Evening star., 1898-07-23

other shell was heard from the Porte
Rouge. The huge projectile seemed to hang
above the Rue d'Ypres, growing larger and
larger as it neared the street. Suddenly it
exploded. sweeping the rooftops with a hail
OF iron fragments, wrecking chimneys and
tiles and showering the street with shatter-
ed states.
An old woman ran shrieking along the
sidewalk, her gray hair dripping with
blood A cannoneer on the ramparts lay
writhing beside the Prophet. The artillery
men recovered from their amazement and
swung the great gun southwest. a clap of
thunder shook the bastions, white cloud,
ever spreading. wrapped the Prophet, But
again came the terrifying shrek of shell,
nearer, nearer-then the street trembled
with its impact and the houses rocked and
reeled to their foundations as the Prophet
thundered its reply.
The forts of the south were flaming and
blazing from every embrasure; the batter
les, the redOubts, the southern bastions of
the fOrtifCatiOns We're covered with smoke:
but still into the city plunged the PruSsian
shells, blowing houses to ruins, setting fire
TO roofs, exploding in the streets, on the
sidewalks, on bridges and quays, squares
and bouleyards, hurting death and 6estruc-
ton to the four quarters of the city. Three
little children crossing the Rue Malaise
shelter to the Prince Murat barracks was
oiSemboWeled in the Rue d'Ypres. A con-
vent was struck repeatedly; two shells en-
tered a hospital and tore the helpless
wounded TO shreds, another killed a poor
American student in his room in the Rue
de Seine Faster and faster came the
shells; night added to the horror of the
scenei the darkness was lighted with the
names Of burning houses. The uproar of
the forts. the scream and hiss of shells, the
deafening explosions of the cannon blended
in a tumult indescribably frightful At mo-
ments. in the brief lulls of the uproar the
iron knelling OF the tOcsin was heard the
fainter booming of drums calling TO arms
the distant rush of artillery, galoping peIl-
nell TO the bastons.
In the Rue Serpente Hide and YoIette
crouched, half dead with terror. A shell
had fallen at the corner of the street and
had torn cafe to pieces. Bourke had been
away since early noon. and YOlette's fright
and anxiety for him drove Hide to forget
her own fear.
In that dark, narrow street with its rows
Of ancient houses, women and children,
frantic, shriekins, disheyeled. ran hither
and thither to escape the shells Some
shouted, The other side of the river, Save
yourselves Others ran back into the tall
crumDlIng houses to cover on the worm
eaten stairs or crawl into the ceIers-
We must go 10 the cellar" repeated
Hide with white lips. "Yolette, every body
IS going to the cellar"
Il Cannot-I will not stir until he comes
ha eel
lar if you wish
Shell after shell. moaning. whistIing, flew
high overhead The air hummed with the
QUIver. the windows yibrated. There came
a terrific report from the corner of the
street: a house bulged outward falling
slowly amid the crash and crackIe of
wooden beams. n heap of plaster choked
the street; some woodwork afire lighted up
the mass of lime and bricks. under which
something writhed feebly-a man perhaps
Riding plj in erio rp
sblrt IN an agOny Of fright. The child was
still in her night gown, and her little limbs,
numb with cola, quivered.
Somebody on the stairs cried out THE
roof IS on fire. Another rushed screaming
to the cellar.
Gomez murmursd Hide. I'VE cannot
stay. Iolette-we shall be burned if We
stay-O, come, COmet'
Not TO The cellarI' cried Yolette. What
are you doing-the house will burn over
Nou.' They were on the stairs now, Hide
dragging the child by the hand, Yolette fol-
lowing and trying to make herself heard in
the din.
Don't go into the streetm she cried,
again.
We can't stay in the house," painted
Hide. desperately.
Go back Go backt' shouted a crowd of
soldiers, who came stampeding through the
street and poured into the houses. The
cellars are safe. Go to the cellars"
They pushed past the doorway, motioning
dccrpost. holding tight to Iolette and Red
Riding Hood.
The street outside was ruddy with the
glare OF burning houses; the shells stream
ed high overhead toward the Pantheon
now. falling beyond the Rue Serpenre. some
in the boulevard st. Michel, some on the
ScrbOnne. many on the Val de Grace and a
few even in the river. The fire of the Prus-
sian guns shifted capricioUsly; now the
MOntparnasse quarter was covered with
prOjectiles, now the Luxembourg, now the
Latin quarter. But always the shells
streamed thickest toward the hospitals the
barracks. the churches, palaces and great
public buildings.
As the shells ceased falling in the Rue
Ssrpente, the people Crept from the cellars,
the soldiers Of the Garde Mobile skunk off
and d company of 1remeu came up on a
run, dragging their hand machine. Bands
OF skuiking vagrants prowled through the
street, half bold. half timid. peering into
doUrways hanging about shell-wrecked
houses, showing, prying, insulting women.
One OF these ruttians entered the hallway
where Hide stood, and started TO ascend
the stairs, but, evidently considering the
shabby house not worth his attention
turned ana stood hesitatingly in the full
glare OF = burning house.
Mile Hide, whispered Red Riding
Hood. Look Look AT the same mo-
Iaent the vagabond saw Hide and shrank
back against the wall II was the Mouse.
Hide sprang TO the shaky stairs and seized
the Mouse by his ragged sleeve. That
be dragged up the stairs and into the little
apartment. now brightly Illuminated by the
Hanes from the burning house on the cor
ner- NOlette and Red Riding Hood fol-
lowed.
Now" muttered Hide, breathless. "tell
me where he is2 What have you done with
him.? She stood before the Mouse with
hashing eyes and little fists clenched re-
peating harshly; You swore to me that
you would be with him. that you would
keep him from harm, You skunk out of the
house with that promise to me-and l let
you go-I promised to say nothing to the
others What have you done with him %
Hes been shot" gasped the Mouse, she
was
Shot" whispered Hide
He isn't dead" grOwled the Mouse 'I
came 10 find NJ. BOurke. but when l went
10 the Rue d Ypres you all had decamped
Then" he continued with a crfngIng
gesture. Il started to look-and quite by
accident mademoiselle. l met some friends
but l was not stealing" he whined.
glancing furtively around. no indeed. I
stole nothing. as the others did. You Will
tell NJ Bourke that, You will tell NJ
Bourke 1 was not pillaging houses"
where 10 NJ. Harewood?' interrupted
y was going TO tell you" said the Mouse
sUomlssiYeiy. Il was going to tell made
TnoiseIe that NJ Hardwood is in the ca Sc
rates Of the NGnterre Fort-very sick
since they cut the bullet out. And If is
0ulEe 1 M nil