Evening star., 1898-06-18

would go with the troops, that he was glad
and proud that Bourke had chosen Yolette
for the woman he would marry, wishing
him luck and happiness He spoke lightly
of the sortie, expressing his satisfaction
at a chance for action and certainty that
all would go we'll He spoke of an easy re-
turn to Paris once the German lines were
ruptured and a free passage established;
he prophesied his own early return. smiling
carelessly when Bourke stammered his
thanks and wishes and fears. They sat to-
gether consulting maps. sketching routes
and probable lines of investment. until the
late sunlight sent it's level crimson shafts
far down the carpetless hallway, and the
shadows redeemed in every corner
Before Bourke left he spoke again of dam
ger. but Harewood smiled and folded up his
maps gayly.
You had better look to yourself" he
said Did you notice the crowds around
the bakeries and butcher shops today"
Yes replied Bourke. "Yolette says
that prices are going up, and many people
are buying supplies for months ahead 1
think I'll lay in store of timed stuff.
vegetables and meats. you know. If there
should be a famine things might go badly
with u.s.
And if Speyer troubles you, what will
you do?'
II don't know" said Bourke 'If it would
be safer for Yolette and Hide. 1 suppose
c. IL
come to that, Jim: they can't turn US out
and, for their blackguardly threats
about Yolette and Hide. it's too late now
TO carry them out. The Prussians are here,
and nobody can leave the city, willingly or
unwillingly.''
Harewood fingered restlessly at the door.
as though he wished to say something
more Bourke understood and nodded
gravely.
Il needn't say. Jim. that I'll do all / can"
All l can meant. for Bourke, devotion
while life lasted Harewood knew this.
Nothing could happen in the few DAYS
III be away, and if l can't get back as soon
as | expect
Il will do what l can" repeated Bourke
After silence they shook hands Hare
wood returned to his room, closed the door
locked 1t. and flung himself face downward
on the bed But he could not even close
his eyes. and when Red Riding Hood
khocked ne sprang up and unlocked his
door with the relief of a half-stified man.
They exchanged their kiss solemnly He
sat down again on the bedside and took the
child In his arms For hour he told her
stories. wonderful tales of the east and
west, legends of north and south Chronicles
OF saints and martyrs and those well loved
OF God And the burden of every tale was
honor
sounds grew softer. the child slept in his
arms He laid her among his pillows light
y. then went his way down the dim stairs
nlght after flight until he came to the closed
ooor- Again it opened for him. as it had
opened once before. noiselessy and he en-
tered On the niche in the wall Sainte
Hllde OF Carhaix stood. leaning at an angle
TOT When she had fallen feet and pedestal
mad been shattered on the tiles Under her
hung rosary. He looked around slowly.
benlna the curtain by the dim window
Hide he said aloud He scarceiv knew
me voice Tor his own But she knew it.
W nat else should she hear-hear all day,
all night. but his voice-always his voice
She came to him through the twilight ana
laid both hands in his
ou are going away" she said
She had not heard him say so there in
things '0" Suei
Yes" he said. Il am going away"
Tomorrow
sne waited for him to speak again. She
waited IN a terror that dried lip and eve
tier Knees trernbled A chill crept to her
breast She waited for a word-a single
word that meant salvation She shrank
before silence, for silence was her sentence
sentence without hope. without appeal.
AFTER long while her hands fell from his
she moved backward a step H.r baad
.orushed the hanging rosary and set the
Drass cross swinging like a pendulum. tim
w.r s me Sahus OF llfe The sands of her life
-. fou heard?' he asked. 1T was you-on
the stairs there?
That Bourke loves Yolette?"
She reached out in the darkness. needing
support The white wall seemed to wayer
and recede under her hand
tight lips ooo with
There was a crash, a tinkle of porcelain
on the tiles. Sainte Hide of CarbaiY bad
fallen again at his feet There was sornaN
thinS else breaking, tOo-close beside him
womans heart in the twilight.
AND 1oiette?" he repeated
she said: DO you love YoIette,,
MS not head swan: he groped for a chair
and leaned on 1t heavily Then he sat
GOWN: MS elenched hands over his ewes.
Ano"ihg nothlng. hearing nothing not the
quiet sob in the darkness not the faltarins,
footsteps. not the rustic of her knees ON the
thes beside him Two hands DREW his ha nds
knees. oii HIS
Whatever is for your happiness, she
sasped but-be honorable; ii is INV sic
yer ana again she whispered: Your hap
meant" " Sou mas
ne looked up slowly. trying to understand
sne question that at last had been an
s"eieo Tor f.lm- 1t was simple so cIear
now; mad he ever doubted it; doubted tbat
ne loFed; And where was fear now-yhere
was sef-dlstIust-despai They had yar
.eu utterly: II they had ever existed AS
yet the awakening to understa nding had
not touched him with the subtler nassion
thdt should endure while life endured he
was so sure. 50 quietly happy. Then wben
ha, Aaiu anu ieli hshtly on her head. and when
A
saw at last in his eyes that his body and
soui We're ners-ah. then he knew the rnvs-
terry and meaning of eternity which 10
shorter than the shortest atom of a sacond
ana longer than the sleep of death.
Ihere was spot of moonlight in tho
room her race was paler. His lips touched
the exquisite contour of cheek and hrnn,
ne scarcely dared to touch her mouth tho
mouth that had been mis- for the askine,
Tor ms pleasure. Tor an idle smile The az
Eine curve of the parted lips, the shadowed
iashes on the cheek. troubled him.
Her eyes unclOsed; she looked at him lie,
lessly. crushed to his breast Stunned h,,
her own great happiness she listened ~
the words. so lorg awaited so long de,
SPARED; the words that told her his ,ox,.
was 10 be forever and forever. this Iova
she hved for She scarcely comprehended
she seemed awake, yet swoonfnp Her
mead mad fallen back a little lips parted
eyes never moving from his own
ForeVer and forever, together sIways
together to love, TO mold. to cherish 10
An. Hiide-"to honor''-that is what he is
saving: can you not hear?
Her eyes enthralled him: her closing lids
hid their heavenly sweetness He kissed
ner mouth.
Life Of my life, heart of nv heart
breath of my breath, forever and forever
TO lore. TO hold, to cherish, to honor"
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