The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-26

with thin plat of dark hair lying in the
/ hollow between two prominent shoulder
bones. 1t was Ia petite. Madame's little
| daughter.
why, what is the matter. Lucie?" ask
! ed Veronica. touching her on the shoulder
! Bucie promptly raised har head. and the
personitieation of disappointment, worn
3 out of its first rage but still unresigned
! to fate. locked out of tear-stained eyes.
,, Il weep because cannot go to the fete.
! No one can take me. They are all 100
/ busy
They are all too busy? That's the case
with me also. Lucie. Voyez! We will
/ take each other. Vite! Dry your eyes
and fetch my hat while go to ask per-
/ mission of your mother.
| Lucie seized good fortune with both
/ hands. In two minutes her grief was en-
tirely forgotten, and while an occasional
/ sob still shook her as she walked through
the town by Veronica's side. she chartered
gaily of the joys in store for her ia has,
( where one danced and enc paid nothing
In the meantime Edmund, with con-
I science smitten to unwonted tenderness.
strove to make amends to correspondents
! he had treated with Indifference and even
GENUINELY in the past. Veronica had all
: the stamps in her purse. 1t was quite
J strange to miss her; and surprised and
/ almost ANNOYED that he did not find her
/ close at hand. he made inquiries for her
/ Did Monsieur not know that Madame.
/ always so amiable and so gracious, had
/ out of the great Kindness of her heart
/ taken la petite to the fete?' Why on
earth had she not let him know? Rather
vague as to the direction which had been
pointed out to him. he strobe across the
vineyards Before he had gone many
/ steps he could have found it in his heart
to sit down by the wayside and curse the
sense of utter WEAKNESS that seen ed
+ drag upon his limbs. 1t must be that the
air of the place did rot agree with him.
There was something really terribly de-
pressing in this deserted plain, with the
! shafts and cranes of the unused quarries
! like gibbets against the last light-at any
/ rate, dark hierog!yphs that spelled fail
ure and disillusion. He recoiled in horror
/ from an open and scarcely protected shaft
at his feet. Another step or two. and he
might have been killed, He was decided
/ l. on the wrong track. 1t was only after
/ mistakes Commissions. curses, that he at
Length got clear of the bat-haunted, eerie
plain. and was fairly on his way to the
( river At the foot of the hill all the little
booths were abIaze with light; a barrel
! organ ground out lively strains, aud the
air was full Of hustle and laughter. But
3 life was no more cheerful to him here
3 IMAM bil TIE s4l-Al pain IL AAA~'AAA
thropic mood. indeed. these little booths
! seemed a symbol of life-life with all its
mockery OF gaiety and brightness, which
/ passes in a nighttime, and leaves nothing
( for the cruel morning light but trampled
| turf and a few broken toys upon the
/ ground He passed reluctantly among the
| booths. Where on earth was Veronica?
He wandered among the stalls, and even
/ into the tent where the youth of the VIII
] Ia
! tir au pige0ns-dummy pigeons sliding On
wires in the most naturalistic fashion in
( the world. Suddenly he raised his eyes
/ to the whirl and glitter of the merry-go-
round. hatless figure with blown hair
spun past him on one of those spotted
I camels which made a diversity among the
wooden steeds. In horror he watched .or
I its recurrence. The world itself seemed
to spin with that giddy revolution. La
( petite came into view. her black pigtail
! streaming like a diabolic pennon. Behind
( her came Veronica. Just as much aban-
/ donei TO the fury of the chase Good
/ heavens! Who could ever have believed
1 she could be such tomboy 1t was only
/ by an effort that Edmund stopned short
/ OF the last vulGarity Of the outraged hus-
/ band and did rot shout to her to get of.
! He turned his back upon the sight. lest
/ it should prove too much for his patience,
+ and waited Tuning till the fateful charg-
! ers had come to the end of their allotted
spin. Then 1t was that Veronica came
merriIy toward him and touched him gaily
! on the arm.
Some more centimes. please. You are
Just in time to give little Lucie another
ride
For the first time in his life Edmund
felt a parg Of iealousy--jealousy for
creature with red eyes and a pigtail. He
seized her almost roughly by the arm.
Veronica. come away-cone away at
once
/ She beckoned to her small companion in
! sin, and followed him in CONSERVATION.
I Edmund. what is the natter
The matteri l have been looking for
( you everywhere for the last hour, and l
/ find you playing the fool-the spectacle
/ Of a French fair. Where are the stamps?"
| What nonsensei" said Veronica. But
! it was a kind Of nonsense so strange to
| her that she could not laugh at it, and
! she felt herself suddenly tugged back into
the discomfort she had managed to escape.
/ It's too late for the post. II goes about
eight. l think"
Too late" Edmund spoke vlrulently.
"Oh, Veronica. how | hate syness! How
/ hate weakness and schoolgirl ways!
You deceived me about the post.
You willfully led me to believe l could
send that card tonight. And then you
stink off TO the fair without word. What
am to do tomorrow and the next day. too.
without that sable? | really think | had
better go back"
IF you are going to be like this." cried
Veronica like someone | don't krow-like
someone l never knew almost wish you
would
You want me to leave you here to dis
port yourself on the merry go-round."
Edmund, II you are so dreadfully I'M
kind. you will drive me to worse things
than merry go-rouuds,'' she said, trying
| bravely to smile.
''Of course you were at perfect liberty
to go where you liked. | am only sorry
you should deceive me-
But ! never deceived you!"
Not consciously. perhaps. l suppose
must exonerate you. You can't help it.
You are a mass of illusions and idealiza-
tions. Fancy for three years making your
self a Paradise out of this hole. What
dream
And you make it nightmare. But.
Edmund won't have you say things about
the old mill"
''Yes-you are child with pIaythings
for realities. | never perfectly understood
it till tonight"
AS they passed under a light little Lucie
gazed with wide eyes at Monsieur who had
torn them away from the delights OF the
fair and was now making the beautiful
( lady unhappy. Her looks expressed aver
sion. as for a sort of orgre. Edmund was
irritated anew by her stare.
IF you want to quarrel, Veronica, at
least have the decency to wait till We are
alone"
Edmund" she said softly and impIor-
ingly, we won't do that. 1t is impossible
Oh.