Omaha daily bee., 1898-07-24
CHAPTER XXVII1.
The Night of .Atonement.

That night, the zone of bombardment
| having been shifted far to the southwest.
Bourke went to the American embassy. 1t
was II o'clock when he returned, thor
| oughly discouraged. He had seen the min
lister, but that official could do nothing to
| protect Yolette and Hide against the shell
| fire. There was no room at the embassy.
| 1t was not even certain that the embassy
itself would be safe, although the minister,
in some heat, denounced those responsible
| for the commandment and promised to pro-
| test against the destruction of foreign con-
sulates and embassies. So Bourke came
back to the Rue Serpente, worried and anX-
ious, for it was not possible for him to
go to the Nanterre fort and leave Yolette
and Hide alone, without the protection of
responsible people. He and Yolette sat up
late into the night discussing the situation.
Hide lay on the bed, listening, perhaps,
but she offered no suggestions. About mid
| night Red Riding Hood awoke, sobbing
| from hunger, and Yolette comforted the
| child, saying good night to Bourke and
kissing her, sister tenderly.
'Listen, Hide" she said. Cecil is going
| to the Nanterre fort, so you must not be
| sad, my darling. Look up at me, little SIS
ter. I am not selfish and heartless, after
all. Cecil must 60"
st will go as soon as you and Hide are
in safe quarters began Bourke, but Hide
sat up on the bed and forbade him to go.
ut is enough that one life is in danger
she said. "Your place Is here with Yolette.
You can do nothing for him. He is in the
Classmates and under medical attendance.
What.could you do?" 81 shall go when /
| see you and Yolette secure repeated
tBourke. Secure? How?' asked Hide, Bit
' 1an m rNnrA for No
and do you think NJ. Bismarck will order
his cannoners to respect any part OF the
city? The people in the street say that con-
vents and hospitals have been struck re-
peatedly. Have the Prussians not sent their
| shells into the crowded streets of the poor?'
II was the first time that Yolette had ever
heard Hide speak with bitterness. Bourke,
too, looked at her sharply, wondering at the
change in the gentle, reserved girl he mad
known. .
"No,' continued Hide rapidly, mo! mo-!
no,-the Prusslans spare neither young nor
old. man nor woman! You cannot go, Cecil;
Yolette needs you now If ever"
She rose, putting her arms around Yo-
lette, saying, dearest, he must not go to
the Nanterre fort. 1t is wrong for him TO
leave you; 1t is wrong for him to expose
his life"
'Confound n.y. Sald Bourke heipiessiy'
'Pd go to him If it were at the south pole
but l can't leave Yolette in danger; my
skin is no longer my own to risk"
Nor was his said Hide gravely; and
she went into her own room and closed the
door.
The night was bitter cold; the frost COW
cred the window panes with mossllke trac-
cry, silvered by a pale radiance from with
out. And Hide, opening the window
/ looked OFF over the dark city and saw the
midnight heavens blazing with stars, Her
cheeks were burning now; the icy air seemed
/ grateful. After a little she closed the WIN
dow, fearing the cold might harm the 9th
ers. But there was a short ladder in the
hallway, leading TO the s%cuttle, and she
found IL and climbed up and out onto the
roof. Her hot cheeks and aching eyes grew
no cooler in the freezing wind. She even
threw back her shawl and barred her white
throat.
The heavens were Respondent; the tre-
mendous sky-vault, far-reaching, fathom-
less, was busted with myriads OF stars
among which, deep set, the splendid planets
sparkled and the gigantic consultations
traced their signs in arcs and angles and
gem-set circles that spanned The diamond
! showered heavens from horizon to horizon
spire on spire the city lowered, domed,
battiemented. magnificent in the starlight
the beautiful, sinful city, whose lacelike
spires and slender pinnacles rose from