Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-02
CHAPTER XXXIII.
The Resin-Gatherer's Hut.

The fierce minstra1 of the Rhone valley.
which parches the body and even shrivels
the immortal soul. had ceased blowing at
dusk. and now upon borrowed horses Pat
rick Wildwood and his daughter were pick
ing their way through the pine woods and
marshes of northern Provence, while the
other three trudged afoot Maurice leading
Flower-o'- the Corn's beast in the tracks Of
| the guide. who stalked ahead like an
anxious heron. He was long man, but
| toned up in leather garments. shining with
| dirt and grease. and knew the ways alike
| in dark and light.
| The horses which had belonged to Pierre
the wagner Of archaeological and Hoo
| had stayed behind at Saint Veran. The
good Montbelairds steadfastly refused to
| receive them as present.
| mo-" said the stout Huguenot, IF the
| Lord continues His providences toward His
| own, and am enabled to sell your horses
| to any advantage, I shall forward the
price of them to the camp of my Lord MARI
| borough"
| AS they went Maurice and Frances con-
versed in a low tone. In the marshes far
| away the bittern doomed duly all unheeded
while in all the bitches along whose banks
| they made their devious way certain frogs,
| small and green as to their persons and
optimist of disposition. croaked tentatively
| in the darkness, anticipant of spring.
Their guide had been supplied to them at
their last hating place, when he had
agreed in his soft. Understanding Pro-
resin gatherer's hut at the northeastern
corner of the strangely splintered halls
called the "Alpines,'' which, with their
white stone pinnaeies; glittered mysterious
! Yet it was a not uncheerful time. They
| had left the doom-stricken Cevennes behind
| them.
| Soon the land of safety and of their own
| religion would be about them. Meantime
| there was the WEAKNESS of limb and the
prospect of rest and food in the resin
gatherer's hut on the tanks OF the rocks
Of Baux.
That at least would be welcome, Frances
| thought-ah, never weleomer. For in spite
| of Maurice Raith's sustaining hand and his
| careful management of the housekeeping
| beast Flower O. the Corn had grown deadly
| tired. And as the lantern turned a moment
| in the hand of the guide upon those behind
| Maurice saw dark circles about her eyes.
| mot much farther-up therein yonder
| cleft it vast! averred the guide. "a good
| family-yes a man and his wife, stanch
| upholders of the way They would soon
| find themselves there. They will pile the
| twigs of pine and fragrant juniper, spread
| the blankets-and, after food partaken Of,
sleep out their sleep in quietness."
The man and woman came to their door.
| There was red glow within and pleasant
| smell of roasting chestnutS dfsengaged It
| self upon the night air. Maurice lifted
Frances Wildwood down. Indeed. she let
| herself slide into his arms like tired child.
| He carried her within.
| Wine, black bread and the roasting chest
| nuts constituted the not ignoble fare upon
which the little company of five made out
| their evening or rather morning meal.
| Maurice made Flower-o -the-Corn drink q
copious draft Of the wine. which was good
and strong, from the neighboring vineyards
| Of ST. Remy.
Then they made her couch and Bet Mar
| shall, with a grooming tenderness, covered
| her up. She was asleep In five minutes.
| Meantime Maurice sat by the fire and
| dozed, while Patrick WILDWOOD vigorous
| and controversial as If he had Just awak-
| ened from a dream of assisting at tho as
| sembly of divines at Westminster, expound-~
ed the great doctrine of justification by
| faith.
| Maurice nodded and agreed, his mind far
| away, and his eyes on the shawls in which
| his love lay muffled up on her bed of pine
| branches Billy and Bet undiSguiSedly
| snored, while near the door the guide and
| the resin gatherers murmured together,
| wakeful as Arabs about camp fire.
| Maurice slowly raised himself at the end
| Of one of Patrick Wellwoods lengthiest
| paragraphs
II will see what the morning promises"
he said.
Maurice opened the door. There was
great flare of blood-red sunrise fronting
| him. with black figures silhouetted tower
| ingly against 1t. g
| "Good morning, Anglais!' said voice.
| 1--WE have been waiting for you. Step this
| way. Our orders are not to disturb the
| lady"
The house of the resin gatherers was sur
| rounded by two companies Of dragons.
| The men were sitting their horses motion
| less statues, and it was their figures
| which the eyes Of Maurice still blinking
| with the dusk and smother Of the chamber.
| had seen ink black against the splashed
| scarlet of the dawn
| (To be continued)