The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1907-10-24
CHAPTER vII.-continued.

would perform my Seli-AhpoSSu laSA
In a direct and bnsinesshke method.
AS 10 this method. a dozen extrava-
CANT courses of action occurred to me
at once. OF the dozen I selected two
IS possible.
Every English gentleman comes of
a race OF warriors" the mysterious
woman of the reading room had said
10 me last night Miss Brett, being an
Fnglishwoman, had the blood of sol
diers in her veins The physical cour-
age OF the battlefield, then. must APP
peal to her. II. Tor instance, | should
enlist In the Foreign Legion, there
was the Legion OF Honor to be won.
The little ribbon would tell its elo-
quent story.
But Willoughby's life had been lost
amid the dread silence OF the white
SHOWS. l looked long and earnestly
where the sun touched the mountain
top with rosy light out of the morn
ing mists. The mountains seemed to
beckon. 10 walt Tor me.
had shuddersd-I still shuddered,
as / thought OF faeir awful gloom and
ioneliness. Ane yet they seemed TO
beckon-to wait for me. had been
helpless and weak. They had con-
quered me. Vol. must return to
conquer them. Their very immensely
need not appal ne. Mans glory is to
suodue the vass forces OF nature-to
make them his own.
thought OF the Hospice OF ST.
~ for
had even laid down their lives to save
the perishing. Well, why should ] not
be one of the little band for the time
being? Why ssould | not become a
novitiate in the order? few months
Of arduous training and I should be
ready for the battle.
II went TO the slonastery and told
the good father superior of the sacred
vow I had made. wo,Id he laugh at
me for q madman. or would he under
stand and help me to fulhll it?
began the day. therefore. vaguely
hopeful. no longer permitted my
self TO be troubled at the whispers OF
servants and guests. | even courted
the society of my fellowmen. I paid
my two francs admission 10 the kur-
saal. and listened with real enjoyment
TO its excellent orchestra.
Ny coat was lightly brushed.
There was a faint but exquisite per
fume glanced. as did dozen
others. at the woman who was pass
ing.
The small. but superbly poised fg-
orA col cf m.
plicity, paused by my side fraction
OF a second 1t was my acquaintance
of the reading loom again. and she
had murmured a good morning. A
dozen had noted the greeting and en-
We'd me.
7 did not return it. She continued
her way daintily. furnishing me for my
rudeness by smiling across at me
mOckingiy as she seated herself at
my right There was something OF a
childish, almost fairy malice in the
Elusive smile
The intermission came. All the
world pushed back their chairs, and
made their way through glazed doors
at the rear. whence an electric bell
rang persistentiy. The motley crowd
of officers, tourists. and such OF the
society OF Lucerne as was at the
Kursaal passed through the glazed
doors to play the petits chevaux-a
rather harmless form OF dissipation.
a gambling toy that permits one to
lose at the Most a five-franc piece.
mingled with the crowd about the
green-baize table on which the little
metal horses were whirling around an
imaginary race course A croupier
changed a 50-franc note for me. I
tossed a coin on one of the numbers;
and lost. staked another coin. this
time against the field. Again I lost
] staked all my iye-franc pieces but
two.
While weighed them thoughtfully
in NY palm, my arm was touched
nightly 1t was my adventures OF
the reading room once more. She
lifted her eyebrows in whimsical con-
Germ al my III luck.
Even these little horses. you see.
madam, know that I am to be
Stunned" | said in low voice.
MY friend" she smiled, vivacious-
ly. they are simply frightened at
your black face. They are sensitive.
the little horses. But IL you coax.
we shall see. Allons. we will be pru-
dent, little shining franc on number
81 Now. II my brave horses only
know that It is who am asking them
TO win Tor us, we shall win"
"Ne rien va plus" croaked an ON.
cial in a dingy dress suit and crumpled
shirt bosom. lie spun the mechanism
briskly between two bony fingers and
thumb The tiny Jockeys in blue. buff.
green. and red sped swiftly around
the course. Presently they struggled
one behind the other. and came to
a pause. The croupier stretched out
his rake. and Grew in our two shining
fsncs with the other winnings Of the
hank
tvrned to her sternly. You seei"
( sged "a tragic dismay.
'1ouf. A little patience. monsieur.
II Is The Jockeys who are sulky.