Omaha daily bee., 1898-05-22
49,,
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Ashes Of Empire.
BY ROBERT W. CHAMBERS.
By ROBERT W. CHAMBERS.

that he knew SO much more than she could
have expected.
"Realiy." she said, at would be only just
II understood English-when you and M.
Bourke talk together so rapidly-tr-r-r-r-r!
C-r-r-r.-in your English tongue! l am
displeased monsieur. I shall talk no more
Breton with Yolette."
"will you sing something in Breton for
me II sing you a beautiful little English
song, Hilde?"
Hide laughed outright
"Yes-if you sing first"
Here goes then It's song I'm very
fond Of" and he began to drone out Jim
Crow"
"Horrid!" exclaimed Hide. putting both
hands over her ears. How can you make
such sounds-like June beetles around
candle"
Isn't It pretty?" demanded Hardwood,
little disconnected. He hadn't much voice,
but he was fond of music and proportion
ately soulful when he sang. Jim Crow
being his favorite-and his limit, he had
sung it with an enthusiasm that set Hides
nerves on edge.
Anyway" he said, "it isn't as dingdong
as the French songs"
Henriette etait file
Dun baron de renom,
d une illustre famille
Etat lie beau Damon,
ii etait fait au tour,
Ellie etait jeune ct belle,
Et dun parfait amour
lis etaient lie modee
"I don't know anything to compare with
that for imbecilty," he said.
Hide was laughing so gayly that
Scheherazade woke up, cast a reproachful
glance at them both, and loped off into the
garden. This made Hide laugh the more,
and Hardwood, catching the infection.
laughed too, not knowing exactly why
I'VE are very ridiculous" said Hide,
gathering up her needlework Her cheeks
were aglow with delicate color, her eyes
brilliant and fairly dancing with mirth.
After an interval the sudden soberness
| which always follows laughter soon came
upon them. Hide resumed her sewing.
Harewood leaned back in his chair, watching
her wstfully.
Dreaming there in the silent room. where
| bars of sunlight lay across the carpet, and
drowsy flies buzzed along the window panes,
there came to them sense of peace, of still
ness, of desire fulfilled something they had
never before known nor even wished for.
She began speaking to him quite natur-
ally, indolently occupied with her needle,
now and then raising her head to look at
4
| confidence. Such moments are rare in life,
| but they come to all at times when every
thing seems but the continuation Of familiar
conditions, long established, an unchangine
regime, pleasant, even in tenor, without
| trouble, without desire. She told him of the
convent. Of the death Of her uncle, Of her
hopes, her fears. She spoke Of Brittany. ol
Carhaix, of the Pardon Of the Birds and OF
Sainte Anne d'Auray. She painted for him
in quaint phases the chapel OF Morlaix. the
coast of St. Gildas, the Icelanders. and the
blessing of the fleet He asked her to sing
| and she sang the "Ar Vinorez" deliciously
| Carmel
, Carmel, ,.s
| Ma vo ket dimet ar vinorez
! Ken vo bet pardon ar Carmel
She told him naively Of Ker-Is, that city
punished and submerged because of the fault
of Ahes, daughter Of Gradlon. the king.
"Qu'y a-t-il dams la vile d'Is-si la jeu-
nesse est tellement joyeuse-et 81 j'entends
lie biniou.'
She recited the Gwerz Of Count Gweto and
her eyes filled at the moment Of peril.
"Seigneur Dieu ma file, comment fera-t-
on" and the reply:
| "Allez dams la chambre blanche prendre
de beaux atours!"
All the pathos and mystery Of the Bre-
tonne was in her eyes and voice as she