Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-18

eovrs.sfriao,'
Ht~ss aaolrseo'
Jack Winston to Lord Lane (Con-
tinued).
NarbOnne December II.
didn't post the beginning of this letter
I felt should want to add something.
Another day has passed-a day of alarms
and excursions. Payne has made an ass
of himself, and have scored of him, win
ming my way back to the front seat OF
the car. and RELOCATING him to
the tonneau with Aunt Mary But 1 have
not shaken him off. He's still in our pock-
ct, and to all appearance means to stick
there. The situation. therefore. remains
essentially what 1t was yesterday
But for the incident Of which I will tell
you. this might have been one of the most
though at first L was stuffed into the ton
neau, I couldn't help finding pleasure in
the pictures through which we flashed in
the earlier part of the day.
There was good deal of pave to traverse
before we were clear OF Toulouse. and then
we came into a fine, open world, chasing
and passing many peasants carts. These
always occupy the middle Of the road, and
much blowing Of the horn and shouting
before they pull over to their right side.
Presently we found out the meaning Of this
stream of CARTS for we ran into a large
village with turkeys and geese all over the
road, like carpet bedding, tied by the legs
and cackling loudly. There were crowds Of
peasants-old and young; the old women
with neat, black silk head dresses framing
their brown, wrinkled faces, and through
the midst Of this animated scene we had
to drive at a foot pace. footing on the
horn. On the other side Of the long viii
lage We found ourselves on wide, level
road, that for smoothneSs would shame
billiard table. crossed the green Canal du
Midi. and ran for while by its side. pass
ing queer obelisk erected to RiQuet its
constructor.
Suddenly. on mounting a hill. an -enor-
nous view spread out before us. The dis
tant Pyrenees showed their serrated line far
away to the right. their snowy tops spectral
over an intervening range Of hills: to the
left stretched vast. undulating tract OF
country, with towns and church spires dis
tinctly outlined in the clear. crisp air-fOr
1t was a day Of glorious lights. Beyond
all was a range Of vague. blue hills which
l knew to be the Cevennes, sacred to the
memory of Robert Louis Stevenson.
We sped through village after village-a
long street; children In blouses playing
strange games, disputing in shrill voices.
wagging little eloauept fingers under each
others noses; handsome men clothed in
blue. with red sashes and the universal ber
ret on their heads. guiding with their cruel
goads patient teams OF yoked oxen: a group
ding, perhaps funeral; old women knitting
in the sun. young women smiling from win
dows-an these Impressions follow each
other like Pickering pictures in cinematO-
graph; and then with the last flicker one is
out again on the broad. white road. with
the flying trees spinning by on either hand.
and the white. fllmyy clouds floating in an
azure sky. 1t Is only on the motor car that
you get all these sensations. In train
you are in a box: on a motor you are in a
chariot Of fire with the wide heavens open
above you.
At Castelnaudary there was another
scene of animation, fog. here also it was
market day; and though it was only twenty
miles or on Carcassonne (our intended
destination). my betters decided that they
would take luncheon at the hotel
since Payne has been with us Miss
Randolph seemed to wish to restore me to
my old. lost footing. 'fYou must lunch with
US, Brown" she said, with smile that
not in a gracious mood. l had had enough
of Aunt Mary; 1 could not stand the
naughty Payne. l answered, therefore.
rather shortly. There were certain adjust
meEts to be done on the car which would
occupy some time. I said and l would take
my luncheon later. Her poor little friendly
smile went out like a lamp extinguished.
For an instant she fingered. then turned
away without a word. and L could have
bitten out my own surly tongue
To justify myself l pottered with the car.
then went moping off to another hotel. and
tried to restore my lost spirits with pate
de foie de canard and fresh walnuts which
would have delighted the palate of hap
pier man.
AS it was had neither the heart nor the
stomach to linger over the feast, and CON
seQuently got back long before the others
were ready for me. They didn't hurry
themselves. I promise you. While busytng
myself in Ticking Dust of the car cOur-
teous little crowd assembled and questioned
RI fha ka nf ha oar o n
surprise when they heard 1t was all Eng
lish. even to the tires) and to how far
l had come. When l said, From Dieppe
via Biarritz." murmur of respect rippled
to the outer edge Of the group. and at this
moment my party appeared.
Payne wore staggering air and looked
now like Little Lord Fauntleroy gone wrong.
He was far too big a man to notice me or
any of the kindly simple people who had
been admiring the car, and came up with
us. talking his loudest to Aunt Mary. He al
most elbowed me asiue and got into the
drivers seat as a matter Of course. Per-
haps he had looked upon the rich wine Of
the country when it was red. though j
didn't think of that at the time. and at
trtbuted his exaggerated insolence TO nat
ural cusSedness of soul.
We swept away from the hotel with a
curve, which isn't a line Of beauty for a
motor car. and as We left the town Jimmys
conception of his part as driver became SO
eccentric that Miss Randolph looked wor-
ried-that is. her pretty shoulders stiffened
themselves: l couldn't often see her race
and Aunt Mary more than once gave vent
to frightened squeak Once. In her ex-
tremity as we shaved the wheel OF pass
ing cart she unbent so far as to throw an
appealing glance al me. But sat In stony
silence with crossed arms. looking oblivious
to all that went on and somewhat resem-
bling. l flattered myself. portraits OF Napo-
leon beholding the burning OF MOSCOW.
On the high road Jimmy began to recover
his form-if 1t be worth the name-but. as
If to show that he was all right, and never
had been otherwise. he put the car at Its
quickest pace which was so far from safe
on a road dotted with carts that began
to expect trouble: and II 1t hadn't been for
Miss Randolph. to see my expectation full
filled would have pleased the baser part
of me. Once or twice CARLOAD OF peas.
ants scowled savagely at us as we rushed
past on our headlong career. and at length
I had the satisfaction OF hearing MISS Ran
dolph rather stiffiy suggest that 1immy
should moderate the pace, He opeyed with
a laugh. which he meant to be reckiessiy
brave, yet indulgent to The weaknesses OF
women; but In my ears 1t only sounded
ailly. At this moment a two-wheeied cart
with five peasants in it77three men and two
women-came in sight 60,
AS soon as they saw lis one or the men
q big, black browed feIlOw-heid up ms
hand imperatively in warning. Another
fine. muscular chap jumped down and ran
to the horses head. Any one with gram
of sense or consideration. on seeing these
Ell would hava oInuved down, ana II