Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-23

her? He'll make her leave the husband
whom she-doesnt love? They'll be happy
together after a time, won't they-mon-
sieur? See, I'm glad S,, glad d.. l would have
Yes. yes, I'd have him come back to herr"
'Helas, Colette!' said I. Hell never
come back to her, nor to any of us who
love him! We sha'n't see him again.
child. You'll see him before we will-if
one may believe the books. I will write
him all you've said, dear girl, but sha MT
see him again, lei bas.
She turned her head upon the pillow so
that her great eyes burnt into mine and
there was little wondering glad smile at
her lips.
"He-means to-die down there?" she
whispered. ITO die, monsieur? He-won't
come back to the other woman, the tall,
proud one? All, i'll might meet him. In
me SO glad to go-so glad! II might meet
him! Tell me, monsieur do you believe-do
you think? All, but you don't know, do
you? Personne n'sait pas-not even lie bon
to die as-as I'm dying? Oh, shall be
waiting for him, mol waiting. rautre
cotel How loved him in those old days!
Monsieur, do you know what love is? It's
a rose-with thorns. Roses die, monsieur
in hands that are careless-and they're
thrown away, withered-but sometimes
they live forever-if one shelters them and
guards them, waters them with ones
hearts blood. carries them in ones BOSOM
He never loved me, helasl He only pitied
me. I wonderI wonder If hell-loye me-
la haut? Listen. m sieur! Once he taught
me, my st. Denis, a little song, a love song.
en- Anglais. II do not know what II
means. the words-but I-sang 1t to him
with my guitar. Will you write to him that
that sang 1t once again before-I went
Such a pretty little-chanson-all of-of
love!' And smiling softly as she lay. one
cheek upon the pillow. her great mass of
black hair loosened from its braid and
streaming to the floor she closed her eyes
and sang just over her breath:
"'ole mozzaire 'Ubbaird
She went to re cubbaird
To fetch 'er poor dog abbonev"
"Colette, Colette! I cried in an agony.
hiding my face in the bed clothes It was
the most heartbreaking thing ever
heard. But she raised one white hand to
hush me and sang on, Just over whisper.
smiling tenderly, as one smiles in sleep.
But wen she got saire,
Ze cubbaird waz bare,
An 30 re poor dog got-got-none!
And most terrible spasm Of coughing
came again to rack her. so terrible that
thought she would never have done.
The door opened behind me and the young
Frenchwoman came in quickly
"Ah. monsieur she whispered. "you
must go, you have stayed too long al
readyl" She caught up medicine glass
from a stand near the bed and forced some
Of the liquid between the girls lips. SO that
after bit as stood hesitating by the door
she grew Quieter and lay very still gather
ing strength and breath
Just moment more. Elisey' she
whispered. '''un petit instantr' And
the young woman. with warn
ing glance toward me, went ont
again and closed the door behind her.
II must go, Colette." said 1. YOU'RE far
too tired to talk. I'll come again, often.
must go now
But she Shook her head. "Too-late-
Missouri she whispered. Then after q mo-
ment.
Monsieur. would you-would you be will
ing-if st. Denis were here he would do it.
would you-?" She held up her white frail
arms little. and there was an eager, visit
full smile upon her lips. I knew what she
would ask.