Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-13

10 battle. Beyond them was a clear
space. and beyond that great multitude.
stretching out from the white individual
ity of faces into a black and indefinite
blur.
He fell on his knees and commenced to
pray earnestly. pa ssionately. like one who
realizes that he is near to death. The
multitude joked. and nudged each other
of mud and it hit him on the shoulder.
He ceased to pray and covered his face
with his hands. The audience shouted
and whistled.
the people and woman began to force
her way to the front of the crowd She
was clothed in filthy rags. Her dark.
handsome face was haggard and pinched
with poverty. her eyes. set deep in their
sockets. glittered In the light from the
sky. Her head was uncovered and a coil
of her black hair hung down one of her
white cheeks.
Let us eat and drink" she screamed.
for tomorrow We die Then she broke
free from the crowd and stood in the
open space before the ranks of kneelng
disciples.
Several of the disciples rose to their
feet and moved forward TO check the
woman's blasphemy.
Stay cried Father Francis. ''let her
speak"
No one moved and the woman. planting
one of her feet forward raised her head
and shook il till her hair fell in a dark
cloud over her shoulders. And as her
face stood out clearly in the light of the
moon Father Francis recognized II. Yet
another ghost had risen from his past TO
accuse him. He remembered where he
had last seen the dark eyes and splendid
hair. The scene foated before his eyes
the table covered with bottles of wine
and remnants of feast. the wild dance.
the coarse brutality of Lord CarfaX. the
quarrel. the blow struck in a moment of
drunken fear and madness. the motion
less body on the hearthruG. and then
silence for price which had not yet
been paid. All this he saw as clearly as
though it lay before his eyes. And this
poor, ragged, half-starved woman was
from the past Frozen into silence, he
looked at her as man might look al the
sudden evidence of some terrible disease
in his body.
The multitude applauded as if they had
been at a theater and banded coarse
jests.
Let us dance. Richard Gaunt.'
shrieked the woman. 'Since We cannot
eat and there is nothing TO drink but
water. let US dance. for tomorrow We die.
You have said it, Dick. you have said 1t.
I am glad. yes. all you poor devout fools,
l am glad She shook her clenched fist
at the little band of disciples. Men
shouted out vile epithets and women
Snrleked ABUSE, put the woman raced
Sir Richard Gaunt and Knocked all his
religion in her very pose. Look at me. p"
she yelled. six years ago l had what
ever l wanted. Today l starve. But l
can dance. Come and dance with me,
Richard Gaunt.'
Cynthia Paradine flung her arms above
her head: they were bare to the elbow
and wasted to skin and bone. Then she
Swayed gracefully and slowly like a tall
palm tree stirred by the wind. Then,
with a sudden shrek of laughter, the
movement quickened and her whole body
seemed to leap into life. She broke into
a wild. terrible dance.
The crowd burst into a roar of delight
and clapped their hands. Then a score
of roughs made rush for the wagon.
beat down the weak and half-starved dis
ciples. and Selling Father Francis, drag
Sed him to the womans side.
Dance wiv err" they yelled. Dance,
yer - dance.
He raved and fought and screamed out.
Then he suddenly grew limp in their
hands. The woman came forward and
seized him by the arm.
Dance. Dick, dance!' she yelled. Then
she flung her arms round his neck and
kissed him. The men let go of him and
he fell heavily forward to the ground.