The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-06-20

body can leave the city, willingly or
unwillingly."
Hardwood fingered restlessly at the
door. as though he wished to say some
thing more. Bourke understood. and
rodded gravely.
Il needn't say, Jim, that III do all
can
"An I can" meant. for Bourlze. de-
vCtion while life lasted. Hardwood knew
this
Nothing could happen in the few
days I'll be away, and if L can't get
back as soon as l expect
Il will do what I can" repeated
Bourke.
After a silence they shook hands.
Hardwood returned to his room, closed
the door, locked it, and flung himself
face downward on the bed. But he
could not even close his eyes, and when
Red Riding Hood knocked he sprang
up and unlocked the door with the re-
lief Of half stified man. They ex-
changed their kiss sOlemnly. He sat
down again on the bedside and took the
child in his arms. For an hour he told
her stories. wonderful tales of the east
and west, legends of north and south,
chronicles of saints and martyrs. and
those we'll loved of Cod And the burden
of every tale was honor.
Twilight spun its gray web over all,
sounds grew softer, the child slept in
his arms. He laid her among his pill
lows lightly. then went his way down
the dim stairs, flight after fight, until
he came to the closed door Again 1t
oDened for him, as it had opened once
before. noiseIessly, and he entered. On
the niche in the wall Sainte Hide of
Carhaix stood, leaning at an angle, for
when she had fallen, feet and pedestal
had been shattered on the tiles. Under
her hung a rosary. He looked around
slowly. Behind the curtain, by the dim
window, something moved.
Hide" he said, aloud. He scarcely
knew the voice for his own But she
knew it What else should she hear
near all day, all night, but his voice
always his voice? She, came to him
through the twilight and laid both her
hands IN his.
You are going away 'sShe said.
She had not heard him say so, there
in the hall. She knew it as women
know such things.
Yes he said. Il am going away
Tomorrow"
Yes"
She waited for him to speak again.
She waited in a terror that dried lip
and eye. Her knees trembled. A chill
crept to her breast. She waited for a
word-a single word, that meant saliva
lence was her sentence-a sentence
without hope, without appeal
After long while her hands fell
from him. She moved backward a
step. Her head brushed the hanging
rosary and set the brass cross swing
ing like : pendulum, timing the sands
of life The sands of her life were
running quicly now-too quickly.
You heard?' he asked. 1T was you
claire
Yes"
THAT Bourke loves Yolette?"
Yes
She reached out in the darkness,
needing support. The white wall SEEM
ed to waiver and recede under her
hand.
And YoIette," whispered Hardwood
with tight lips
There was crash, a tinlSle Of porce-
lain on the tiles. Sainte Hide of Car
haix had fallen again at his feet. There
was something else breaking, too--close
beside him-a woman'S heart in the
twilight
And Yolette," he repeated.
She said: do you love Yolette?"
His hot head swan: he CROPPED for a
chair and leaned on it heavily. Then
he sat down, his clenched hands over
his eyes. knowing nothing, hearing
nothing, not the quiet sob in the dark
ness, not the faltering footsteps, not
the rustic of her knees on the tiles
beside him Two hands drew his hands
from his eyes, silken head rested on
his knees.
ssWhatever is for your happiness"
she gasped, "but-be honorable; it is