"
The other did not answer; only i'm
patiently moved his injured arm and,
regarding him. the down-turned. dark
countenance. the knit brows, quickly
the priest changed the subject of con-
versation
In the large room some one began
to play, and before the fire, where
now the birds were turning and the
serving-lad, with long spoon was
basting, the dark-browed girl started
TO dance. At the side of the hearth
old Pierre smoked stoldly, gazed at
the Goals, and dreamed-perhaps of
the past, and dangers he had himself
encountered, or OF the present, and his
ships cattered-where?- profit
able if precarious errands Somberly,
in no freer mood than on the occasion
of their first visit to the inn, the crew
looked on; but a tall, sayage-appear-
ing islander soon matched her step;
a second took his place; from one
partner to another she passed-wild,
reckless men whose touch she did
not shun; yet it might have been no.
ticed her eyes turned often, through
wreaths of smcke. mist-like in the
glare and glimmer Of dips and torches,
toward the Black Seigncur.
Why-her gaze seemed to say-dtd
he not join them, instead Of sitting
there with a priest? She whirled to
the threshold; her flushed face looked
in. Are you saying a mass for the
souls Of your men who were cap
turod?"
81 see,' he returned quietly, you
have been gossiping."
a woman's privileged" she flashed
back. But how did it happen? And
not only your arm" more sharply re-
sarding him, but your head. I fancy
if l were to push back a few locks of
that thick hair l should discover-it
must have been pretty blow you got,
my Seigneur Solitude!" He made no
reply and she went on. You, who I
thought were never beaten! By a
mere handful Of troops, too! Did you
have to run away very fast? If were
a man"
Your tongue would be less sharp"
he answered cool'y, the black eyes in
different.
Much you care for my tongue!"
she retorted.
"No?"
No she returned mockinSly, when
above the din Of voices, the cracking
Of the fire, and the wild moaning of
the wind in the chimney, a low, but
distinct and prolonged call was heard
from somewhere without. below.
what is that" Quickly Nanette
turned; superstitious, after the fashion
of most Of her people, a little of the
color left her cheek. Again was It
waited to them, nearer, palmer. The
voices of dead men from the seal"
More like some one on the steps
who would like to get in-some fisher
man who has just got to shore" said
old Pierre Laroche, waking up and
emptying his pipe. Throw open the
door. The stones are slippery-the
night dark"
One of the crew Obeyed, and, as tho
wind entered sharply, and the lights
fiickered and grew dim, there half
staggered, half rushed from the
gloom, the figure of a man, wild, wet,
whose clothes were torn and whose
face was freshly cut and marked with
many liyid signs Of violence.
Sanchez" From his place the
Black Seigneur rose.
The others looked around wonder.
ingly; some with rough pity. What's
the matter, man." said one. you
look as if you had had bad fall"
Fall" Standing in the center of
tbo rOOp, u-haro hn hid -