Rose à Charlitte

by Marshall Saunders

  CHAPTER XXI.

  A SUPREME ADIEU.

  "How reads the riddle of our life, That mortals seek immortal joy, That pleasures here so quickly cloy, And hearts are e'en with yearnings rife? That love's bright morn no midday knows, And darkness comes ere even's close, And fondest hopes bear seeds of strife.

  "Let fools deride; Faith's God-girt breast Their puny shafts can turn aside, And mock with these their sin-born pride. Our souls were made for God the Best; 'Tis He alone can satisfy Their every want, can still each cry; In Him alone shall they find rest."

  CORNELIUS O'BRIEN, _Archbishop of Halifax_.

  The night was one of velvety softness, and the stars, as if suspectinghis mission, blinked delicately and discreetly down upon him, whileVesper, who knew every step of the way, went speeding down the Bay witha wildly beating heart.

  Several Acadiens recognized him as he swept past them on the road, buthe did not stop to parley with them, for he wished to reach Yarmouth assoon as possible. His brain was tortured, and it seemed to him that, atevery revolution of his wheels, a swift, subtle temptation assaulted himmore insidiously and more fiercely. He would pass right by the SleepingWater Inn. Why should he not pause there for a few minutes and make somearrangement with Rose about Narcisse, who was still in Boston? Hecertainly had a duty to perform towards the child. Would it not befoolish for him to pass by the mother's door without speaking to her ofhim? What harm could there be in a conversation of five minutes'duration?

  His head throbbed, his muscles contracted. Only this afternoon he hadbeen firm, as firm as a rock. He had sternly resolved not to see heragain, not to write to her, not to meet her, not to send her a message,unless he should hear that she had been released from the bond of hermarriage. What had come over him now? He was as weak as a child. He hadbetter stop and think the matter over; and he sprang from his wheel andthrew himself down on a grassy bank, covered with broad leaves thatconcealed the dead and withered flowers of the summer.

  Somewhere in the darkness behind him was lonely Piau's Isle, whereseveral of the Acadien forefathers of the Bay lay buried. What courageand powers of endurance they had possessed! They had bravely bornetheir burdens, lived their day, and were now at rest. Some day,--in afew years, perhaps,--he, too, would be a handful of dust, and he, too,would leave a record behind him; what would his record be?

  He bit his lip and set his teeth savagely. He was a fool and a coward.He would not go to Sleeping Water, but would immediately turn his backon temptation, and go to Weymouth. He could stay at a hotel there allnight, and take the train in the morning.

  The soft air caressed his weary head; for a long time he lay staring upat the stars through the interlaced branches of an apple-tree over him,then he slowly rose. His face was towards the head of the Bay; he nolonger looked towards Sleeping Water, but for a minute he stoodirresolutely, and in that brief space of time his good resolution wasirrevocably lost.

  Some girls were going to a merrymaking, and, as they went, they laughedgaily and continuously. One of them had clear, silvery tones like thoseof Rose. The color again surged to his face, the blood flew madlythrough his veins. He must see her, if only for an instant; and,hesitating no longer, he turned and went careering swiftly through thedarkness.

  A short time later he had reached the inn. There was a light in Rose'swindow. She must have gone to bed. Celina only was in the kitchen, and,with a hasty glance at her, he walked to the stable.

  A terrible quacking in the duck-yard advised him who was there, and hewas further assured by hearing an irritable voice exclaim, "If fowlswere hatched dumb, there would not be this distracting tumult!"

  Agapit was after a duck. It fell to his lot to do the killing for thehousehold, and it was so great a trial to his kind heart that, if theother members of the family had due warning, they usually, at suchtimes, shut themselves up to be out of reach of his lamentable outcrieswhen he was confronted by a protesting chicken, an innocent lamb, atumultuous pig, or a trusting calf.

  Just now he emerged from the yard, holding a sleepy drake by the wing.

  "_Misericorde!_" he exclaimed, when he almost ran into Vesper, "who isit? You--you?" and he peered at him through the darkness.

  "Yes, it is I."

  "Confiding fool," said Agapit, impatiently tossing the drake back amonghis startled comrades, "I will save thy neck once more."

  Vesper marked the emphasis. "I am on my way to Yarmouth," he said,calmly, "and I have stopped to see your cousin about Narcisse."

  "Ah!--he is well, I trust."

  "He is better than when he was here."

  "His mother has gone to bed."

  "I will wait, then, until the morning."

  "Ah!" said Agapit again; then he laughed recklessly and seized Vesper'shand. "I cannot pretend. You see that I am rejoiced to have you againwith us."

  "I, too, am glad to be here."

  "But you will not stay?"

  "Oh, no, Agapit--you know me better than that."

  Vesper's tone was confident, yet Agapit looked anxiously at him throughthe gathering gloom. "It would be better for Rose not to see you."

  "Agapit--we are not babies."

  "No, you are worse,--it is well said that only our Lord loves lovers. Noother would have patience."

  Vesper held his straight figure a little straighter, and his mannerwarned the young Acadien to be careful of what he said, but he dashedon, "Words are brave; actions are braver."

  "How is Madame de Foret?" asked Vesper, shortly.

  "What do you expect--joyous, riotous health? Reflect only that she hasbeen completely overthrown about her child. I hope that madame, yourmother, is well."

  "She has not been in such good health for years. She is greatlyentertained by Narcisse," and Vesper smiled at some reminiscence.

  "It is one of the most charming of nights," said Agapit, insinuatingly."Toochune would be glad to have a harness on his back. We could fly overthe road to Yarmouth. It would be more agreeable than travelling byday."

  "Thank you, Agapit--I do not wish to go to-night."

  "Oh, you self-willed one--you Lucifer!" said Agapit, wildly. "Youdare-all, you conquer-all! Take care that you are not trapped."

  "Come, show me a room," said Vesper, who was secretly gratified with theirrepressible delight of the Acadien in again seeing him,--a delightthat could not be conquered by his anxiety.

  "This evening the house is again full," said Agapit. "Rose is quitewearied; come softly up-stairs. I can give you but the small apartmentnext her own, but you must not rise early in the morning, and seek aninterview with her."

  Two angry red spots immediately appeared in Vesper's cheeks, and hestared haughtily at him.

  Agapit snapped his fingers. "I trust you not that much, though if youhad not come back, my confidence would have reached to eternity. You areunfortunately too nobly human,--why were you not divine? But I must notreproach. Have I not too been a lover? You are capable of all, even oftalking through the wall with your beloved. You should have stayed away,you should have stayed away!" and, grumbling and shaking his head, heushered his guest up-stairs, and into a tiny and exquisitely clean room,that contained only a bed, a table, a wash-stand, and one chair.

  Agapit motioned Vesper to the chair, and sprawled himself half over thefoot of the bed, half out the open window, while he talked to hiscompanion, whose manner had a new and caressing charm that attracted himeven more irresistibly than his former cool and somewhat careless onehad done.

  "Ah, why is life so?" he at last exclaimed, springing up, with a sigh."Under all is such sadness. Your presence gives such joy. Why should itbe denied us?"

  Vesper stared at his shoes to hide the nervous tears that sprang to hiseyes.

  Agapit immediately averted
his sorrowful glance. "You are not angry withme for my free speech?"

  "Good heavens, no!" said Vesper, irritably turning his back on him, "butI would thank you to leave me."

  "Good night," said the Acadien, softly. "May the blessed Virgin give youpeace. Remember that I love you, for I prophesy that we on the morrowshall quarrel," and with this cheerful assurance he gently closed thedoor, and went to the next room.

  Rose threw open the door to him, and Agapit, though he was prepared forany change in her, yet for an instant could not conceal hisastonishment. Where was her pallor,--her weariness? Gone, like the mistsof the morning before the glory of the sun. Her face was delicatelycolored, her blue eyes were flooded with the most exquisite and tenderlight that he had ever seen in them. She had heard her lover's step, andAgapit dejectedly reflected that he should have even more trouble withher than with Vesper.

  "Surely, I am to see him to-night?" she murmured.

  "Surely not," growled Agapit. "For what do you wish to see him?"

  "Agapit,--should not a mother hear of her little one?"

  "Is it for that only you wish to see him?"

  "For that,--also for other things. Is he changed, Agapit? Has his facegrown more pale?"

  Agapit broke into vigorous French. "He is more foolish than ever, that Iassure thee. Such a simpleton, and thou lovest him!"

  "If he is a fool, then there are no wise men in the world; but thou artonly teasing. Ah, Agapit, dear Agapit," and she clasped her hands, andextended them towards him. "Tell me only what he says of Narcisse."

  "He is well; he will tell thee in the morning of a plan he has. Go nowto bed,--and Rose, to-morrow be sensible, be wise. Thou wert sonoteworthy these three weeks ago, what has come to thee now?"

  "Agapit, thou dost remember thy mother a very little, is it not so?"

  "Yes, yes."

  "Thou couldst part from her; but suppose she came back from the dead.Suppose thou couldst hear her voice in the hall, what wouldst thou do?"

  "I would run to greet her," he said, rashly. "I would be mad withpleasure."

  "That man was as one dead," she said, with an eloquent gesture towardsthe next room. "I did not think of seeing him again. How can I ceasefrom joy?"

  "Give me thy promise," he said, abruptly, "not to see him without me.Otherwise, thou mayst be prowling in the morning, when I oversleepmyself, and thou wilt talk about me to this charming stranger."

  "Agapit," she said, in amazement, "wouldst thou insult me?"

  "No, little rabbit,--I would only prevent thee from insulting me."

  "It is like jailorizing. I shall not be a naughty child in a cell."

  "But thou wilt," he said, with determination. "Give me thy promise."

  Rose became indignant, and Agapit, who was watching her keenly, steppedinside her room, lest he should be overheard. "Rose," he said, swiftly,and with a deep, indrawn breath, "have I not been a brother to thee?"

  "Yes, yes,--until now."

  "Now, most of all,--some day thou wilt feel it. Would I do anything toinjure thee? I tell thee thou art like a weak child now. Have I not beenin love? Do not I know that for a time one's blood burns, and one ismad?"

  "But what do you fear?" she asked, proudly, drawing back from him.

  "I fear nothing, little goose," he exclaimed, catching her by the wrist,"for I take precautions. I have talked to this young man,--do not I alsoesteem him? I tell thee, as I told him,--he is capable of all, and whenthou seest him, a word, a look, and he will insist upon thy leaving thyhusband to go with him."

  "Agapit, I am furious with thee. Would I do a wrong thing?"

  "Not of thyself; but think, Rose, thou art weak and nervous. Thystrength has been tried; when thou seest thy lover thou wilt be like asilly sheep. Trust me,--when thy father, on his dying bed, pointed tothee, I knew his meaning. Did not I say 'Yes, yes, I will take care ofher, for she is beautiful, and men are wicked.'"

  "But thou didst let me marry Charlitte," she said, with a stifled cry.

  Agapit was crushed by her accusation. He made a despairing gesture. "Ihave expected this, but, Rose, I was younger. I did not know the heartsof women. We thought it well,--your stepmother and I. He begged forthee, and we did not dream--young girls sometimes do well to settle. Heseemed a wise man--"

  "Forgive me," cried Rose, wildly, and suddenly pushing him towards thedoor, "and go away. I will not talk to Mr. Nimmo without thee."

  "Some day thou wilt thank me," said Agapit. "It is common to reproachthose who favor us. Left alone, thou wouldst rise early in themorning,--thy handsome Vesper would whisper in thy ear, and I, rising,might find thee convinced that there is nothing for thee but to submitto the sacrilege of a divorce."

  Rose was not touched by his wistful tones. Her pretty fingers evenassisted him gently from the room, and, philosophically shrugging hisshoulders, he went to bed.

  Rose, left alone, pressed her empty arms and palpitating heart againstthe bare walls of the next room. "You are good and noble,--you would donothing wrong. That wicked Agapit, he thinks evil of thee--" and, withother fond and foolish words, she stood mutely caressing the wall untilfatigue overpowered her, when she undressed and crept into her lonelybed.

  Agapit, who possessed a warm heart, an ardent imagination, and a livelyregard for the other sex, was at present without a love-affair of hisown, and his mind was therefore free to dwell on the troubles of Roseand Vesper. All night long he dreamed of lovers. They haunted him,tortured him with their griefs, misunderstandings, and afflictions, and,rather glad than sorry to awake from his disturbed sleep, he lifted hisshaggy head from the pillow early in the morning and, vehemently shakingit, muttered, "The devil himself is in those who make love."

  Then, with his protective instinct keenly alive, he sprang up and wentto the window, where he saw something that made him again mutter areference to the evil one. His window was directly over that of hiscousin, and although it was but daybreak, she was up and dressed, andleaning from it to look at Vesper, who stood on the grass below. Theywere not carrying on a conversation; she was true to the letter of herpromise, but this mute, unspoken dialogue was infinitely moredangerous.

  Agapit groaned, and surveyed Vesper's glowing face. Who would dream thathe, so dignified, would condescend to this? Was it arranged through thewall, or did he walk under her window and think of her until hisinfluence drew her from her bed? "I also have done such things," hemuttered; "possibly I may again, therefore I must be merciful."

  Vesper at this instant caught sight of his dishevelled head. Rose alsolooked up, and Agapit retreated in dismay at the sound of their stifledbut irresistible laughter.

  "Ah, you do not cry all the time," he ejaculated, in confusion; then hemade haste to attire himself and to call for Rose, who demurely wentdown-stairs with him and greeted Vesper with quiet and loving reserve.

  The two young men went with her to the kitchen, where she touched amatch to the fire. While it was burning she sat down and talked to them,or, rather, they talked to her. The question was what to do withNarcisse.

  "Madame de Foret," said Vesper, softly, "I will tell you what I havealready told your cousin. I returned home unexpectedly a fortnight ago,having in the interval missed a telegram from my mother, telling me thatyour boy was in Boston. When I reached my own door, I saw to my surprisethe child of--of--"

  "Of the woman you love," thought Agapit, grimly.

  "Your child," continued Vesper, in some confusion, "who was kneeling onthe pavement before our house. He had dug a hole in the narrow circle ofearth left around the tree, and he was thrusting porridge and cream downit, while the sparrows on the branches above watched him with interest.Here in Sleeping Water we had about stopped that feeding of the trees;but my mother, I found, indulged him in everything. He was glad to seeme, and I--I had dreaded the solitude of my home, and I quicklydiscovered that it had been banished by his presence. He has effected atransformation in my mother, and she wishes me to beg you that we maykeep him for a time."

  A
gapit had never before heard Vesper speak at such length. He himselfwas silent, and waited for some expression of opinion from Rose.

  She turned to him. "You remember what our doctor says when he looks overmy little one,--that he is weak, and the air of the Bay is too strongfor him?"

  "The doctors in Boston also say it," responded Vesper. "Mrs. Nimmo hastaken him to them."

  Rose flashed a glance of inexpressible gratitude at Vesper.

  "You wish him to remain in Boston?" said Agapit.

  "Yes, yes,--if they will be so kind, and if it is right that we allowthat they keep him for a time."

  Agapit reflected a minute. Could Rose endure the double blow of aseparation from her child and from her lover? Yes, he knew her wellenough to understand that, although her mother heart and her woman'sheart would be torn, she would, after the first sharp pang was over,cheerfully endure any torture in order to contribute to the welfare ofthe two beings that she loved best on earth. Narcisse would be benefitedphysically by the separation, Vesper would be benefited mentally. Heknew, in addition, that a haunting dread of Charlitte possessed her.Although he was a fickle, unfaithful man, the paternal instinct mightsome day awake in him, and he would return and demand his child. Agapitwould not himself be surprised to see him reappear at any time inSleeping Water, therefore he said, shortly, "It is a good plan."

  "We can at least try it," said Vesper. "I will report how it works."

  "And while he is with you, you will have some instruction in his ownreligion given him?" said Rose, timidly.

  "You need not mention that," said Vesper; "it goes without saying."

  Rose took a crucifix from her breast and handed it to him. "You willgive him that from his mother," she said, with trembling lips.

  Vesper held it in his hand for a minute, then he silently put it in hispocket.

  There was a long pause, broken at last by Agapit, who said, "Will youget the breakfast, Rose? Mr. Nimmo assured me that he wished to start atonce. Is it not so?"

  "Yes," said Vesper, shortly.

  Rose got up and went to the pantry.

  "Will you put the things on this table?" said Vesper. "And will not youand Agapit have breakfast with me?"

  Rose nodded her head, and, with a breaking heart, she went to and fro,her feet touching the hardwood floor and the rugs as noiselessly as ifthere had been a death in the house.

  The two young men sat and stared at the stove or out the windows. Agapitwas anathematizing Vesper for returning to settle a matter that couldhave been arranged by writing, and Vesper was alternately in a dumb furywith Agapit for not leaving him alone with Rose, or in a state ofextravagant laudation because he did not do so. What a watch-dog hewas,--what a sure guardian to leave over his beautiful sweetheart!

  Dispirited and without appetite, the three at last assembled around thetable. Rose choked over every morsel that she ate, until, unable longerto endure the trial, she left the table, and contented herself withwaiting upon them.

  Vesper was famished, having eaten so little the evening before, yet heturned away from the toast and coffee and chops that Rose set beforehim.

  "I will go now; Agapit, come to the gate with me. I want to speak toyou."

  Rose started violently. It seemed to her that her whole agitated,overwrought soul had gone out to her lover in a shriek of despair, yetshe had not uttered a sound.

  Vesper could not endure the agony of her eyes. "Rose," he said,stretching out his hands to her, "will you do as I wish?"

  "No," said Agapit, stepping between them.

  "Rose," said Vesper, caressingly, "shall I go to see Charlitte?"

  "Yes, yes," she moaned, desperately, and sinking to a chair, she droppedher swimming head on the table.

  "No," said Agapit, again, "you shall not break God's laws. Rose ismarried to Charlitte."

  Vesper tried to pass him, to assist Rose, who was half fainting, butAgapit's burly form was immovable, and the furious young American liftedhis arm to strike him.

  "_Nani_," said Agapit, tossing his arm in the air, "two blows from noman for me," and he promptly knocked Vesper down.

  Rose, shocked and terrified, instantly recovered. She ran to her fallenhero, bent over him with fond and distracted words, and when hestruggled to his feet, and with a red and furious face would have flownat Agapit, she restrained him, by clinging to his arm.

  "Dear fools," said Agapit, "I would have saved you this humbling, butyou would not listen. It is now time to part. The doctor comes up theroad."

  Vesper made a superhuman effort at self-control, and passed his handover his eyes, to clear away the mists of passion. Then he lookedthrough the kitchen window. The doctor was indeed driving up to the inn.

  "Good-by, Rose," he exclaimed, "and do you, Agapit," and he surveyed theAcadien in bitter resentment, "treat Charlitte as you have treated me,if he comes for her."

  Even in her despair Rose reflected that they were parting in anger.

  "Vesper, Vesper,--most darling of men," she cried, wildly, detaininghim, "shake hands, at least."

  "I will not," he muttered, then he gently put her from him, and flunghimself from the room.

  "One does not forget those things," said Agapit, gloomily, and hefollowed her out-of-doors.

  Vesper, staggering so that he could hardly mount his wheel, was justabout to leave the yard. Rose clung to the doorpost, and watched him;then she ran to the gate.

  Down, down the Bay he went; farther, farther, always from her. First thetwo shining wheels disappeared, then his straight blue back, then thecurly head with the little cap. She had lost him,--perhaps forever; andthis time she fainted in earnest, and Agapit carried her to the kitchen,where the English doctor, who had been the one to attend Vesper, stood,with a shrewd and pitying look on his weather-beaten face.

  BOOK II.

  BIDIANE