Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-08
added several Justly blows with his first.
'Get up, fool, you are freezing!' b


Baptiste stirred slightly. Although Jean
was by no means a large man. his frame
was well knit and his muscles were like
steel. He clutched Baptiste about the
shoulders in a grip of iron and pulled him
to his feet. He shook him: he thumped
him. he kicked him; he smote his face
sharply with the fiat of his mittened hand.
And when Baptiste's eyes opened heavily
he shouted in his ear:
go on-that way, or, by God, I'll Kill
you! 1t is but five miles now to Villon's.
Then he showed Baptiste, Keeling drunk
emily, before him. and SO they moved slowly
through the woods. Sometimes Baptiste
stumbled along upright; sometimes he
crawled, cropping blindy; sometimes he was
half-dragged, haf-carried in the arms of
Jean. But whenever he sank inertly to
the snow a shower of kicks and blows
urged him on again.
They came at last out of the woods and
onto the open ground high above the river.
Far below them were the twinkling lights
of Dufresne and Villon's.
1t had ceased showing, and through the
drifting patches of cloud the stars burned
frostily. The wind in the open fields, after
the shelter of the woods seemed to pierce
TO the very marrow of their bones 1t was
here Baptiste sank stupidity to the ground,
nor could kick nor blows nor bitter cpl
thets rouse him.
Jean looked at the twinkling lights be-
low, measured his ebbing strength, then
stopped and swung Baptistes great body
onto his shoulder. His breath was like a
thousand torturing knives; his arms seemed
numb and lifeless; it seemed that his back
must snap beneath the load
And burdened thus ne staggered down
the slope toward the twinking lights
which seemed to swing crafty through I'M
certain orbits and to drip scntillating
sparks in their trail
The dance at Villons was in full swing.
The Riddles Squeaked. the candles guttered,
the shuftiing feet shook the floor. There
was much nervous giggling from the black
haired girls, and much strident laughter
from the broad-shoudered young men. BY
the door Pere Durand alternately dozed
and gave the affair his smiling sanction.
OF all the gay crowd Toinette alone was
disappointed. 1t was nearing midnight and
as yet neither Baptiste nor Jean had APP
peared
Was it Jean she wanted to come to her,
or Baptiste? She had asked herself that
question many times and as yet she had
not fully decided. Baptste was big and
strong and handsome; Jean was homeIy
and good humored and always laughing.
She looked the young men over; there was
not one of them as good looking as Bap-
tiste. She looked them over again; there
was not one could talk as could Jean.
Surely there was much to be considered in
each.
The fiddles We're droning for a fresh
dance. 'Toinette suffered herself to be led
onto the floor by one of her numerous
Court-which one it mattered but little to
her
The dance had scarcely begun when the
door burst open and man staggered in
white, haggard man. bearing a huge form
on his shoulders. The man laid his burden
on the floor and sank inertly into chair.
The dance was forgotten, and while Pere
Durand bent over the man on the floor the
dancers crowded about the chair; in the
van came 'Toinette, pale and trembling.
The man lifted his piercing eyes and
smiled slowly. Very unsteadily he got to
his feet and, clutching the chair for sup
port, bowed tremendously.
1T is that Baptiste has the honor of a
dance with you, is it not nam 'selle?" said
he gravely. Il have brought him to keep
that honored engagement"
He bowed again and swayed dizzily.
For a moment 'Toinette stood staring
with wide frightened eyes. Then as he
sank into the chair she darted forward.
Jean. mon Jean" she cried. as she knelt
beside him and drew his head to her Shout
der. +.