Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-11

| long, lined with H1msPn Sikh
cried the lady. Aye. And spoken Of it to
| the marshal, too
"Your ladyship Is too kind" said corne-
ly. II would had it here that I might
| spread 1T at your most honored feet
1.-THE other will -1o9if it be (as it iooks)
but horse blanket turned inside out Any
thin thing ct, to wrap the shrsring girl in out Of
leave us. I would speak to her awhile.
| There is no fear!
Have we your rIady's word for the ran
som? put in Joseph. who was still spite
| full at his discontinue.
| Word what need You of words?" flash
ed Madame la Marechale. full as brusquely
Go, take your TarmF and retire behind
are not birds of dhe radr that we can fly,
| Take your posts all about us, if you will
| I will give no word. Who am 1, that I
should give words at this time O. the day
| to such cattle as your"
The men, especially those of Joseph's
faction, withdrew. grumbIing. but not dar-
ing to disobey the Marechal's lady.
| AT all events / shall make sure of her
beast, and the other hath none," said Jo-
| seph, shrewdly, leading it away and leav-
1 ing the Lady Marechale in her riding habit
and furs to speak with the shivering GIRL
| who was by this time wrapped in Corneiy' s
| cloak. That ornament of the kings irreg-
| ular forces was now eagerly watching
| from behind a jagged tooth of limestone
| what should be the fate of his second best
/ fair minded men, it was manifestly impos-
| sible to take such thing of beauty as the
| blue-clothed scarlet-lined promenade cloak
on such mad midnight. rides as their lead
! ers had been taking them of late into the
midst of the wild Camisard hills
"Farther-stand farther back, else I will
| post you for set of eavesdroppers and
But whatever else the spirited lady had to
say was drowned In the noise of the stimuli
taneous withdrawal caused by her words
Madame la Marechale quickly threw
aside the great fur-lned hood which had
hidden her face. She undid a cloak (of
which, having been on horseback, she APP
peared to wear an infinite number) and
threw 1t about Frances. Then she caught
her impulsively and affectionately about
the neck and burst into tears.
"Oh, what must you think of me-" she
cried; you, who are ever distant and cold
do not know what poor women have to
bear for the men they love-aye, how they
| must even. for policy, appear to be kind to
others whom they loathe and disesreem.
Forgive me, dearest Frances I have come
out hither to save you from these bad
men,
And 10! Before her stood, mysteriously
clear as the green aurora could make her
Yvette Foy!
And Flower-o-theeCorn. standing in
mist of amaZement, pressed both her hands
| to her head, saying. ,"Oh, God, Cod am
going out Of my, mind. Let me die quick
ly!'
"rut-nonsensel Nothing of the Sort
said Yvette, who was always practical
| minded in all circumstances. Now, listen
| to me! Forget what you have seen, or be-
| leve that did it wholly for your goodv'
"That I can never do" said Frances,
speaking more frigidly than the cold that
| was stiffening her even through her wrap
pings of fur and horse blankets.
Yvette kept her arms tightly about the
girl in spite of the fact that her friend re-
| manned as unresponsive as a doll carved
out of wood.
"But think I can show you cause why
you should think less Ill of me-" she said
| gently, like one who suffers long wrongs
she cannot help. y Butt trust you with
| far more and far,-worthier than I! Yet
| trust you. I, poor Yvette, have also right
| to be called Madame Ia Marechale de Mon
| trevel, even as you heard them call me
just now!'
| "It is only one more of your deceits-
! there Is no end to them. I have good rea-
son to know thatf" retorted Frances not
yielding the least from her stiffened atti-
/ tude Of disdain. = 10,
NAY, but not this time. pleaded Yvette
| TT has been necessary. I allow. I know
you have good reason to distrust me. But
that has been the fault Of circumstances
| rather than any lack of keeping faith.
| am-do not forget it!-the wife of the
| marshal commanding the French troops
In these mountains. You. who have. such
| high ideals of duty and affection. tell me
|
] wife should strive In all ways to serve
| the interests of her husband. And have
| l not done so? Was not ordered to find
| out the secrets of the foolish young Off
| Ger of Marlborough? And If you had not
| INTERRUPTED us would not have turned
him inside out like an empty sack-aye,
this very night. and the dispatch would
| have gone to my husband In the morning
1t was for this that these cadets Of the
| cross who are now watching us Cfor they
| guard you as valuable prisoner Of war;
are out Of the face Of the Causes to sup
| port the regular soldiers sent to meet me.
It is In order that I might carry to de
Montrevel what I know in person that
l am here. Do you not see? Wherefore
| else should girl like me remain alone
IN petty village. listening to psalms
| chanted night and morn. like the bowling
dogs with their noses pointed at the moon.
and prophets prophesying like old space
| wives afraid OF the last judgment. What
| there7'
Flower-o'the-Corn was looking at her
| with great wide open eyes. Blue eyes
| open wider and show more surprise than
| any others.
| But he was kissing you," she objected,
an You desr u were letting himr
| Yvette. why, that is nothing! will tell
| de Montrevel tonight and he will laugh
heartily himself It is only part of the
rules of the game
1Hen 20 not think II at all nice
game" said Flower-o' -the-Corn. IF you
| did not really love him. of course, that
might make difference!'
or course you think so, dear innocent"
| SAID Yvette, gaily, but women Of the world
have other standards. And now-weIl we
| have wasted time enough on this matter.
1t Is folly anyway. AL kissing is unless you
| get something by it.! The main thing is
| that you are prisoner Of war, and that
your father will have to pay $1,000 or "a, 900
Tor his daughters liberation-or-"
| OR what?' cried Frances with her blue
| eyes yet wider open. my poor old father
never had 5000 pence to bless himself with
what is the other alternative?'
WELL" said Yvette. slowly, you are a
| young girl and am married woman, but
to be honest with you I cannot put the al
tentative into words. Unless you have
heard in the village of La Cayalerie what
these Cadets Of the Cross are in the habit Of
doing to Protestant maidens who fall in
| their way, I cannot bring myself to tell
| your
"I-have-heard" said Frances, slowly,
the blood rushing to her cheeks and then
slowly fading away.
WELL" said Yvette taking her advant-
age. these men viii do all you have heard
and vorse-things inconceivable-not to be
once spoken Of. For these are no regular
soldiers but Cadets of the CrosS-tonight on