The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-03
CHAPTER XXI.

long intervals the majestic reverborations from
Mont valerien shook the heavy air. The south.
she could hear commanding in the north, far
away toward LesBourgct, but when she held her
breath to listen; the beating Of her own heart
She slept badly that night, dreaming that
Hardwood was dead. and sho awoke in an ecs.
tacy OF terror. calling his name. Yolettc came
S he n IN the Seu chilly bed. But she could / not sleep D.
slumberinE with a'smiIe. on her lips, Hide
slipped from the bed and climbed thn. dark
somctbins To be- in his room-it helped her to
look out into'the darkness. For he was some.
where there in the darkness.
tho fortihcations below the unwicldy bulk of
the Prophet doomed up, tilted skyward, a shape
Rockets were rising slowly from Mont va.
lerien; inrthe east the sky lowered, tlnged with
a soS som b9m IuFid er lEhI bv pf the PPr, S ,ssia Tvie burnin %
alone at midnight.
A wet wind blew the curtains back from the
open window: her little naked feet were numb
with cold. The nevcr-ending desire to see his
room. his clothes, his bed again, came over her.
She dared not light n candle-it was forbidden
to those who lived on the ramparts,so she rose
and passed along each wall. touching the oh,
Knew them already by touch, his gray coat. his
riding jacket, his hats and caps and whips and
spurs. She reGrranged the brushes and toilet
articles on his bureau, her light touch caressed
on orS the THSN little ieq iaB B%ip'FfT Then Sna she RRsnS vent GT't 10 the! the bed
Alu lBT nFAu VII lIt J. VI lS Z
sclf.to- slecp-a sleep full OF vague shapes. a rest
less sleep that stole from her hcayylids at dawn,
leaving her to quencn the fever in her eyes with
tears again.
1t was the last day of October, Bourke had
gone away to the city before breakfast to verify
an ominous rumor concerning. Metz, published
in a single journal of the day before, and vigor'
ously denied by the official journal.
Yolette and Red Riding Hood were in the eel.
lar. ssstoring more cases of canned vegetables and
mourning the loss of Scheherazade, who had
been sent on Saturday to the geological gardens
in the Jardin dcs 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
The iioness had been carried off sorely against
her cage with glowing eyes, in which the last
trace Of gentlcness and affection had been ex-
Hide, deep in her own trouble, scarcely
needed this new one. Scheherazade had been
changing Cna n in s diSir0sitti 0rti ever since sir. b the tiFsf c an
depths, Of the garden, ignoring Hides advances
until Iolette began to fear tho creature. So
now. when 1t was necessary to send the lioness
away, Hide said nothing and Yolette was not
sorry, Mehemet Ali, the parrot; however;
Bourke because Schcherazade was the first liv-
ing thing that the vicious old bird had ever
So the iioness was packed Off to be fed by the
Government, and Rourke improved that oppor.
tunity by sending Mehemet Ali and the monkey
also, which made Two mouths the less to feed
Down in the cellar Yolettc stood, pilinE timed
III anu NtBtldbICS dRdllSb IL III Islol al
aided by Red Riding Hood. At the child's re.
quest iolette was varying the monqtony of theiT
i list ny i1 rraTeiy as ns' SYoiettse continued:
And the Princess waited and waited for her
d~ear:Prince, who had gone to fight the were-
II know" said the child, what you mean
is . Mia H Hi %sre.wolfr. said Yoletto, family
1.-The were-wolf-that Is the Prussian army"
Yolettes face sobered.
e. rTho Pru 1na Mers are wolf, very she erS seia and ac 0ery
little one. we must go to the Kitchen"
AT, the top of the cellar stairs, they met
saw Eolette, but his expression had not escaped
her; . .
yet breakfasted myself. Shall we go inl'
She led the way into the dining room and
and looked into her clear eyes.
1T is bad newsf' she said slowly.
"Not.not about NJ. HarewoodT
Mol hope not
Tell me, Cecil"
"Mctz has surrendered; Bazaine and his army
are prisoners"
Tears FLIED her eyes.
"Wha else. Cecilf There is something else"
YES, there is. lie Bourget was carried by as
sault yesterday forenoon"
She sat down by the table. nervously twisting
the cloth. He took a chair opposite, resting
his chin on his hands.
Yes. he will come back to Paris because the
sortie has failed TO pierce, the German lines.
He should have come back last night said
BouFke nodded silently.
And because he has NOT. yet returned, you
are worried" continued Eolcttc. Her hand
stole across the table and his own frightened
over it. ,.. our al,
Bourke, making an effort to shake off his de-
preston. ,o.hinn uudo about ;+n
I'm NOT to Hille.' murmurpl NOlette.
Red Riding Hood entered bearing the break.
fast covers. Hide came in a moment later and
looked anNiously at Bourke.
He smiled cheerily and began, to read from
the morning paper aloud, how NJ. Theirs. who
list the sympathies of the great powers in he.
half OF France, had Just returned from Vienna,
per It seems that Nj. Thievs had
sounded England. Russia Austria, and Italy,
and found them in accord with himself that an
until a national assembly could be convened
and terms Of peace discussed with Bismarck
listened. Yolette nibbled her toast. and tried to
understand a diplomatic muddle that needed
older brains than hers to solve.
Outside in the street the newsboys were cry.
Metz. Terrible disaster at lie j%iourgct. ES.
Bourke tried to keep Hides attention; she
smiled at him and held out an extra that she
III he:was at lie Bourget, ;" she said, "he was
not hurt. See! Here are the names"
long columns of dead. wounded, and missing.
When he finished she said:
will he come back 10 Paris nowl"
81 hope So, said Rourke. Cheerily. Perhaps
the Mouse is with him, Heavens! What a
mess Trochu made Of 1t at lie Bourget! 1t
seems that Gen. Bcllemare was absent in Paris
when the Prussians fell on lie Bourget. It's
somebody's fault that's clear-and very safe
TO say" he added With an attempt at gayety
that deceived no one.
Red Riding Hood, who now always hold her.
self straight as an arrow. when people spoke of
soldiers for had not her father died in uniforml
said in n clear voice: If the Prussians are
in lc Bourgct- are VIC not in Parish"
Good for your said BOurke. heartily. Let
Metz fall. let Strassbourg tumble down, lot lie
BouIgct blow mp, VIC arc in Paris, two young
ladies, a, young man, and Red Ridi:.g Hood,
Niye la FranCe!"
They all smiled a little. Bourke went out
laughing, quite confident he had dispelled some
OF the gloom. II was raining again. He but.
toned his Overcoat close TO the throat and hur.
ried away on his daily visit to tho War Office.
The streets he trayerscd were filled with peo-
Dle, the place Saint-Sulpice was black with a
mob shouting and gesticulating, Down with
the Ministry! Resign!" II was impossible TO
nnprnnIh In NTnr N Nira uhn n1n,.' - IL.