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


ciously doled out cigars. He cared moth
ing for Yolette or Hide, he ignored
Mehemet Ali, he tolerated Ped Riding
Hood. he loathed Scheherazade with a
loathing that turned his blood to water.
Bourke he revercd because that young
man had mastered him; Hardwood he
followed. when Hardwood did not drive
him off about his business.
Ali day long the forts of the south
I pounded away at the wooded heights
beyond, all day long the houlevards in
the interior of the city echoed with the
rattle Of drums. There We're fewer cabs
| ard omnibuSseS now the government
was constantly seizlng horses for artil-
1 lery and train service. Horse meat,
/ too, began to appear in the markets,
( bat the government at first restricted
its sale to certain designated shops.
/ Toward the middle of the week the
! government published an order in the
! Official rationing the inhabitants OF
Paris, and assuming control of every
butcher shop in the city. Bourke re-
turned that night, bringing with him
a printed card, showing the number of
people in their house. their names, and
/ the amount of meat allowed each-100
grammes daily.
1T looks serious he said, handing
the card to Yolette. I'VE are also
obliged to secure three days rations at
a time"
The name of the Mouse did not ap-
| pear on the card. They invented a name
I for him that rerved its purpose. But
the alarming part of it was that the
| government fatty refused to nourish
! ScheheraZade at its expense, and even
suggested sending her to the Eco in the
Jardin des Pla1tes.
Never" cried Hide, putting both
arms around Scheherazade's neck. but
the lioness no longer responded, and
Hide looked at her sorrowful, mourn
| ing the change in her gentle favorite.
1t was Thursday, Oct. 81 Hardwood
had gone as usual TO the war office.
| Bourke and Yolette sat in the dining
room examining the weeks accounts.
Hide moved about her own little cham
Der. humming her Breton songs
Through the windows she could see the
Mouse painfully splitting firewood I'M
der the uncompromising superinten-
dence of Red Riding Hood.
You split too large" said the child.
Don't you know howe"
NO said the Mouse sulkily.
Then here-giVe NE the hatchet.
There. That's how wood should be
split
Don't let me deprive you of the
pleasure" sneered the Mouse, as she
handed him the hatchet again, but the
child disdained to answer.
"Mincei" observed the Mouse; do
they want wood for a month";
Red Riding Hood turned up her nose.
Bon, said the Mouse. I'll die of
fatigue, but there is nobody TO weep"
He shrugged his shoulders picked w
another log, and chopped on. Hide
smiled to herself watching the COM
edy from her curtained window. The
happy light in her eyes, the song on
her lips-tha song that her heart was
singing, too-tra nSfigured and giOrified
her face. In it the childish sweetness
had turned to something more delicate
and subtle, the purity of contour was
almost spiritual, the curve of the scar
let lips grew finer and more exquisite.
Strength. too. he'd Swallowed the dimple
that nestled in soft corners; the beauty
of her eyes was indescribable, her every
gesture a caresS.
There were moments when, as she sat
thinking in her chamber, the swift tears
filed her eyes, and her heart failed. At
such moments terror of death-his death
brought her to her knees at the bedside.
Sainte Hide of Carhaix, mended with
glue azure-mantled serene. still smiling
in spite of a missing nose.
Hide sewed at tineS-not in the dining
room where Yolette, demure and silent,
listened to Bourke's opinion of every
thing under the sun. He discussed ethics
and morals and human happiness; he
touched on transubstantiatio.. on agri-
culture. on logic. But he never spoke Of
love. Possibly his opinions were valuable:
probably not, for he had little imagina-
do you think" said Yolette that it is
going TO rain?"
No, he replied.
A silence ensued. There seemed to be
no further excuse for lingering; he rose
unwillingly and picked UP his accounts
Must you go?" asked Yolette limo
1t was the first time she had ever asked
him to stay. He sat down hastily and
realized it. She went TO table, sorted
some silks. chose a needle or TWO and
presently looked at him over her shoulder
as though surprised to see MIN there yet.
He felt this: r confused ard panied him.
Perhaps had better CO. he said.
She apparently did not hear him, and. af-
ter moment. he decided not to repeat
the remark Presently she returned to
her chair seated herself threaded some
needles and began to smooth out the en-
broidery on her knee. He could not with
draw his eyes; her delicate fingers fas-
cinated him.
''One. two. three, four. and one. two.
and one two three said Yolette, count
ing her stitches. He felt himself excluded
from the conversation: he looked out OF
the window and chafed. Had he seen the
glance that Yolette stole at him-the in
slant dropping of the blue eyes when he
moved-perhaps he might have felt less
injured. He did not; he listened in silence
as she began again: '-One two. three,
four and one. two. and one. two. three"
He watched her slender fingers guiding
the Hyll9S HeGtlS, lNDSe SIM AAl&eIS were
in her confidence: she seemed to be COS
siping with every rosy tip. every polished
nail. Her head was the slightest bit
averted; the wilderness of her neck daz-
After while YoIette dronoed the en-
broidery into her lap and sighed. Her
arms rested on the arms of her chair.
One hand dropped quite close to his
shoulder. He regarded ii with rising in
terest. It was white and. delicately yeined
with blue: it looked very smooth and
I'LL. r,la
took il naively. IL was then that a series
of thrills shot through his limbs deDriv
ing him of sight, hearing and a portion
aware that the hand he held was re-
sponsible for this: he held it tighter. Yo-
lette, perhaps: was asleep. Are you?
he inquired aloud. WHAT" asked Yo-
lette. amazed.
Bourke only stared at her until again
she turned her head TO the window: They
sat there in absolute silence. lethargy,
a delicious numbness settled over Bourke.
He would have been contented to sit there
for centuries.
Presently Yolette tried to withdraw her
hand failed. tried again. failed, and re-
signed herself-not unwillingiy. She was
1--WE viii I've in New York. said
silence he added. ''in a brownStone house.
We will be very. very happy:
Who" said Yolette, family ;,
Yolette turned quickly; her cheeks were
afiame What 40 you mean?" she de-
manded breatnlessly.
Are you-you not going to marry n,e?'
faltercd Bourke His expression was alb
surd They had both risen: she stood.
Learning little forward. one hand resting
on her cheir. The silence was absolute.
After little she swayed almost imper-
cep.:bly. toward him; he toward her. He
dared not touch her again-yet now he
head close TO his. 1t frightened him into
.peech--a stammering, pleading speech
-. L.. Ion, ct al cnInnlicA ed