The Washington times., 1902-09-14
BOOK u-wandering.

~ touched the mountains as
4 \ Madame de Ferrier and | STEP
ped into the tunnels mouth.
The wind that goes like besom before
sunrise, swept off the fog to corners oi
the sky, except a few spirals which
still unwound from the lake. The un-
derground path to De Chaumont S
manor descended by terraces of steps
and entered bIackness.
rank odor of earth filled it; and l
never passed that way without hearken-
ing for the insect-like song of the rat
tlesnake. The ground was slippery, and
thick darkness seemed to press the soul
out of the body. Yet I liked it; for
when we reached the staircase OF rock
that entered the house. she would van
ish.
And SO it was.
She did say, Goodnight and good
morning
And / answered, od-morning and
goodnight
We were both physically exhausted.
My head swarmed as with sparkles, and
a thousand emotions tore me. for / was
st the age when we risk all on chances.
sat alone on the steps. unmindful of
that penetrating chill of stone which
increases rather than decreases. the
longer you sit upon it, and thought of
all that had been said by my new
friend at the camp fire. while the moon
went lower and lower, the potter turned
his wheel, and the idiot slept
The mixed and oblique motives of hu-
man nature-the boys will-worked
like gigantic passions.
She had said very little to me in the
boat, and had said very little to her;
not realizing that the camp talk, in
which she took no part. separated US
in new way.
Sitting alone on the steps 1 held this
imaginary conversation with her.
Il am going to France!"
You, monsieur"
Yes, IT,
How are you going?"
Il don't know; but am going!''
THE Duke of Orleans did not men
ticn such a thing"
Bother the Duke of Orleans,"
when are you going?"
''Now."
but it may not be best to go at
this time
1T is always best to go where you
are."
Monsieur. do not throw away your
future on an unconsidered move
Madame, 1 will throw away my
eternity"
to the bench, stripped. and took plunge
to clear my head and warm my blood. |
rubbing of with my shirt. On reaching
my room the first thing i did was to |
make bundle of everything l consid- |
cred necessary and desirable. There |
was no reason for doing this before |
lying down; but with an easier mind l |
closed my eyes, and opened them TO find |
sunset shining through the windows |
and DR.. Chantry keeping guard in an
arm chair at my side.
Mature has taken her revenge on |
you, my lad" said he. And now l am
going to take mine
i nave slept all Qdy.
"Renegades who roam the woods all |
night must expect to sleep all day."
How DO you know have been in the
woods all night"
81 heard you slipping up the tunnel
stairs without any shoes on at daylight
1 have not been able TO sleep two nights
on account of you
Then why don't you go to bed your
self, my dear master?"
Because ] am not going 10 let you
give me the slip another time am
responsible for you: and you will have
ing abroad again"
Again" / questioned innocently.
Yes, again. young sir, / have been
through your luggage, and find that you {
have packed changes of clothing and
things necessary and unnecessary to a I
books.''
Il hope you put them neatly to-
gether-"
Nothing of the kind. scattered l
them"
do you want me to go bare into 1
The world2" l laughed a
.'i4azarre," said my master, you were '
\ good lad, studious and Jealous beyond a
anything l ever saw /
And now ! am bad and lazy" I
You have dropped your books and r
taken 10 wild ways"
There is one thing. dear master,
haven't done; ] haven't written poet e
y"
He blinked and smiled, and felt in mis- %
,reast pocket, but thought better of it. S
md forebore TO draw the paper out. Il
There was no escaping his tenacious
nip. He sat by and exercised me in ''
<siin decIensions while dressed. We n
lad our supper together. saw no q
rember of the household except the
nen, Pierre and Jean. DR.. Chantry or b
bred a mattress put in my room and d.
eturned there with me.
We TALKED together on the approach :,
rg departure OF the count and Madame y
q Ferrier. He told me the latest L
| tails OF preparation. and TREMENDOUSLY
-plaincd how he must feel the loss Of b,
fs sister. Is,