The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-16
When Hardwood finished he stepped

| When HARDWOOD nnlShed ne stepped
| back a pace.
Get out"
moi"
Get out!" he said gently. Stauffer
slipped past the table at once. Speyer
hesitated, sneering, fairly weak with
rage. then turned and walked out, fol-
lowed closely by Hardwood. At the
door Stauffer began to laugh. His
forced mirth seemed to sting Speyer
! to madness. He turned, as he reached
the sidewalk. Hides name was on his
! lips. but Hardwood dashed him Gross
the mouth with his riding crop.
Col" he whispered with white lipe.
'If you don't go I'll kill you. Can't you
understand-can't you understandable
kill you if you don't co.
He flung him out into the street, and
walked slowly back to the house. clos
ing the door very softly behind him.
He met Bourke in the hall and an
swered his inquiries with shrug.
Mice pair" commented Bourke; ''Yo-
lette is shedding tears; do you suppose
they said anything blackguardly to
herr" .s1i-~
Il fancy they did. It's we'll we came
back when we did. Is dinner ready.
Cecil?"
They knocked at the dining room
door. and entered. Yolette smiled at
them as they entered. 1T was very silly
to cry" she said, sedately, seating her
self at the table.
Bourke, not knowing what to answer,
sat down gravely and looked at the
lioEess; and ScheheraZade, who had
taken a great fancy to Hardwood, stole
around TO his chair, and stood there.
looking I'D with luminous eyes, while
her 1.-the tail gently waved in the air.
Some day." said Bourke, shell take
a fancy TO me, and we shall be insep-
arabic"
His half-serious, half-pretended sus-
picionS as to ScheheraZade'S intentions
always delighted Yolette and Hide.
They loved to hear him call the lioness
living tomb, and wish that his bones
might have a Quieter grave.
Hes insulting you again." cried Hill
de. dragging the lioness across to her
own chair; "as if my Scheherazade
would eat anything she shouldn't! Hear
her purr, the darlingi l do believe, NJ
Bourke. that you are really afraid"
Il am" said Bourke; SOS Hare
wood. Fright keeps him speechless."
Hide raised her dark eyes to Hare
woods.
rs that true, MONSIEUR"
Hardwood frightened and laughed,
nodding across the table: but Hides
face, always a little grave and sensi-
tive, even in her mirth, grew graver
and more sensitive. 1t had changed
within day; something had come into
it too subtle for Hardwood to detect:
something that even escaped Yolette.
The contour of her cheek and neck was
still almost childlike. the Illl scarlet lip
and cheek were finer and purer, a softer
shadow tinged the eyes, an imperceD-
tible tenderness touched the lips.
IT cannot see," said Bourke, honestly.
how your hands can be so white, If
you and Yolette wash those dinner
things"
I'VE don't" laughed Yolette: I'VE
Only dry our little teacups. Red Riding
Hood does the rest. You haven't seen
Red Riding Hood yet? She's the scis-
sors-grinder's child. They live in the
Passage de rOmbre, and they are very,
very poor"
"Hilde thought of it first" said Yo-
lette. "The little thing came to the door
last winter-oh, so cold and hungry. She
comes every noon and evening now.
Hide made her a red cloak and hood.
Her father drinks
''I think" said Hide, "she may be in
the kitchen now. Shall 1 bring her
in?"
Bourke nodded, a trifie embarrassed.
He never knew what to say TO children.
Hide looked shyly at Hardwood, saw
that he approved. and then rose and
went TO the door. Red Riding Hoodl'
she called. Are you there, little one?
Yes? Then won't you come in?"
There came the clatter of small sa-
bots along the tiled hallway. Red Rid
ing Hood appeared.
Bourke stared at this thin little crea-
ture, who stared back at him with a
pair of great eyes, black as Jet. But
Hardwood, easy with anything that
seemed helpless or Respondent, held out
a strong brown hand, smiling. Children
and animals never resisted his smile,
and Red Riding Hood was no exception.
She came. slowly forward and gave him
a thin. red hand. never taking her eyes
fIom his, and he bent forward and kiss
ed the child.
Hides face changed. An exquisite
tenderness touched her eyes as she
looked ct Hardwood, trying to speak,
but could not.
Whats your name? Mine is Hare
WOOD he said.
Mine IS Marie Ledoux. I should
rather be called Red Riding Hood said
the child seriously.
Hardwood was quiet and attentive.
Exactly" he said; land l want you
to come to visit me. Will your
Yes said the child, tomorrow"
"Then will you say good night to
these ladies and gentlemen, Red Riding
Hood?"
The child looked earnestly at him,
then walked to the door,
Bon soir, mesdames; bon soir, mes
sieurs." she said gravely, and walked