LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2550, 10 June 1882, Page 4

LITERATURE.

A Dir IN TADOUSAC. Bt Rebecca Harding Davis, When the head ot the sh'pplng firm of Freyteau, Wall et Cio, in Montreal, sent young Noel as their agent along the Lower St. Lawrence, the other partners grumbled loudly. They were shrewd American;— Noel a mere lad, Canadian French, giy, crotchety, wordy. He had, too, heavy sums to collect, and there was an ugly story afloat that his father had been a professional gambler. Pierre Noel was now old and imbecile, but his son persisted In taking him with him everywhere, and paid him an exaggerated respect. Wall et Cie grow very uneasy about their money. Blood, they said, would tell at last. Bat M. Freyteau was obstinate in his likings ; he wonld not recall the lad. All they could do was to send the younger Wall to look him up now and then, and to take a rigid account of his receipts. It never occurred to Louis Noel that he was suspected. Nothing short of a blow on the face would convince that careless fellow that anybody was his enemy. He made hla headquarters at the lonely village of Tadouaac for a reason, and he supposed the same reason brought James Wall there. The two men, one Angnst afternoon, met in the orchard of Jan old pension behind the village. The wind w»s frosty, and Noel brought a bench out from under the trees into the open sunshine for a young girl who was with them. James Wall sat down upon it beside her, crossed hla stout legs comfortably, drew out the Quebec paper and looked at the quotations in lumber. Noel walked away. He could not come near Hester Pago to-day. She had dropped a word or two to him last night, a mere nothing when one reoeated it, yet very different from the cool, amused criticism with which she she had met h<m heretofore. He had repeated the words a thousand times to himself to day. Could It be? He could not speak to her before Wall. He felt as if he must cry out with this sudden madness of hope that sent the blood through his body like flame. He wondered about irresolutely, climbed a tree for some russet pears for her, and left them lying on tha grass, lighted a cigar, smoked furiously and let it go out in hla mouth, than began to sing with a tremendous discordant clatter.

Mr Wall shuddered, then laughed, compassionately glancing at Miss JPago. They were both admisable musicians, and often sang together with that accuracy and neatness of effect which peculiarly marked the words and movements of both.

‘ Thess Canadians are restless in body and mind as grasshoppers.’ James Wall’s thick tones grew complacent and Intimate with Miss Page. Wets they not both Americans! This Neel and all unfortunate foreigners belonged to a great Ultima Thule outside of the States. She smiled, looked deliberately at Louis then at Wall, then down to the pale blue web she was net'.ing. What with her deliberation, the pale blue net, the creamy gown fitting close to her neat rounded figure, and her lusterless brown hair and eyes, she made a centre of calm, of delicate color, which suited the faded hue of the autumnal day. Mr Wall scanned her over his paper, pursing his thick lips with gusto. He had been calculating her merits and defects for a long time, but his mind was now made up. True, she had not money enough to pay her share of the board bills, nor brilliant beauty to push them ou socially In Montaeal. But some indefinable latent power in the faint colored, calm little woman had conquered him. As much of the man as was not given up to the lumber interest, or to the worship of James Wail, wis genuinely in love with her. He was a poor man, greedy of money, yet he meant to marry this penniless Baptist minister’s daughter. Why not tell her so at once ?

‘Noel!’ he called ; ‘here, Noel!’ (It was just as well to let her know their relative positions, and that this scampish fellow, whose infatuation for her was the talk of the village, was only the paid servant of the firm), *1 wish yon to finish that report, I start for home to night By the way, I will take all your collections with me.’

Noel did not move. ‘D’ye hear ? See to It at onoe!’ ‘ Chut! chut 1 No hurry.’ Louis lounged over the low stone wall, looking down the mountain. Below him was the uneven street of Tadonsao, cut through beetling gray cliffs ; the old cottages, perched here and there, each sending out through its steep red or yellow or tinned roof a sleepy drift of smoke. Lights shone through the windows of the little ancient church j the dcor was open ; he could see Grigneaux the fat beadle, climbing into his high seat; then oame Father Matthieu up tho hill, half-a dozen children of the habitants, with their wax like features and glittering black eyes, tagging at his gown. At the foot of the hill rode the silent, fathomless tide of the Saguenay—that mystery of the North black aa a line drawn by Death through the live beauty and comfort of tho hills and village. Just then the notes of a French horn filled the air with a melancholy sobbing. Louis gave a quick nod of satisfaction. That was his father; he always knew that the old man was happy as long as he was filling the world with his melodious piping. Some young fellows, his.comrades, on the pier caught sight of Noel. ‘Hi 1 hi 1 Lonia !’ they called.

He shouted back, waving his hat to Pere Matthlou who laughed and nodded, r lwo Sisters of Mercy, pacing decorously In their black robes to the church, glanced furtively up and smiled to each other. The whole village knew and liked the merry fellow and the old father of whom he was so fond.

The gate ollcked. Wall, tired of waiting on him, bad gone angrily away. ‘ Thanks to God!’ chuckled Koel, He harried towards Hester, then stopped short In a spasm of shame. Who was he ? To go to her to ask here to give herself to him ? The first man in Ihe world was not fit to touch her! Look at her sitting there, the sun shining full on her! Her hands went with their work, in and out, in and out. The monotony of motion maddened him. For two years he had followed her, faithful as a dog. It bad been almost enough to see her, to hear her speak now and then. If he told her now that he loved her he would risk all this ; she would drive him away. Never to see Hester again ? Never ? If she married Wall ? For a moment he could not get his breath—the world gaped empty about it.

Then his blood swelled with sudden triumph. Why, he was not a child ; he was a man, and that was the dear woman that he loved ! He wont to her, leaping over a fallen tree, and threw himself breathless on the grass. Heater, amused, looked down at his sensitive face and burning ryes. ‘I heard you singing, Monsieur Koel, she said after s while.

* Oh! Did you like ray voice ?’ eagerly. 4 My father does. I don’t know. He is a great musician. Perhaps—would you like me to aing to you now V •No,’ Hester smiled. ‘You—you can talk to me instead, she added shyiy. Noel did not answer. He rose slowly, and leaning against a tree looked steadily down into her face. She saw how he trembled though she did not raise her eyes. The very wind was still. A crioket chirping In the stubble counted off the the long minuses; far away swelled and sank the low chanting in the church. Hester’s fiogers still went in and out that wearisome net, bat they shook now ; she could not see her work. It seemed to her as if all had been already said between them.

* floater,’ he broke out at last, ‘you must have known it this long time. I suppose it seems mad folly to you. I know ! I’m only Louis Noel. I’m a headlong, good fornothing fellow. But ” —he caught her hand and stroked it passionately la his cold fiogers. ta ester glanced up at the pension windows. She did not forget to be decorous. ‘Nol Don’t speak yet!’ he cried. ‘Don’t send me away yet; I know the Americans think me fl ghty—a vaurien. But I can work ! I can make yon such a happy home hero in Tadouaac. 1 know you like Tadousac. Oh, I know all your whims and fancies ! I'm a weak little fellow ; but I love you so that I could keep trouble away from yon as if I were God.’

Hester looked at him thoughtfully. She had known for a year that each of these two men would ask her to bo his wife, and she knew precisely what answer she would give them, but she was not going to be hurried out of her orderly course. Loula drew back.

‘You will not take my love?’

His sudden pallor, his relaxed features annoyed her. What was the use after all of such weariuome tragic emotions?

* 1 will see you again, * she laid coldly ; •we are not alone now. Mr Wall’— Wall stood within the gate. Noel tnrned and joined him without a word. Ab the men went out together a branch of woodbine struck Bgainat one of their faces. Miss Page when she wfia alone broke it off and shyly put it to her lips with a bright blush. . .

‘ Bring the roporti and money here,’ said Wall when they reached the house. • The money,’ stammered Noel ; ‘lt 's in a sealed package. Is it necessary to count it ?’

Noel's snppreared excitement as he left Hester had startled Wall Ho eyedhiodaz:d face now with sndden suspicion. ‘ Bring me the money,’ he said sharply. Louis ran pp to his chamber. Thera were steps overhead, then a pause. Ten minutes, half an hour passed. Then the door opened and he stood in it. He looked shrunken and years older than when he went out. • The money is gone, Wall,* he said. * The money ? Gone ? What do you mean ?’

‘ The package. I sealed it yesterday. I looked it in my desk ‘ And it is gone ?’ Noel sank on a chair near the door. Wall went up to him. Ho was a powerfullybuilt man, and he towered over Louis who was bat a puny young fellow, ’ Bring mo that money I’ he said. Noel pushed him. away steadily, • Keep your hands off of me. 1 must think—this means more to mo than to you. Wall drew bacK. There was a moment’s silence.

‘lt means ruin to you. Look at me, Noel. This will not surprise the firm You can not pass it off as an accident. Now listen. If that money is not within my hands in an hour, I must return to Montreal to-night and make all known. Even if Preyteau will not consent to your arrest you will be discharged.’ He lowered his voice. * Miss Page will not be likely to marry a penniless vagabond and a—thief. • What of Miss Page ?’ said a clear voice behind him.

Lonis stood up. Wall turned and faced him, a alow heat of triumph rising in his heavy jaws and half shut blue eyes. There had been tome softening of pity in his tone just now, but now he remembered that this man was his rival and was in his power. James Wall was not the man to delay using that power for one remorseful moment. * Monsieur Noel is in difficulty,’ he said, gravely looking down and rubbing his weU kept nails as though in embarrassment. ‘His returns to the firm—there is a deficiency of several thousand pounds,’ Hester went quickly up to Noel. There was something wholesome and invigorating in her decisive step, in the keen common sense lighting her brown eyes. • Yon can set this right of course V she said

* I have not spent the money. It was in my desk yesterday. ’ ‘ She looked at him a moment, then for the first time in her life laid her hand on his arm.

• Monsieur Noel, you are not yourself! You have been robbed. Why do yon stand here ? Why do you not make search; arrest the servants V

(To he continued