The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-03
BOOK /
An Idyl Of Brittany.
CHAPTER yIII-Continued. {
The End of the PLAY :

.. An 1dyl OF Brittany.
H.. CHAPTER VIII-Continued
~ .. The End of the Play
Following him into the chamber she
stopped unconsciously where the moon
light streamed in through the window.
For the first time he noticed what she
wore in the bright Illumination. Appar-
emily she was clad in her night dress with
a loose wrapper hastily thrown about her
shoulders; her little bare feet cleaned
like marble In the patch Of white light
on the stone floor. One hand hung by her
side, with the other she instinctively gath
cred the wrapper across her breast with a
movement at once modest vet charming.
why, you are In your night robe!' he
exclaimed in establishment, but not rails
ing his voice for. fear Of attracting at
,, tention. Your feet are bare and on these
damp stones! You'll catch your death
of cold!7 My dear child!''*
He forgot that he was her knight. and
STOPPING down lifted her slender form in
his strong young arms She half -strug-
gled moment and then acquiesced What
was he to do with her? The carpetless
room was bare of furniture and, save for
themselves, empty. He hesitated, stepped
into the window, sat down upon the low
Sill, and set her on his knee. holding her
firmly. carefully, tenderly. She, too. for
got that she was a lady, and nestled
against him as any other child might have
done.
Now tell me-" he whispered-they
spoke softly all the time why did YOU
come here. Anne?'
1t was the first time he had addressed
her without a title.
Il 90 not KNOW" she answered. 's'I-ny
room is over there, you know. cou1dn,t
sleep l was thinking about the Lady
Jehane and her lover the Baron de Croisic
and about you, Sir-Philip." The pause
between the Sir and "Philip'' was a
long one. which sweetened the name in his
ears as she continued. II heard a sound
ana thought 1t might be his ghost. So
camel hurried too. I had no time to
Dress
Where you not afraid?" ..->- 49,. .
Inc marquis says the de Rohans are
never afraid. I didn't like it, but I came
on tiptoe, and then saw something bla ok
outside on the balcony and walked over
there. was a little afraid, think. per-
maps because l am part American" she
added naively.
'Americans are never afraid ethan
interrupted Grafton promptly
"e'i' anyway 1 saw it was you and I
was not AFRAID any more. And I watched
you stand and look, and then saw vo,,
get over the wall, and then I was fearfullv
afrald-for you, Philip. I thought YOU
might be killed. I slipped out and caught
hold of You, you came back, and now we
are here-together."
There was a long pause She slipped
ner arm about his neck and held him as
IL she feared again that he might fall. He
scarcely knew what to say, so he held her
close and kept silent until she spoke once
more, drawing herself away from him a.
niue as she did so. Il don't think knights
carry their ladies around like this. do
they? I don't think it'sSqnite proper, eis
1t: But these stones are so cold, and I
forgot my slippers, was so anxious Ia
it all right, Sir Philippe
She Wriggled her pretty toes as she anx-
1ously sought for reinsurance from her
admlrer and companion.
proper? OF course, and where is 10
setter he answered, glad to- get back to
the form II not the spirit Of the: play.
asleep she answered, ~ the great stu
p1d! She doesn't care whether there are
any knights In the world or not. But
what were you doing here? You have not
told me YETI
'1-I-I thought I'd try--the tower, you
know-the wall-to go down."
Yes. and was it for me?'
For the life Of him he could not lie to
this confding and innocent little girl
Lady Anne" he whispered, lit was
But he did not seem to be able to tell
uer the truth, either. . =.
Yes, Sir Philip, it was for
For freedom, them" he said desper-
ately.
OBJ she -quivered, "and you were 60
| Ing to leave-me?" :
There was a world of reproach in her
voice and then silence Presently he dis
covered that she was weeping. Her small
| frame shook with subdued sobs The
sight alarmed him, panied him deeply: he
| Off
held her closely, trying to soothe and
| quiet her. He. was desperately uncom-
Portable, yet the scene must be ended il; he
were to get away. He could meet her in
| laughter on a common ground, but sobs
were foreign to his philosophy. He had
not enjoyed experience Of this womanly
| weakness, which is the weapon of the
helpless, and he was powerless before her
| tears. He could not bear to see her cry,
! and suppose the marquis should SEQ him.
what would he think? Would he not
conclude that Grafton had broken faith
with him? And yet there was a passing
| sweetness in the situation too. He had no
wish to terminate the interview; he for
got for the moment that he intended to
escape that night.
Now. my dear little GIRL he began at
last, its all play, you know"
| This was a most unfortunate statement
All her youthful energies had been bent
toward tne ODHCeratlon or this bitter fact
| That is a moment of the greatest sad
ness when we find out our hardly main
tanned realities have only been some other
persons play! - 1911 u.
IT'S been play all the time,'' she sobbed
impulsively. Il knew it was so! I tried
not to believe i'll Josette told me So
and I said she was stupid; but she knew
more than I! You have been playing with
me from the very first, haven't you? Let
me go back to my dolls, monsieur, tits all
I'm fit for d. Z
She tried vainly to break away.
my dear child" he replied, still hold
! ing, her, but utterly at a loss to know what
to do or say, you see l.