Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-25


~ Somewhere in the night a cab ratified
over a stone pavement: dog barked do xn
by the Porte Rouge. .See the rockets"
said Yolette: cit is Mont Valerien that sends
them up. They are talking to ST. Denis
with their rockets. Monsieur Bourke says
SO. And now st. Denis will send the mes
sage to the fortress of the east. Hide,
little sister. you are crying
81 am afraid"
Was it the sudden cold that chilled her?
She shivered and turned back into the
house. Bourke moved about lighting
candles in the dining room-there was no
more lamp oil-and Yolette went to the
table and seated herself her eyes inno-
Gently answering the alteration in her
lovers eyes They waited in rapturous
silence until Hide entered. Then Bourxe
sat down and the meal began.
About o'clock Red Riding Hood came
to clear the table. Hide aided her, bearing
out her own untouched Plate. pausing to
cry little In the dark entry. until she
heard Bourke laughing in the dining roOm
and that comforted her. But when she
turned. serene and smiling. the smile died
on her lips. for Bourke was saying, Il
wonder what could keep Jim? / don't like
IT. He ought to have been here before
dark"
4 little spasm of fear passed through
Fer nedrt. she turned ana entered the nall
way, before she had reached the front
door il opened and a gust of icy wind
swept across her face. At first she thought
IT was ne who had entered: there was no.
body there. The rising wind tore a shutter
loose on the floor above, the tree in front
of the house swayed, bowed, bent and
creaked. showerinG the sidewalk with
whirling leaves. Then. in a moment it was
over; the wind died out. all sounds and
movements seemed to cease as at an I'M
heard command. The hush terrified her:
she looked up through the thick air. look
ed up through gray descending veil,
palpable haze that covered her with
million sitting snowfiakes. Straight down
from the fathomless vault of midnight
they fell athwart dim gas jets-ghostly.
noiseless. ominous flakes. They melted at
first, wetting the sidewalks till the re-
fected gas jets trembled like torches mir
rored in a river After while grayish
patches and dim bolts of snow appeared
here and there, spreading faster than they
est beech. the grass on the glacis whitened
as she looked The chill in the air had
vanished. yet far away she scented the
cold-the clear. clean breath of winter
Out over dark hills and valleys. over riv-
ers. woods and spires, the unseen snow was
falling She felt it as though each flake
were falling on her heart Her eyes strove
to pierce the gloom where all the world
was waiting breathless in the snow-wait-
ing as she waited-for what? Again that
sick fear struck through her breast There
came a distant echo of footsteps. scarcely
softened in the snow, nearer, nearer-a
shadow passed across a signal lamp, across
the neXt-and the next. "Hilde,' He held
her crushed to his breast for a moment.
Her eyes were closed. her wet hair glis-
tened with snow crystals under the gas
jet overhead A minute passed-two, three
He lifted her head, seeking her lips. rs
1t tonight she sobbed.
Yes
After moment he gently unciasped her
mr. --A IL 1oII,
"Bourke."
Not tonight-not yet she moaned
reaching out blindly. He caught up both
her hands and kissed them again and again
the hallway. bearing a lamp. and behind
him was Yolette. Hardwood whispered:
It's for tonight. Cecil-Bellemare's divi-
sion is leaving ST. Denis. Get your dis
patches quick The cavalry are riding by
the St Ouen gate: the fortress of the east
supports them. Hurry. Cecil; I've only a
second
Bourke turned and hurried I'D the stairs
. n0lette looked from Hardwood to Hide.
Can't 1t be helped?" she asked at last
NO. L must go. After have gone-then
tell Bourke-not before. He would not let
me 60" He kissed Hide quietly, saying
tnat there was nothing to fear-saying
that he would soon return to be with her
always Bourke reappeared with a little
packet Yolette was crying.
Jim said Bourke, Il will golf you
say the word
Hardwood smiled and pressed his hand
lightly "Good-bye.' he said. "There'1I be
no trouble" Yolette hid her head in her
hands. Hide turned white face to Hare
wood He hesitated. glanced at Bourke
with inscrutable eyes. then for the last
time took Hide to his breast-a second
and was gone.
Jim" stammered Bourke. 'you-you
can't go-I didn't understand I-waiti
Come back, you fooll"
"Hilde! whispered Yolette, with asben
lips.
But Hide no longer saw; no longer hoard
CHAPTER XIX