The St. Johns herald., 1900-01-20

ding, but hardly a word was spoken. Grandmere's head had sunk upon her breast. Yvonne's gaze was fixed ear nestly upon the young mans face, as if she found strength there. Willough- by, watching the prov as he sent it shooting through the water, had ever before his eyes the vague, mysterious image of the Lady of the Flag Flowers. ] They approached the hillside on which stood grandmere's little white house. The storm that had been threat ening for so long, seemed almost ready to burst above their heads. ''It is near midnight" said WiIlough- by, as he turned the canoe toward the shore.
 Then, by sudden impulse, be leaned toward Yvonne.
 You have not told me the name of La Jongleuse, YVonne!" ''Non, non, for it is ze bad fortune to speak it.'
 Nothing will harm you now, my child" he answered, as he sprang from the boat and pulled it up on shore.
 'If one speak her name and the hour ees midnight, then she will appear, and if she, will appear it be sign of death" He held out his hand to guide her to the bank, and when he felt her fingers within his own, masterful desire grew strong in him. His persuasion could conquer her fear.
 "YvOnne, tell me her name" L. L H.. her as she wavered at his side.
 ''I shall let nothing harm you," and be frightened his clasp of her hand.
 Nj. Villeaubille, " make you. me to speak? Her name, it ees Matshi Skeou," the young girl whispered. Her face, raised to his, was illuminated by a flash of lightning.
 Yvonne laid hand upon her shoul- der, but the old woman did not raise her head.
 "Grandmere!" she cried, looking down into her face. Then: "Malheur! File est morte, morte!" she shrieked. La JoDgleuse, la Jongleuse!"
 Itwas true. The old woman was dead. Willoughby carried the burden to the house, where the husband and a mar ried daughter awaited them.
 He felt conscious-stricken. He knew that Yvonne would regard him as re- sponsible for the calamity. Perhaps the superstition had laid hold little on him. At any rate, he sincerely repent ed that he had made the young girl speak the dreaded name.
 What would you like to have me do?" he asked her after the grandmoth- CTS body had been tenderly laid upon a bed.
 Shall I go for priest?"
 "Yes, NJ. yilleaubille; if you would be so good"
 He ran down to the shore again, in the gathering storm. As he stopped over the canoe he heard light steps be. hind him on the grass. It had been an uncanny experience even for Willough, by, the night, the storm, the mysterious glimpses of a strange and solitary coun- try, the weird tale of Indian super stition, the dead woman, who had stirred not in the canoe, Yvonne's cry: La Jongleuse, la Jongleuse! won der that he started when he heard the unexpected sound behind him.
 No wonder that a wild fancy made his heart beat quick. A slight figure stood beside him. Yvonne's voice spoke:
 M. Villeaubille,. I would not gait you retourn to ze village. Ze times ees too, too unfortunate. NJ. Villeaubille, tell me true, true"
 The young girl stepped up to him and laid her two hands lightly, one on each ! of his shoulders.
 Had you not fear gees momante? Haf you not ven you hear my stepping zink ouf ze Jongleuse?'
 Willoughby laughed.
 ''Zen you will not go. It eeS yer bad 1 sign ven one bass her in ze mind"
 Willoughby felt himself swayed by the force of the young girls will. He i also felt himself swayed by contrary force impeliing him to go, as if in some way his decision imported much to i him. The Lady of the Flag-Flowers had cast her spell over him. Would she 1 conquer? Would he yield?
 'Grandmere ees dead. Ze priest, he 1 may come in ze morning. will be con- tent to vait."
 Willoughby turned the boat upside ! down upon the shore, and started back toward the house with Yvonne. 4 long, ! low cry came waveringly from the stream, and cold touch was laid upon ! his forehead. He raised his hand to . brush it away, but his hand met only l the empty air:
 A little winding path led through the | trees to the house. It was very dark, !! and the branches which they divided i across their path sprang back again be- hind them with snaps and crackles.
 Willoughby thought he heard little movements, now on this side, now on | that, sometimes in front, sometimes be- { hind.
 "Yvonne, are there three of us here?"
 The girl disengaged her hand from ! his arm, and, with an inarticulate i scream, flung from him through the | trees and vanished.
 Then came a voice to Willoughby, | low and flute-like, whether from above, from beside or from within, he could . not distinguish.
 You have yielded through fear Of the Jongleuse. Therefore, you will fear her always, and she will bring 1 death to you once. From the Lady | of the Flag Flowers, Herbert s. Stone & | Go.
 Improving the Monograph.
 Or, ihn mir, riroln nf 1hn Sn1n,,dincy