The Washington times., 1902-09-07

a wolf.
We sat with our forest table between
US and ate together.
II am hungry myself" she said.
A glorified veil descended on the world
If evening had paused while that mea
was in progress 1t would not have sur
prised me. There are half hours thai
dilate to the Importance of centuries
But when she had encouraged me to eat
everything to the last crumb, she SHOOK
the fringed napkin, gathered up the lac-
quered box, and said she must be gone
Monsieur, have overstepped the
bounds of behavior in coming after you.
The case was too urgent fos considera-
| tion Of myself. / must hurry back. for
the courts people would not under
stand my secret errand through the
tunnel. Will you show yourself at the
house as soon as possible?"
told her humbly that I would.
"But let me put you in the boat,
madame"
She shook her head. "You may fol-
low, after am out of sight. II you
fail to follow"-she turned in the act Of
departing and looked me through.
told her 1 would not fail
When Madame de Ferrier disappeared
beyond the bushes l sat down and
waited with my head between my hands,
still seeing upon closed eyelids her fig
ure, the scant frock drawn around it,
her cap of dark hair under hood, her
face moving from change to change.
And whether / sat year or minute.
clouds had descended when / looked.
as they often did in that lake gorge. So
waited no longer, but followed her.
The fog was brown. and capped the
evening Ike solid dome. pressing
down to the earth, and twisting smoke
fashion around my feet. 1t threw sinu-
Gus arms in front of me as q thing en-
dowed with life and capable of mold
ing itself; and when reached my boat
and pushed off on the water. vast mass
received ME and enveloped me.
More penetrating than its CLEANLINESS
was the thought that Madame de Fer
rier was out in it alone.
I tried one Of the long calls We some
times used in hunting. She might hear.
and understand that was near to help
her. But 1t was shouting against many
walls. No effort pierced the muffiing
substance which rolled thickly against
the lungs. Remembering 1t was pos
sible to override smaller craft, l pulled
with caution. and SO bumped lightly
against the boat that by lucky chance
lowered in my track.
''1s 1t you, madame?" I asked.
She hesitated.
is 1t you. Monsieur"
YES"
II think l am lost. There is no
shore. The fog closed around me so
soon. | was waiting for it to lift lit
tle."
1T may not lift until morning, mad
anne. 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
narrow, ana KNOW IL 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
would be best
drew the frail shells together-they
seemed very frail above such depths
and helped her cross 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 sky an oval moon began
10 make itself seen amidst rags of fog.
The dense eclipse around us and the
changing light overhead were very weird.
Nine de Terriers hands chilled mine, |
and she shook In her thin cape and
mood Our garments were saturated.
'elt moisture trickling down my hair |
md dropping on my shoulders.
She was full of vital courage. resisting
he deadly chill. This was not sum-
ner fog, lightly to be traversed. 1t |
vent dank through the bones. When l |
lad helped her to a bench, remembering
here was nothing dry to wrap around |
Ter. I slipped off my coat and forcibly
Idded it's thickness to her shoulders.
"Do you think will let you do that,
nonsieur?"
My teeth chartered and shocked to-
,ether so 1t was impossible to keep from
as l told her 1 always pre-
erred to be coatless when I rowed
,oat.
We could see each other by the high
light that sometimes glided the face.
nd sometimes was tarnishd almost to
c!lpse. Nine de Ferrier crept forward.
nd before knew her intention, cast my
again around me. I helped the
oat shift its balance so she would have
O grasp at me for support. the chilled
ound shape of her arm in my hand sent
raves of fire through me. With brazen
unning, moreover, that surprised my
elf. instead of pleading, l dictated.
"Sit beside me on the rower's bench.
and the coat will stretch
round both of u.s.
Like a child she obeyed. We were in
Iced reduced to saving the warmth of
ur bodies. I shipped my oars and took
ne for a paddle, bidding Nine. de Fer
ier to hold the covering in place while
felt for the shore. She did so. her
rm crossing my breast, her soft body
oychIng mine. She was cold and still