Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-10-30

cr1istv rounds of buttered bread that were
fragrant in the springlng fragrance of
the woods, firm slices of cold meat and
a cunning pastry which instantly mad
dened me. 1 was ashamed TO De such a
wolf.
We sat with our forest table between
Us and ate together.
Il am hungry myself she said.
A glorified veil descended on the world.
II evening had paused while that meal
was in progress il would not nave sur
prised me- There are half hours that di-
late 10 the Importance of centuries. But
when she had encouraged me to eat ev-
ervthing to the last crumb, she shook
the fringed napkin, gathered up the lac
ouered box. and said she must be gone.
Monsieur, have overstepped the
bounds of behavior in coming after you.
The case was too urgent for considera-
ton of myself I must hurry back. for
! the counts people would not understand
nv secret errand through the tunnel.
VIII you show yourself at the house as
soon as possible?"
l told her humbly that I would.
But let me put you into the boat.
madame"
she shook her head. "You may follow
after l am out of sight. If you fail to
fonow"-she turned in the act of de-
parting and looked me through.
I told her 1 would not fail.
When Madame de Fer-Ier disappeared
beyond the bushes / sat down and waited
with my head between my hands, still
seeing upon closed eyelids her figure. the
scant frock drawn around 1t, her cap of
dark hair under a hood, her face NOV
ing from change to change. And whether
1 sat a year or a minute, clouds had de-
scended when 1 looked up, as they often
did in that lake gorge. So 1 waited no
longer, but followed her
wnnA Ffa
evening like a solid dome, pressing down
to the earth and twisting smoke fashion
around my feet 1t threw sinous arms in
front of me as a thing endowed with
life and capable of molding itself; and
when / reached my boat and pushed off
on the water, a vast mass received and
envelOped me.
More penetrating than its CLEANLINESS
was the thought that Madame de Fer
rier was out in it alone.
1 tried one of the long calls we some
times used in hunting. She might hear
and understand that 1 was near to help
her But IL was shouting against many
walls No effort pierced the muffling SUBJ
stance which rolled thiclxly against the
lungs. Remembering 1t was possible to
override smaller craft, / pulled with eau
ton, and so bumped lightly against the
boat that by lucky chance lowered in my
track.
'Is it you, madame?" 1 asked.
She hesitated
III g. you, monsieur"
Yea
'I thIEI 7 am lost There is no shore.
The fog closed around me so soon.
was waiting for it to lift a little"
1T may not lift until morning, madame.
Let me tie your boat to mine"
'Do you know the way?"
There is no way. We shall have to feel
for the shore But Lake George is mar
row, and / know 1t we'll"
81 want to keep near you
"Come into my boat, and let me tie the
other one astern."
She hesitated again, but decided. THAT
l drew the frail shells together-they
seemed very frail above such depths-and
helped her across the edges. We were
probably the only people on Lake George.
finder lighted in one boat would scarcely
have shown us the other, though in the
seen amidst rags of fog. The dense
eclipse around us and the changing light
overhead were very weird.
Madame de Terriers hands chilled mine
and she shook in her thin cape and hood.
Our garments were saturated. 1 felt
moisture' trickling down my hair and
dropping on my shoulders.
SlG was Iull OF VITAL courage TGSlSllilS
the deadly chill. This was not a summer
fog, lightly to be traversed. 1t went dank
through the bones. When 1 had helped
her to a bench, remembering there was
nothing dry to wrap around her, slip
ped off my coat and forcibly added its
thickness to her shoulders.
do you think / will let you do that,
monsieur
MY teeth chartered and shocked to-
fIaY. a. fr,onocefhIo N Eaar1 from
laughing. as I told her always preferred
to be coatless when I rowed q boat.
We could see each other by the high
light that sometimes gilded the face, and
sometimes was furnished almost to
! eclipse Madame de Terrier crept forward
and before / knew her intention, cast my
garment again around me. I helped the
boat shift its balance so she would have
to grasp at me for support; the chilled
round shape of her arm in my hand sent
waves of fire through me. With brazen
cunning, moreover, that surprised myself,
instead of pleading. l dictated.
"Sit beside me on the rower's bench,
| madame and the coat will stretch
around both of US"
Like a child she obeyed We were in
deed reduced to saving the warmth Of
our bodies / shipped my oars and took
one for a paddle, bidding Madame de
Ferrier to hold the covering in place while
/ felt for the shore. She did so, her arm
crossing my breast, her soft body touch
ing mine She was cold and still as the
cloud in which we moved; but L was a
god riding triumphantly high above the
world, satisfied TO float through celestial
regions forever, bearing In my breast an
unQuenchabie coal of fire.
The moon played tricks, for now she
was astern. and now straight ahead. in
that confusing wilderness of vapor.
Madame" l said to my companion,
''why have you been persuaded to go back
to France?''
81 have not been persuaded. I have
been forced by circumstances. Paurs fu-
ture is everything
you said you would rather make him
a woodchOpper than suppliant of the
Bonapartes."
Il would. But his rights are to be con-
s.dered first. He has some small chance
of regainng his Inheritance through the
influence of Count de Chaumont now.
Hereafter there may be no chance You
know the fortunes and lands OF all emil
eres were forfeited to the state. Ours
have finally reached the hands OF one of
Napoleon's officers. l do not know what
will be done. 1 only know that Paul
must never have cause to Teproach me-"
/ was obliged to do my duty in my place
as she was doing her duty in hers; but 1
wished the boat would sink. and so end
all journeys to France. 1 touched shore.
on the contrary, and 1 grasped a rock
which jutted toward US. 1t might be the
point of an island IL might he the east