Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-11
CHAPTER Xxx.
The Mystery of the Crystal.

had told him so, and the Camlsard senti-
mel by the gate solemnly resumed his peat,
es il washing his hands of the whole mat
ter
1t was a freezing night, and a light drift
of snow blowing. and the surface of the
Causes hard as the neither milestone.
No tracks would lie for a minute upon
such a night and they must do the best
they could with the senses God had given
them. which, as Maurice thought, with some
reason, were. in his case at least, no great
matter for boaSting.
And it was on such night IN a thin
black dress of some soft stuff that Flower
o'-the-Corn had fled out into the darkness
of the bleakest, though not the hlghest
Cause in France.
If II would have done Frances Wildwood
the least good Maurice Ratth would gladly
have put a pistol to his head there ana
then and shot himself But he knew that
the girl was gone on his account, ana II
was his duty to bring her back. If possible
A thought occurred to him. AT the time
1t seemed like an inspiration. OF course
it was an impossbility, a thing to be
laughed at, yet nevertheless somehow he
could not get it out of his head.
"Catinat!-Yes Cati1at! Stranger things
had happened There might be something
in his second sight after all. He had heard
of it In Scotland. At least 1t was worth
the trying!'
Let US go and knock up Catinat!' he
said hoarsely.
To his surprise Billy caught eagerly at his
suggestion.
'Ye haze mair sense than I lookit for
he cried. eff only body can 3alloose where
a craft lassie wull hae hidden herser, It's
him! l hae heard tell that when he was
a youngster among the laddie boys he was
a eye yin! That was afore he took up WI
thee prophetin' an sic like! But Cati-
mats the vera man for We; that is-f ye
can get baud O. him. But he is mair like
to TAX we through a word-for-word ex-
poseetin' o. the Bulk O. Solomon his Sang
than to help we to get back your ain sweet
heart! Aye, a diel SIGHT mair like!
Nevertheless. since the thing was worth
trying. to Catinat they went. 1t was, as
Billy had prognosticated, somewhat diff
cult to get the prophet down to matter of
fact.
The minister's daughter had run away in
a fit of fear, and that hystertcal nervous
ness which comes easily to woman
Well. he had heard of such like. but there
was no exact parallel for it In the Scrip
lures that he knew of, unless it were in
the Song of Songs, which is Solomon's-
''Didna / tell YEP whispered Billy, tri-
umphantly, over his chiefs shoulder.
But" he turned sharply upon the mill
tary chief of La Cavalerie. answer me
this before touch the matter with finger.
Lies anything of stain upon your con-
science-aught that you would be more
loath to tell to the girls father than to
me?"
mo, swear itw said Maurice, lift
ing up his hand solemnly.
Swear not at air. said Catfnat, catching
him by the wrist and putting his hand
down again. What is man but his
naked word. If I had not believed in your
word, would l have permitted these poor
sheep to obey you for so much as an in
stant?'
And having come to a standstill, Maui
rice Raith who was all on fire within,
demanded of the prophet If he could tell
where at the moment the girl was.
Catinat looked at Maurice and shook his
head. Then he glanced at Billy Marshall
and asked, rs he innocent-simple-lik
his look and speech? Or is he even as
other men, come up from beneath the
grinding wheels?'
He is even as other men" said Maurice
wonderingly.
Then he will not do for me-any more
than you,' he answered. 81 have not the
second sight myself Che went on to ex-
ards have. But only the power of making
others see-thougb / own not as Cavalier
hath who can make thousand men and
women see and believe the thing he will
But abide you, will bring one who will see
all your desired"
Catinat dwelt In q plain faced little house
with one gable to the main road, mean and
poor, with pig runs below, and so betaking
himself to the door, he went across the
court and returned shortly with a half
grown lad, his eyes starting from his head,
his hair mere haystack, his lower LID
dropped into the shape Of v, slack and
pendulous, yet always moro or less on the
CULVER like jelly turned from shape. He
appeared to be about seventeen or eighteen,
knock kneed and needing weekly addi-
tons to his small clothes. OF his simplicity
there could be no question. Indeed, Catinat
explained the matter of his want in his
own presence in plain phrase.
This is one Antoine Oliyer-a mere idiot,
an innocent, almost cretin, but left here
OF the Spanish gypsieS, therefore not to
be trusted along with silver or goldt Other
wise he hath not the sense to conduct him
self Observation-Disclosures round!''
The oaf turned himself unwillingly about.
like one who is about to be whipped in the
presence of his school fellows. A patch of
viscous orange appeared wildly impressed
on the broadcast part of his small clothes.
There" cried Catinat. what did I tell
you? Go fetch the rod. Antoine-the rod
of many birches which stands behind the
hen house door. You have been at it
again. Gentlemen, this boy at certain
hours of the day or night by a certain
access of folly takes himself for a breed
ing fowl, and will sit on as many as two
dozen eggs at once-yes. now when they are
a gold mine. For this he hath oft beer,
punished by me and shall be again."
The great oaf burst out into a loud boo
hoo of lament.
Indeed SIR" he pleaded "they were NOT
your eggs this time; yours are much richer
In yolk! Look you they are those of old
to punish for her drunkennessr'
THE point is well taken" said Catinat
but ! will only consent to overlook the
fault If so be that you will look in the
crystal for me-"
The youth gave a yet louder cry. and
promptly began to untruss
II would rather have the birch" he said
THE birch smarts and Is done with. but
after the crystal ball Antoine is not his
own man for as many as three daysv'
He probably hath hit on the truth
there!" whispered the prophet
But, Antoine" said Catinat aloud. in a
soothing voice. "see this man He is the
commander of the soldiers here. and can
keep them from taking you away to serve
in the trenches. Also. will let you off
from whole week OF attendance at early
service in the church! Also"
He displayed a silver coin suggestiyely in
the lamplight
II will do 1T will do IT," cried the lad.
Give me the crystal, and 1 will sneak the
thing see. But first tell me what it ia T
am to look for, and where"
Look along the face of the Causes to
the north" said Catinat calmly. having
his hand on the boys rough hair He
passed his long, sensitive fingers this yrav
and that over It. and 10! an erect and
bristling crest followed the direction of his
hand, even when the fingers did not touch
the actual hair.
II see them" said the boy. his ewes on
the globe of solid crystal long buried in the