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."