Omaha daily bee., 1898-07-31
she went, smiling and nodding her gray

she went, smiling and nodding her gray
head.
Her son was killed the last day OF the
SIEGE" said Hide; IL sent her to the
citadel, where they will tell her"
There were, tears in her eyes; she laid
her head on Harewood's shoulder.
Life is too sad" she said.
The bell in the citadel began to toll; a
column OF soldiers. marching without drums
or arms, entered the parade, already
crowded with vehicles.
THAT is the end said Hardwood SOL
EMMY; "the fort belongs to the king of
Prussia
"our fort" said Hide, turning very white.
She trembled so that he drew her to him,
holding her close,
wait" he whispered, remember what
we said Of youth and springtide. The land
needs sunshine and pure air and green
leaves and stiffness. Death will be a
memory with summer France can wait;
her promise is in her youth"
The bell tolled monotonously; three silent
files of men entered the gun road and began
the long descent.
There is somebody in a carriage coming
this way" said Hardwood. The next mo-
ment he uttered an exclamation, half petu-
lantly. half amused.
"Hildel It's the Mousel"
She rose, GREATNESS, excited, hands out
stretched; a woman leaned from the car
riage. then sprang to the ground.
"Yolette! Yolette!" cried Hide; little
sister, l am herel'
There's Bourke!" stammered Hardwood,
and tried to rise on his crutches.
Yolette was in Hides arms, sobbing.
tI ftt1a eicf,rt norI;py IIilJat npp't cr1y
so, don't-we are going home-home-really
we are" Bourke's strong hands clasped
Harewood's; his keen, grave face questioned
the younger man.
What he read in Harewood's face lighted
up hsi own, and ne stepped back and took
Hides hands in his. When he turned
again to Hardwood the latter was holding
a little court Of his own. Yolette, Red
Riding Hood and the Mouse surrounded
him; the child had both arms close around
his neck; Yolette was g%rieving over his
wounded limb, and holding his hand in
both her gloved ones. AS for the Mouse,
he chewed a straw and looked on with
mixed sentiments impossible to fathom.
He brought me a silver cup" said Red
Riding Hood %gravely.
The Mouse shifted the straw between
his teeth and looked anywhere but at Hare
wood.
1--WE are to have white bread tomorrow
in Paris" observed Red Riding Hood, still
holding Harewood's neck encircled in her
frail arms. ., .'
And wedding cake he said gayly, ''but
not il you choke me to death, little sweet
heart
The leer on the Mouse's face was impossi-
BILE to describe. Whether he meant it well
| n i'll is n nrnh1DpN Tha .Ian1ng nrn tlnt
he intended to convey the assurance of his
benevolent interest in Hardwood and Hide
However, he only said that the carriage
was ready and the drive to Paris a long
and cold one, and he, the Mouse. was ready
to start as soon as ices messieurs'' were
ready.
Hardwood laughed and took his crutches
Hide, coloring family. placed one arm
around him and aided him to rise.
Come on, Bourke," he said, with a toucl
Of the old boyish ilnpetuosity-yet, unde
it there was something tender, even a it'll
wistful, as though he needed the strength
of his comrade to strengthen him in bod
and mind.
II think he said, as Bourke picked hir
up unceremoniously and carried him off t
the carriage-"I think, Cecil, that you.
find hereafter that my conscience
SlralSnter IMAM my leg.
"We'll mend both, jim laughed Bourk,
as the Mouse opened the carriage door fo
Hide and Yolette.
Red Riding Hood was set high on tn
drivers seat beside the Mouse. Bourk
laced Hardwood gently IN the corner b,
side Hide, then, nodding to the Mouse, h
entered the carriage himself,
"Yolette and | have taken. a house i
Passy," he said, smiling across at HARDWOOD
4, "Yolette says We must have q h%oneymoo
D if we wait ten years for it, soaI'm thinkin
if you and Hide are married and tn
Q blockade is raised-we might run down
e the Breton coast until Paris has cleane
house"
W were thinking said Hide wit
q sweet dignity, "of doing the san thing"
q Yolette suddenly leaned across the cal
! riage and kissed her.
sang as he drove:
For what things shall our brothers plead
A rope a match, a barley seed.
s A rope to hang the man of greed,
a A match to burn his house we need;
To feed the poor. a barley seed,
A barley seed,
A barley seed,
. Crack! crack! went the whip; the site
e snow flew high; the wheels spun, slippe
creaked and whirled round in a shower
. icy slush. And always the Mouse carole
" his merry catch:
: "A barley seed,
A barley seed,
d The rich shall bleed, es
g The poor shall feed,
So, brothers, sow the barley Seed!'
o CHAPTER Xxx.