Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-14

come down to me as soon as possible!
hasten. my child"'
But it is so dark. grandmere, Can not
make a lght?"
mot for the world must there show a
light in the house! Dress quickly and
come
The grandmother FASTENED from the room
and Germalne fumbled about until she
found her clothes and dressed by the pale
light Of the moon.
This was during the dark years of the
sixteenth century when the French Pro-
testants. called Huguenots, were being
killed and driven from France by the Cath
ollcs. headed by the royal family mere
report of Protestant names was enough
to bring arrest and imprisonment, and no
message from those who disappeared ever
reached the ones as yet unmolested.
Little Huguenot Germaine had learned
caution and the necessity for silence in the
last few days. The dear father and mother
had gone-she knew not where nor how
the graudmother's look OF anguish and
finger on lip when she asked Tor them
effectually silencing her.
Others OF their friends had disappeared
from the little town. and the children had
learned to stife their curiosity and go
with bitten lip and hushed tread among me
familiar scenes. Some terror was in the
ARA vague unrest pervaded everything
and over all brooded a strange silence.
Germaine felt the terror as she hurriedly
left her room and ran down the stairs. She
could dimly see the cloaked figure OF her
grandmother and the white cap of Babette.
They were talking in low tones. and as
Germaine came up she heard:
And open the windows and doors as II
you were cleaning the upper floor. and
hang some garments out as If airing them.
1t must look as II were still here and
busy And. Babette, If any one should
be curious be as brief as possible in your
replies and give US all the time you can!
Trust Babette for turning the wolves
on When they find out anything from
this old woman, water Will flow up hill!
Yes yes I know! We trust you with
our lives and do not fear. Come. Ger
maine here are your cloak and hood! Put
them on and bid adieu to Babette.
The little girl did as she was told, flung
her arms around the old woman's neck
and whispered her farewell Then, put
ting her hand into her grandmothers, went
out Into the night the door closing Noise
lessly behind them. Walking rapidly they
soon reached the shore where the children
were wont to play, and waiting there was
boat and two men standing by. In the
hushed voices every one used that strange
night they inquired If they were all
Madame Sigouruey replied with catch In
her voice.
The men helped them to seats in the boat
aud rowed away in silence. The little girl
sat very close 10 her grandmother ana
clutched her hand in her cold, little fingers
Presently she whispered:
why are We going in this boat, grand
mere?
Because a good friend sent me word that
tomorrow soldiers were coming to take US
away to prison"
why? Have We done anything wrong?"
No. dear; Il Is question Of religion, and
you would not understand"
Where are we going. grandmeref'
ITO safety, my child
"WiN mother be there?
FEATHER and mother are safe. love. the
good God is caring for them as well as for
us Do not talk now"
ComtOrted by this the brave little heart
rested quietly. There being more light out
upon the water than upon the land, Ger
maine could see a dark object ahead OF
them, and as they came near a tiny light
showed for an instant. one of the men
had stopped rowing and was looking over