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About Lincoln County leader. (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 18, 1908)
nrhe Whited Qepulchre Tale of O Pelee JL The By Will Levington Comfort CoDTriahL 116. h win T..in Copyright. 1W, br J. B. LirriitcoTT CHAPTER XII. (Continued.) Breen was dazed by the altered mood of the woman. Until the present instant of their walk, he had been contemplating a serene end to" a day of most brutal be ginnings. They were on the eminence of the Morne d'Orange. I'elee was a bale ful changing jewel in the black north. Breen heard the woman's breathing. He had no pity for her. He had spoken with exceeding gentleness, but it was forced. In the same voice he continued, since she did not speak : "You could not walk to Fort de France, and there is neither boiat nor carriage to-night. I thought you were going to et him be happy again." "Did he send you to me?" "He does not know that I am here, Miss Stansbury," Breen replied. "As we rode in from the mountain, I begged him to come to you to-night, but he said that if there were any hope of his saving your life, you would have shown him some sign this morning, instead " She felt herself called to her own de fense. "Could he not see that the news papers brought a shock to me?" she ques tioned pitifully. "The shock was just as great, and the matter contained in the newspapers just as new, to him," he said. "Do you sup pose he would have introduced me to you if he had understood all about me? I am all to blame, not our good Peter. Because I brought all this trouble upon him, I came to-night to undo the tragedy of your being away from him, and yet so close to the volcano." "And you went with him to the crater to-day?" "Do you think I would let him kill himself?" "Oh, no! but you said you spoke about riding back with him from the crater," she returned hastily. The man's unyielding position wrought upon her strangely, sometimes startled, sometimes steadied, her. "I heard that he had gone up the mountain, and followed. I found him t the summit in a faint, lying at the very rim of disaster." "You saved him from death?" "A very essential proceeding, since I sent him there." "Oh, what do you mean?" "It was my presence that prevented you both from being out at sea to-night, It was a very little thing to bring him back from the crater, Miss Stansbury, but a big accomplishment to make him glad that I brought him back." "Did he intend to kill himself by going" there.' Do you mean that I I?" Breeu felt that she deserved vividly to apprehend her failures of performance, "No, Miss Stansbury, but he was dazed with punishment. That a doubt could ex ist In your mind, regarding his integrity. pulled him out of his orbit, so to speak.' "But it was all so intricate and mys terious," she pleaded. "I didn't mean to do wrong, but you must see that a wom an who can only wait, and never be told things may not know what is best!" His heart kindled to her now, but he was not building for the moment. "Let me tell you about Peter Constable," he said gently. "I was hunted to a corner in New York. I am all that the papers say, and much beside which they have overlooked. Only, I have never robbed the poor, nor widows and orphans, and I never have betrayed a friend until to' day, when my history arose in its wrath and man-handled poor Peter. All my operations were over-when he found me all my farces and strategies. I had lost my wool-cap, and the lambs would no longer play with me. They drove me to the water front. I was at the edge of the end when Peter Constable called. Come, Miss Stansbury, let us walk on to ward the launch." Breen had judged well the Instant to make this suggestion. Though afraid that she would turn back, he spoke brisk ly, lightly, as if she had merely paused to survey the night. She obeyed, and, as he talked on, their steps grew faster and faster down the morne toward the edge of the silent, stricken city. Breen related how his friend had put aside for her the century-rare opportunity of study ing Pelee in the throes. Of the volcano itself, he spoke familiarly, trenchantly, as only one could do who had peered Into the roaring sink of chaos that day. He pictured at last the man with whom he had ridden, their last ride together, the gameness which men love, and in tints rlmost ethereal the brooding romance. She was thrilled by this stranger who had played with men and lived to pray for one. By his own word, world-weary and a skeptic of human character, he had discovered his Utopia in a friend. Be cause she burned to believe all Breen said, bis words rang true. Higher in ber heart than he had reached in any of the day's fluctuations. Constable was upraised now and held. She did not call It love she did not call it anything; but it was valiant presence to cling to, as she entered with this stranger, hunted of men, the smothered lane which Rue Victor Hugo had become. "You are a prince of defenders," she whispered. "A man less white would .not need a friend to champion his cause," he replied, "Where is Peter Constable now?" "I will put you in the care of Ernst In the launch, and then bring him ' to you," be said. Company. All rights reterTtd 'Where is Mr. Constable?" she demand ed imperiously. In a little shop up in the Rue de Rivoli." She did not fail in this last pitiless as sault, though the dreadful final sentence of her mother came back. This night was set apart in her life for the learning of the truth. "I shall not wait at the launch. I shall go to him there up in the terrace. Why not?" "It Is the far better way," Breen an swered steadily. "I only thought to save you from the climb." The horrid insinuations could find no hold in her brain. They hovered afar off, like navies crippled in the roadstead. Breen's ready answer was a sterling de fense. "Let us hurry," she panted. They turned and faced the empty cliff. To the left was an open door, and the form of a woman was carved in the light. The woman in the doorway spoke wo.-ds warmed and vitalized from her very heart, and Breen answered and took her in his arms. Lara brushed past the two and into the shop. The huge figure hunched forward upon the table had not moved. I jar a stepped forward and touched his shoulder. He stirred uneasily, muttered as if in pain, but did not lift his head. She pressed her hand more heavily upon his soiled coat. "Yes, yes what is it?' he said in a quick, frightened way. The haggard face turned up to her. The jaw dropped a little. His eyes, thougu fixed upon her own, seemed to have lost their direction. He gained his feet slow ly, clutching the table with his bauds. "I have come to go with you lo your ship !" she declared brokenly. "Breen, come here to me," he called, brushing his face roughly with his band, "It's not a dream, Peter," Breen an swered cheerfully. "I found ber waiting for you at the plantation house." "No. It is I Lara !" lie put his hand forth to touch her. She caught it in her own. Pere Rabsaut entered the rear door. . And now, Breen was sayi.iz, you two must not forget that Pelee is still alive, and that my part is still undone while you are here even tho igh togeth er." He spoke in English, which neither Soronia nor her father understood. "But are you not going?" Lara asked. "Oh, no, Miss Stansbury. Peter un derstands. I have told him that Nicholas Stembridge ceases to compromise him af ter this night. It really is the better, the only way." He turned to Pere Rabeaut and added lightly in French : "Our guests are going, Let us all Btart a last sunrise of Eper- nay." "But you know that I do not feel as the others do, but as your friend does. Really, I am not afraid of you," she said unsteadily. There were tears in her eyes. "It is a beautiful ending," Breen an swered. "I want you to know that I shall al ways remember your coming your words when I would have failed !" she finished, There was a moment in which Breen and Constable stood close together. Lara and Soronia were whispering, and strange it was, but out of their whispers was evolved a kiss. "Look, Peter the lily and the tiger lily bend together," said Breen. The door was shut behind them. They faced the harbor and started down the sloping way. "But you ?" she whispered. CHAPTER XIII. Constable's mind was slow to inform this great concept. The day had left be hind in his brain a crowd of unassimilat- ed acts, and into this dull, formless com pany swept the climacteric joy Figura tively speaking, he had to grope about until lantern and matches were brought together, before he could adjust and meas ure and proportion. He halted at last In the empty street, seized the girl by her shoulders, saying, as one would .evoke the heart out of a miracle: "Lara Stansbury ! Lara Stansbury !" "Yes, Sir Peter!" "Don't laugh at me ; don't, grow Impa tient for I must ask questions. "Begin. I shnll be very good." "Are you the little girl who handed me a newspaper this morning?" "I am that little girl grown up, sir." She revelled in the joy she was giving him, and thrilled under the tightening pressure of his hands upon her shoulders. "And. when you grew up you came to me?" "Please, sir, yon said you would take me sailing. "Lara, as I looked down the fiery throat of that dragon to-day, everything grew black and still like a vacuum. thought it was death then. Tll me, did I come back, or are we 'two hurrying shapes in twilight land in no man's land'?" "I'm sure you must have come back, sir, because I didn't die to-day, and we can't be talking together on different planes with your fingers impaling my shoulders ! "Lara Stansbury are you mine?" The huge fellow was lost In his laby rinth of happiness. The doubts that had smothered her answer were lifted now. and be beard his victory without a breath of Its expression hampered. The sDop had vindicated her daring. With all the eagerness of brimming womanhood, which bursts the bonds of repression for the first time, she gave him her heart of hearts. She was like a queep who summons a man of her people into her inner sanc tuary and bids him rule herself and her kingdom. Resistless, trembling, whisper ing, she was drawn into his arms. "To think I didn't know you when you first came !" she was saying faintly. "But when I was a little girl I knew you used to be frightened because you were so big ! Always then I knew you would ' come some time to take me away for ' your lady, and I thought I would cry I when you came, because I would be so happy. That part didn't come true, did It, Strongheart? They were all dreams, bnby dreams, as if left over from some other betrothal with you ! And when I grew into a big girl, Sir Peter, I was ashamed, and put them away, with other baby thoughts and things! Ab, listen to old Pelee ! The volcano had lost his monstrous rhythm and was ripping forth irregular crashes. Rue Victor Hugo was alive with voices, aroused by the hideous rat tling in the throat of the mountain. The old dread fell again upon Constable. He drew the girl forward, almost running. I beg of you don't look back !" he mut tered. "The launch is just ahead." "Hello, Ernst ! I have kept you wait ing long," he called as they neared the end of the pier. "Top speed to the Mad ame J" The bells of Saint Pierre rang the hour of two. The launch was speeding across the smoky harbor, riding down little isles of fioasain, dead birds from the sky, and nameless mysteries from the roiled bed of the hnrlinr. The wind was hot in their faces, like a stoke-hold blast. Often he henrd a 'hissing in the water, like the sound of a wet finger touching hot iron. A burning cinder fell upon his hand, a messenger from I'elee, and clear ed the source of the sounds. lie jerked off his coat and tossed it about her shoul ders, which the filmy slinwl and the deli cate fabric of Tier weist scarcely, pro tected. "But you " she protested. "I could not feel fire to-night !" Her face in the lantern-ray enchanted him. In mingled shyness and ecstasy he took it between his hands. He could not speak for the marvel of the thing that this, so vigrant, so beautiful, was for him to kiss and worship and keep bright. Her cheeks were as soft as a flower, her eyes glowing with the ardor which the tropics alone' can inspire in flower and woman. In the strange light, he gazed with the raptness of one who seeks to penetrate the mystery of being as if it were any clearer in a woman's eyes than in a Nile night, a Venetian song, or in the flow of gasoline to the spark, which filled the contemplation of Ernst. "Beloved," he whispered at last, "I will tell you i how much I love you at our golden wedding." He heard the swift intaking of her breath with the peculiar tremble which follows tears. The launch was swinging around to the Madnme's ladder. Wherever the ship lights fell, the sheeting of ash could be seen upon mast and railing and plates. "Are you frightened, dearest?" he whis pered. "You will not go back to Saint Pierre !" "We need not think of that now. We are going together first out into deep water and ocean air !" He was helping her up the ladder. When they reached the main deck, be called to Captain Nog ley on the bridge: "Pull us out of this blizzard, captain a dozen miles if nec essary, and quick .as you can." They bad scarcely reached the bridge before the anchor chain began to grind. Three minutes later the Madame's screws were kicking the ugly harbor tide. They watched, until only the dull red of Pelee pierced the thick veil behind ; until a star, and another, pricked the blue vault ahead, and the air blew in fragrant as wine from the rolling Caribbean. "How sweet life is to me !" Constable said softly. "Grand old Pelee he has been true blue! He made me his heir, and waited for me to carry his fairest daughter out into these reviving winds. Blow, old Vulcan, now ! 'Splash at a ten league canvas with brushes of comets' hair !' And you, gorgeous girl, have you any charity for a man who grows inco herent from sheer joy?" "Yes, even though he forgets the city," she answered. Captain Negley approached them. "We're about a dozen miles out now, sir," he said. "Cruise around until daylight, captain ; then draw in until you can find bottom to hitch to, but not any closer than seven or eight miles." "Very well, sir." Lara and Constable leaned over the aft railing of the bridge. The main deck below swnrmed with women of Suint Pierre. They could not stay below, now that the defiled hnrbor was behind. Many were humming the old French lullabies to their little ones flood food and cool air hod brought back the songs of peace and summer to those lowly hearts. "Lara, do you think if I went back to your mother now, or, rather, after day light, I could persuude her to join us?" "I knew it would come to that," she said, with a shudder. "I have been try ing to put it off. Can't you guess that I had a bitter price to pay before following your friend to-night? She will not join us." "I am going back to try, Lara. I think I can guess something that you passed through before leaving the house." "Oh, no, you cannot ! I could not suf fer you to heor the words she uttered. It was like the wrath of Pelee only causeless and without warning." (To be continued.) London's net municipal debt amount to (223,101,330. Ji8i Loaded With Ammunition. Carpenters have a bad habit of los ing their nail punch. Being small, II la very readily mislaid and, nuturally, j can never be found' I ( "V when wanted. A ' A Rochester luventlon. rj v suggests a simple means of overcoming this instinct of the , nail punch to get lost He bus a recess placed In the end of the handle Into which1 the nail punch fits. The latter has a plate at the end which clamps over the top of the oieulng and prevents the nail punch falling out nOM)W HANDLE. punch falling out. Hammers hnving similar recesses In the handle would also be of great value for household use. Nails, tucks, screws ami slmilnr appurtenances could be stored In the ..aperture and, of course, would always I be easy to find when wanted. Ham . mers similarly equipped would also prove a boon to tenants In olllce build ings, where tacks and nails are a "scarce us hens' teeth." Corned Beei. Select pieces suitable and then fot each 50 pounds of beef use four quarts of fine salt, 4 pounds of brown sugut nnd 4 ounces of saltpeter pounded flue. Mix together and, packing the meat closely in the barrel or Jur, put the mixture between the layers, being careful to place the larger amount near tho top, as salt works downward. When all Is ready place a cover on the meat and on that a stone or other weight to keep It iressed down. Add no water. The Juices of the meat niak sufficient brine to cover t Blaeberry PnddlnB, Two cupfuls of sifted flour, one egg, nna-hnlf tiiuPul nt .... .. -.., i j - ...... v.uilui ui niiKUl, UIIC tllri ui Ul milk, one-half teaspuoonful of salt, one heaping teaspoonful of baking pow I der, one teaspoonful ' cornstarch 'and three cupfuls of blueberries. Beat the egg to a froth, moisten the cornstarch with the milk and stir Into it, add the sugar aud salt, then the flour In which the baking powder has been sifted, and lustly the blueberries dredged with flour. Turn Into a butter ed tin and bake In a quick oven. Sorvf with cream and sugar. Watermelon Preaerve. Select a melon with thick rind anu cut away all red portion. Peel and cut Into squares, diamonds or any fancy shape. Lay in strong salt water over night, then In fresh water twenty-four hours, changing often. Then put them in weak alum water to harden them. Drain very dry and add one pound of sugar to each pound of fruit; make u syrup, add a few pieces of ginger root aud lemon peel. Drop In the pieces of melon and let boll until clear. Lift out carefully Into Jars, pour over syrup and seal. Vegetable Salad. Boll some blood beets until tender, throw them Into cold water and rub oft the stilus. Cut some stTinj; bonus Into half-Inch lengths und boil in salted water until tender. Chop the beets and mix In equiil proportions with the boiled beans, adding a very small minced onion. Moisten with moyon nulso and servo on a platter of lettuce leaves. Cover the top of the salad with the mayonnaise and garnish with small sturs cut from the boiled beets with a vegetable cutter. Apple Pickles Three large tart apples, twelve large green tomatoes, one large head celery (or celery seed to taste), four large onions, four largo red sweet ioppers, ono cup light brown sugar, one pint good cider vinegar, Q cents' worth of mustard seed (white). Chop tomatoes, then salt. Let stand overnight, drain through colander, put all together In granite kettle, cliopMul. Allow It to come to the boiling point Stir and heat thoroughly hut do not boll. Bottle and seal. To Soften an Ran. When an egg has been boiled too long It can be softened Instantly again by lifting pan off Are, quickly plnclng under tap, and allowing a good stream of cold water to pour Into It The sudden shock frot.i hot to cold has the curious effect of softening the egg. A splendid method of securing correct consistency for Invalids' eggs. Sandpaper Cake. To remove the burned cdjges of layet or loaf cakes use fine sandpaper as soon as the cake Is "set," but before it gets cold. A piece of paraffin paper, cut the shape of cake, will prevent the cake sticking to the plate on which It In to be set away. "What part of the chicken will you have, Mr. Ballroom?" "Some of the meat, please." Life. Patience That Miss Bellow Is going to sing. Patrice Oh, Is she? What shall we talk about? The Tatler. Mrs. Henpcck You were talking In your sleep lust night, Henry. Mr. Henpeck I beg your pardon, my dear, , for having Interrupted you. Stray Stories. SllUcus What do you consider Is the proper time for a man to marry? Cynleus Oh, I supjiose when he hasn't anything else to worry him. Philadel phia Record. Departing Guest We've had a slmp ly delightful time! Hostess I'm so glad. At the same time I regret that the storm kept all our best people awuy. Brooklyn Life. Mrs. Bacon This paper says that a man's hair turns gray aiiout five years earlier than a woman's. Mr. Bacon That is because a man weor's his hair all tho time. Yonkers Statesman. Elderly Uncle Spent your entire patrimony, have you, Archibald? Gone Uuuiifcli every tLIijfe'? Scapegrace Neph ewYes, uncle, everything but tho bankruptcy court. Chicago Tribune. Faddist Visitor Are you allowed In this prison any exercise beneficial for your health? Convict Oh, yes, ma'am. By advice of my counsel I have been skipping tho rope. Baltimore Ameri can. "Do you play any Instrument, Mr. Jimp?" "Yes, I'm a cometlst." "And your sister?" "She's a pianist." "Does your mother play?" "She's a ilther- Ist." "And your father?" "lies a pes simist." "If I were you," said the old bache lor to the benedict, "I'd either rule or know why." "Well," was the reply, "as I already know why, I suppose that's half the battle !" Atlanta Con stitution. Dawson The facial features plainly Indicate character and disposition. In selecting your wife were you governed by her chin? Spenlow No; but I have been ever slnco we were married. Boston Globe. "Have you," asked the Judge of a recently convicted man, "anything to offer the court before sentence is passed?" "No, your honor," replied the prisoner, "my lawyer took my last cent." The Reporter. Niece Uncle, they say that there are more marriages of blondes than of bru nettes. Why Is it, I wonder? TJncle Singleton (a confirmed bachelor) I I'm ! Naturally, the lightheaded ones go first. The Mirror. Country Edltop (out West) This has been a lucky .duy for me. Faith ful Wife Has some one been In to pay a subscription? Editor Well, n-o, wasn't as lucky as that; but I was shot at and missed. New York Week ly. "And do you lfke newspaper men?" he asked the little maid In a most con descending tone of voice. "I don't know," she replied, artlessly; "the on ly one I know Is the ono who brings our paper every morning." Llpplu lott's Magazine. Farmer Borker I want to get h present to take home to my wife on the farm. Elegant Clerk How would she like a pie knife? Farmer Barker Good land, young man ! Ain't you never been told you musn't eat pie with no knife? New York Times. The little girl was very fond of plea sant days, and at the close of a heavy rainstorm petitioned In her prayer for fine weather; when the next morning the sun shone bright nnd clear she lieeame Jubilant, and told her prayer to her grandmother, who said: "Well, dear, why can't you pray to-night that It may be warmer to-morrow so thnt grandma's rheumatism will bo better?" "All right, I will," wos the quick re sponse; and that night as she knelt she said: "0 Lord, please make It hot for grandma." Grtihb I heor your last novel has already appeared In Its sixth edition. How did you manage to become so phenomenally popular? Scrubb Very simple. I put a "personal" In the pa pers saying that I was looking for a wife who is something like the hero ine of my novel. Within two days the first edition was sold out. Tlt-Blts. "Why, that's a regular little print ing press, Isn't It?" remarked the vis itor. "Yes," replied Mrs. Popley, "Willie's uncle gave It to him on his birthday." "What a complete little thing! It's self-Inking, Isn't It?" "I don't know; but Willie Is." "Now, Pat, would you sooner lose your money or your life?" "Why, me lolfe, yer reverence; I wau't me money for me old age."