The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-24

lands here but enlivened the YER
nal freshness of the scene. The
air was, full of floating thist1e-down;
a cloud of insects dancing in the light,
parted to let them pass.
At the sight of a bush, white with
flowers, she uttered an exclamation
of pleasure, and broke off branch
covered with fragrant blossoms, as
they rode by. Out of the depths Of
this store-house of sweets a plumber
ing hun1ming, bird flashed and van,
ished, jewel from natures crown!
She held the branch to her face and
he glanced at her covertly; she was all
jestress again. The cadence of that
measured motion shaped itself to an
ancient lyric in keeping with the song
of birds, the blue sky, and the wild
roses.
'Harlz! bark!
Pretty lark! !;
Little heedest thou my pain.'
He bent his head listening; he could
scarcely hear the words. Was it a
sense of new security that moved her;
the reaction of their narrow escape;
the knowledge they were leaving the
chateau and all danger behind them
''Hark! bark!
Pretty lark!-"
Boom! Far in the distance sounded
the discharge of cannon-its iron
:
dainty. pastoral. AS the report re-
verberated over the valley, from the
grass innumerable insects arose; the
din died away; the disturbed earth
jewellers sank back to earth again
The song ceased from the young girls
lips, and, gazing quickly back, she
could just distinguish, above one OF
the parapets of the chateau, wreath
already nearly dissolved in the blue Of
the sky. The jester, who had also
turned in his saddle, met her look OF
inquiry.
kinda salute, perhaps" he said. ,
cor a call to arms ?" she suggested
and he made no answer. 1T means
pursuit.
Silent they rode on, but more rap
! idly. With pale face and composed
mien she kept by his side; her reso'
lutte expression treasured him, while
Gradually had they been descending
from the higher slopes of the country
Of which the chateau-mount was the
| Hottest point and now were passing
thru the lower stretches of land.
Here, the highway ran above fields
inundated by recent rains, an6
marshes converted into shining lakes
| Out of the water uprose a grove 0:
trees, spectral-like; screaming wilc
fowl SKINNED the surface, or circlet
above. The pastoral peace Of thu
meadows, garden Of the wild flower
was replaced by waste
Of desolation and wilderness. Lons
they dashed on thru the loneliness o:
that land; a depressing flight-bu
more depressing than the abandoned
and forlorn aspect of the scene was thu
consciousness that their steeds had be-
come road-worn and were unable tt
respond. Long, long, they continued
this pace, a strained period Of sus
pense, and then the fool drew rein.
Look. Jacqueline," he said. "Th'
river!"
) Before them, fed by the rivulet
from the distant hills, the foamint
current threatened to overflow it
banks Already the rising water
touched the f1imsy wooden structur,
| that spanned the torrent. Contem
platively he regarded it, and thel
/: placing his hand for a moment OF
| hers, said encouragingly:
Perhaps after all, we are borrow
ing trouble?"
She shook her head. eff could blu
| think it, she answered. Something
seemed to rise in her throat. I
moment I forgot, and-was not un
happy! But now I feel as tho the en-
! was closing about u.s."
4: He frightened his grasp. you ar
worn with fatigue; fanciful!" he re
.'The end!" she repeated, pas
sionately. yes; the end!' An,
threw off his hand ''Look!"
! He followed her eyes. Waving