The National tribune., 1896-05-21

ing, my young Breton, and so funny when
he dropped his jewel in my tarabournei"
The manager replied, gruflly: You viii
kindly drop the subject of your young
Breton, and if you begin 10 firt here as you
did at Quimper, shall have something to
say about it,"
Well, say away"
shall send your jersey jewel into the
sea, If you grow sentimental over it." His
tone was antry and Pierre faneied him
threatening Kadja.
Very we'll, try 10 take it from me and I
will throw my cup Mt you"
Pomerio judged from the rattle of knives
and forks that they were supping lie heard
Ali laugh and Aicha chuckle.
on defy me?" shouted the Levautne
You defy me?"
Pomerio could easily guess at the scene,
even the gestures The little man, with the
red iez, approached Kadia and stretched his
lean hands toward the Jersey heart which
she displayed provokingly. Then there was
sound like slap. Evidently lie had
seized the girls white arm. Aicha and Ali
laughed on and sneered indflerently.
All at once Pierre felt q shock against the
canvas about the level of his head and some
thing fell inside with q crash. 1t was the
cup or glass Kadja had thrown, which had
missed Its aim. But the man seemed TO
have seized her and was twisting her arm or
hand, for she screamed and struggled.
Let me go! j say, let me go! You are
hurting me dreadiullyl Coward that you
are No; you shall not have the heart
No! No! No! Why don't you help me, you
others? Can't you see him twisting my
wrist? You hurt met You hurt me !!
Help Help. Helpi"
An! Pierre Pomerio's blood boiled his
ears rang with q sound like church bells,
and without knowing what he was about
he drew his great Sheffield blade, ripped the
canvas in two with one stroke and, parting
1T, dashed inside like q Aadman brandishing
the shining steel.
The crouching African sprang to his feet
the other, still grasping Kadia's wrist,
turned to look at the big blue-eyed youth,
with his black hair all dIsOrdered, his hand
some face livid. But the fat Aicha went on
TRANQUILITY gnawing chicken bone.
The manager perceiving his danger pushed
KadJa back, while she, flattered by this appa-
rltIOn, smiled her sweetest.
Pierre bounded on the impresario like an
angry beast He seized him by the cravat
and shook him sayageIy.
Are you mad or drunk 2" cried the man.
cali! Ali"
Ali had not waited to be called he was
already trying to pull Pierre away, but the
Breton was strong. He flung off the Levau-
tine, who fell, bruising his head against q
trunk. Pomerio and the negro fought furi-
ously.
Helpi Help," shrieked Kadia again.
Aloha munched away at her chicken az
81 al nvffxy Ta.I u ~.
manager, springing up, snatched away
Pierre's knife and threatened him with
his own weapon.
chest
My knife or strangle you'll cried Pierre,
leaping at the mans throat.
lie did not perceive the quick move which
made Kadia scream Sd wildly, but he felt
something cold in his side and shock as
though he had received blow.
He remained standing for an instant. He
saw the impresario look white and scared
and turn as 1T inclined TO run away.
Kadja gently touched his hand and asked:
I" Has he hurt you very much?"
Pomerio tried to answer mo-" but he
felt weak, and something warm was flowing
down his breast He sat down, tore open
his vest and saw blood. On the ground be-
fore him lay his Sheffield knife all red. He
felt no pain, only suff0catiOn, as though
blood were flowing inside as well as out. He
did not complain or reprOach anyone. Kad
ld'S duSky face was very close TO his; he
Iouged TO tell her how beautiful he thought
her, bat the tent was now full OF people,
'ailors and townfolk, who suddenly fell apart
because the police had arrived.
The fat Aicha let her chicken bone fall, |
and hegan to whimper: 1T is nothing, |
nothing at ALL just little quarrel. saw |!
nothing OF it-I was eating -
An official-looking parsonage approached |
POmerio and inquired:
Are you The wounded man?"
Beyond Pierre saw the Manager, pale and /
terrified, explaining that he did not know
low it had happened-"a accident, mis-
ortune -
"Turn all these other people out"
When he was almost alone with kadja |
md the two or three others, Pierre POmeriO
eft himself growing weaker and weaker, but
lot sad, no; on the contrary, he felt as though
ie were the hero OF one of those stories Yam
old long, long SO long ago, under the clear
ky of the infinite plains.
Kadja the daughter of the Emirl
She was bending over him like the fairy
If the rocks, and gently asking:
Do you suffer much?"
"No; not much. 1t is nothing at ALL"
Your name?D asked the official.
He gave it and answered the other ques- |
IONS
''And yours? First name and last?" he |
lsked Kadia.
She replied quite simply, as if it were the
most natural thing in the world:
"a Il