The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-16


Seine, dim under its ramparts of low
surrounding hills. In the northwest a
| pallid streak traced the sweep of the
river; further still point of white fire,
| brilliant as a star of the first magni-
| tude, flashed and sci1tillated on the
horizon. 1t was the new electric light
on the great fortress OF Aont-Valerien.
As, Hardwood stood there, fumblinS
for his keys. absently watching the
signal lanterns hoisted above the Porte
Rouge. spots Of incandescent vernlil-
lion and sapphire in the deepening twi-
! light, the door behind them Enclosed,
and Hide glided out.
Good evening" he said. turning in
stantly: II suppose 1 am late for din
! -er?"
The girl closed the door behind her,
noiselessly. returning his greeting with
troubled smile.
u heard your keys jingle. I thought
! it was you. No, you are not late; NJ.
Bourke has not yet returned from the
city: II have something to ask of you;
may T."
"Of course" he answered, and again
that sudden warmth touched him at the
confidence implied in her eyes and
voice-a confidence he felt he deserved
so little.
'Not here, then" she said. lowering
her. voice: they may interrupt u.s."
AS she spoke she stepped across the
sidewalk. and he followed, wondering
at the suppressed anxiety in her voice.
| A breeze blew over the Sodded ram
parts opposite; together they mounted
the gentle slope where, against the
sky, each separate blade of grass stood
out, trembling in the freshening wind.
! On the summit of the glacis they his
| itated; then, by a common impulse,
they moved on along the path together,
side by side, under the million stars.
| He waited for her to speak; her head
was turned away toward the vast
stretch of country in the south where,
over the valley, a haze of sombre
smoke hung, touched with a dull color.
"They are trying to burn the forest
of Thiais; you can see the smoke he
! said. They can't do it; the wood is
too green. It's little late in the day
now to think of clearing away the for
ests from the military zone. They
should have begun month ago. Look
at the Meudon woods. There's cover
enough there for the whole Prussian
army. The engineers and sappers have
been trying to burn il for a week past;
now they are at il with axes. They
might as we'll try to ditch the redoubts
with penknives. What a muddle-head-
ed people!"
you forget" said Hide, that they
are my people"
She spoke so sweetly that the rebuke
struck him with added force.
81 did forget he said; forgive me-"
| They turned again, retracing their
steps along the narrow path, half over
grown with long grass.
You are quite thoughtless, said
Hide; 81 forgive you"
The words were simple enough, and
yet to him they meant more than the
| mere condoning of a tactless remark.
There was something almost intimate
in the words you are thoughtless;"
something that was new to him and to
| Hide. a reversal of their relations, a
tacit assumption of a situation as old
as the beginning of creation, the mys-
terry of an awakening, the enigma of
life. the way of a man with a maid.
Yes. / was thoughtless.' he repeat
ed, lingering over the words that al
ternately thrilled and troubled him,
vaguely aware of the subtle metamor-
phosis that was taking place before his
eyes, the unconscious awakening of a
child to womanhood.
The assumption of the right to chas-
ten and forgive is a maids first step in
love.
Tell me-" he said, what it is that
troubles you"
They were standing still, looking off
over the valley. the night breeze blow
ing in their faces, bringing with it
faint aromatic odor of burning beech
wood.
ct is that l wish to ask your adj
vice. Monsieur" she answered serious
ly. DO you remember once 1 told you
how two Germans, who had rented an
apartment from my uncle, left without
paying-after his death a year ago?
Well, they have returned"
Returned" repeated Hardwood an
griIy.
Yes. tonight. They have offered to
pay us what they owed 10 my uncle.
1t is not very much, Monsieur Hare
woodruff tit is of some Importance
to u.s."
She continued with sensitive reserve:
"At present our means do not permit
US. to refuse-and yet-and yet we do
not like those Germans, Yolette and L"
''That is no reason for not insisting
on what is justly due you" said Hare
wood.
THAT is true, Monsieur" she an
swered. simply; but that is not all.
These men offer to pay US. but only on
condition that we allow them to rent
from us another apartment"
WHAT" exclaimed Hardwood. get
ting red in the face.
This" continued the girl, I'VE do not
wish TO do, although the three rooms
under the roof are quite comfortable.
But, you see. these men are not what
Yoletre and / care to meet. Even when
my uncle was alive and Yolette and /
came back from the convent at Christ
mas-they-they were at times a little
rude with their attentions. Yolette
and 1 were very glad when they left
even without paying anything at all"
DO you want my advice?" asked
Hardwood, brusquely.
IF you do not mind, Monsieur Hare
wood"
''Then let us go back to the house.
for wish your sister also to hear what
[ have to say
''But-but-the two Germans are
there-now-trying to persuade Yo-
lette.''
Harewood's eyes changed in second |
A white pinched look came about his
mouth; then his whole face lighted up
with smile so charming, so perfectly
winning, that Hides troubled gaze
cleared. and she involuntaTily stepped |
closer to him.
1t was seldom that this expression
came into Harewoods face-this abso- |
lutte command of a sudden rage so
frightful that il whitened and sharp |
ened every feature, only to be followed |
by smile that would have disarmed |
the devil himself. Bourke had seen it |
once when Harewood's little fox terrier |
was wantonly dubbed to death by |
peasant in Saarbruck; the peasant was |
probably still in the hospital.
Come" said HARDWOOD pleasantly, |
perhaps we can arrange this affair |
very easily. Why, there is Bourke now, |
going up the steps," He called to his |
comrade. Wait, Bourkei / want to |
see you a moment Is that a riding |
crop you have there?'
Bourke looked at them sharply as ,
they came across the street. but he |
bowed gayly to Hide and opened the |
door.
-
one. I've sold the horses. Are you 60
ing to ride a coek-horse to Banbury |