Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-02
CHAPTER XXI.
The 3lst of October.

Inc sSlSt al octODef.
| All day Sunday Hide sat at her window,
locking out over the gray Landscape beyond
the Notifications. Few of the forts were
firing. At long intervals the majestic re-
verberations from Mont Valerien shook the
heavy air. The southern forts were mute.
! AT times she fancied that she could hear
cannonading in the north, far away to-
ward LIE Bourget. bit when she held her
| breath to listen the beating of her own
heart was more audible. ts...
She slept badly that night, dreaming that
Hardwood was dead, and she awoke in an
ecstasy Of terror. calling his name. Yolette
came to her and comforted her, curling Up
close to her in the chilly bed. But she
could not sleep. and when at length Yo-
lette lay beside her, slumbering with a
smile on her lips, Hide slipped from the
bed and climbed the dark stairs 10 Hare
woods empty room. 1t was something to
be in his room-it helped her to look out
into the darkness. For he was somewhere
there In the darkness.
Shfvering, she sat down by the window
On the Notifications below the unwieldy
bulk of the Prophet doomed up, tilted sky
ward, shapeless monster in its water
proof covering. Rockets were rising slow
ly from Mont Valerien. In the east the
sky lowered. tinged with a somber lurid
light perhaps the reflection of some ham
let fired by the Prussians, burning alone at
midnight.
the open window. Her little naked feet
were numb with cold. The never ending
desire to see his room, his clothes, his bed
again, came over her. She dared not light
a candle-it was forbidden to those who
lived on the ramparts-so she rosa and
passed along each wall, touching the OBJ
jects that had been once worn by
him. She knew them already by touch,
dc Ii,
and caps and whips and spurs. She rear
ranged the brushes and toilet articles on
his bureau. her light touch caressed his
books and papers and pens where they lay
on the little table. Then she went to the
bed and buried her head on the pillows,
crying herself to sleep-a sleep full of
vague shapes, a restless sleep that stole
from her heavy lids at dawn. leaving her
again.
It was the last day of October. Bourke
had gone away to the city before break
fast to verify an ominous rumor concern
ing Metz published in single journal OF
the day before and vigorously denied by
the official journal.
Yolette and Red Riding Hood were in the
cellar storing more cases of canned yeee-
tables and mourning the loss of Schehera-
Zade, VINO had been sent on Saturday to
the geological gardens in the Jardin des
Plantes. Bourke had insisted on It, Food
was becoming alarmingly scarce There
was no fresh meat to be had except horse
meat, and even that was to be rationed
the first week in November
The lfoness had been carted Off soreIv
against her will. She snarled and growled
anu anu paced her cage with glowing eyes in
which the last trace of gentleness and af-
lectlon had been extinguished.
Hide deep In her own trouble scarcnIy
needed this new one. 1Scheherazade had
e esen changing in disposition ever since the
nrst cannonading. Sullen, furtive she
haunted the depths of the garden. ienor-
ing Hides advancese until Yolette began
10 rear the creature Soonow, when II Was
s neGes aa 70 send the lioness away. Hide
sara nothing, and Yolette was not sorry
Mehemet ALI the parrot, however, screech.
ed mis- remonstrance, which amused Ronrka
because Scheherazade was the first living
shnw s tina, ma, II. the vicious old bird had ever
80 the lioness was packed Off to be red
~ the government and Bourke improved
tnat opportunity by sending Mehcmet All
nn,,,s tne monkey also. (Which made two
mouths less to feed in case of famine.
Down In the cellar Yolette stood n,,i,.
dnned fruit and vegetables against the
a ~ SO wall. aided gy Red Riding Hood.
the monotony Of their toll by telling 3
aalry story: Red RidifIg Hood listened
grayely as Yolette continued: ee0
ana the princess waited and waited for
her dear prince. who had gone to firht tho
werewolf. And he did not return"
u SNOW said the child. what VIM
mean ss.7ssf - ~
.Mhatf" asked Yolette, absentIy.
The prince Is N. HARDWOOD ana 81.
princess Is Mile. Hide" 'ne
And the WEREWOLF ' said Yoletta faint.
ly amused. Aoins-
The werewolf = that is the Prussian
Yolette's face sobered.
Inc Prnstans are very cruel and very
nerce-like the werewolf. she said
Come, little one, we must go to the kit
AT the top of the cellar stairs thew ,,et
hourKe; HIS serious face changed when he
capped her. s. !. -. 60
Breakfast e ready. she said quietly.