The Washington times., 1903-04-19


biIity of being understood. OF even seen,
answered the young man, deeply grieved
TO see tears in the girls eyes But /
beg you. he continued. not to be SO
wretched. You shall see him again
soon. I promise. Courage, Mademoiselle
Gertrude, You have been so brave
hitherto"
y will Try" she said. with faint at
tempt at a smile But you have no
idea what I feel in seeing the world that
contains my father, hanging. as 1t were,
in the sky Il seems to me that ! must
be dead and looking down on him; or
else that ne is dead Never did I real
ize till now the terrible distance between
u.s.
What matters the distance, since we
can traverse it? We have done SO al
ready. and we Will again by means Of
machine that will not tarry on the way,
and viii travel twice as quick as a can
non ball"
But Gertrude could not recover herself
at once. Her voice was broken with
sobs, she leaned disconsolately on
Fatima's shoulder, and they wept to
/ gether for some little time.
Come, come" said the doctor,
brusqueIv. You are not reasonable.
dear child! Kersain is not any far
ther off because we are looking at the
moonlight, or rather the earthlight,
without him. He sees Us in the same
way when the night is fine at Khar-
toum."
DO you think he sees US now2' said
/ Gertrude
Perhaps he does, evasiveIy an
/ swered the doctor. making a sign to
stop Norbert from expressing his
opinion of the extreme improbabilfty
OF this being the case.
The idea amused Gertrude and some
what diverted her from her grief.
"If he could but know I am here,''
she murmured. 4 could then fancy that
our spirits communed one with the other
across the intervening space: aud yet.
! perhaps. il is best that he should re-
main in ignorance" she added, in d
melancholy tone
There is something else TO see be
sides the SoudaD, cried the doctor. TO
rouse her. i see. he continued. a
strip of country down there that looks
like France She comes out well. seated
/ comfortably between the Alps and the
PyIenees, holding out her arms TO the
| Atlantic
Gertrude looked in The direction her
uncle indicated. and saw. to her delight.
France. situated between the clearly de-
fined line of Italy and the Two little
white spots that were the Britannia
isles
They now returned TO the drawing
room. as the hour of breakfast had
come
Il really feel cold already erie.
Gertrude. surprised at fit Of shivering
which was now an unusual sensation
with her.
1T is cold, and no mistake." answer
ed the doctor. I fancy that We stan,
two or three degrees below zero already
and see, the baronets teeth are chat
tering."
II, The idea exclaimed Sir Buce-
phalus- 4 can assure you. my dea
doctor" he continued. Il have gont
through much worse cold than this Why
1 went up Mont Blanc in nothing warme
r than WOODEN vestr'
The baronet prided himself on hi
hardihood. and never wore an oyercoat
even in the depth OF winter. taking geo,
care though, 20 be clothed in fianne
from head 70 loot.
Il congratulate you. my dear sir /
. you are impervi0Us to cold" answere'
! the doctor ironically. 4 cant fatte
myself TO that extent, and I own tha
p I should not be sorry TO see good fire
scr I am simply frozen.
just as he finished speaking. his word
D were suddenly emphasized by a loud re
port inside the walls.
Z What is that - asked Gertrude
t only a stone bursting" replied Nor
bert. simply. 1t is freezing hard anougI
= 10 make the pipes burst, as we say ol
earth, and one OF our stones. sIightl
E damp still. probably has burst like
S she'll Fortunately. there are very fey
@ Of them in the observatory walls. other
T wise we should be treated TO a Perfec
e concert Of reports. But the pyrfte en-
pIoyed In the construction will not burst
TOT II IS perfectly water tlkHts anu "a
e most as ductile as metal"
e Anyhow, We must prepare for Sc
t we're weather. 80 said the doctor. If
1 is as bad as this only an hour afte
{ sunset. what viii it be in twenty o
. thirty hours time. / doubt very muc
4 II We shall be able 20 stand it,
E IF it comes TO the worst, reptile
? Norbert. we can but migrate 10 Il.
0 sunlit hemisphere But l hope w
shall not be compelled TO do 60 70
5 judging by the cold when I was Iher
p with Kaddour, ten degrees below zero
e think we shall be able TO bear tn
cold here"
! Bear cold ten degrees below zero.
5 cried the doctor. You must hav
4 graduated at the same school as 81
BuceDhalus."
q Get out two OF three hot stones
e Virgil, said Norbert. they will war;
us somewhat MadcmoiscIle Gertrud
T. had better open her trunk. too. an
e take out her shaWls and mantIes"
g i am rather badly on ia that re
j spect." said Gertrude Il did not thin
2 I should require much a. suakin on
Il Kharsoum
b Well" answered Norbert, lin tha
&