Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1910-05-14


it was gone. she had followed. Far
into the forest she had followed And
at length
They were waiting for her at home.
She must be very latel For an instant
the lightness left her lips and eyes.
Her father would be angry, and Aunt
Marguerite, for it was not in keeping
with the honor of Valette that daugh-
ter Of the house should keep waiting
the one to whom she was betrothed.
She would tell them that she had
not meant to chase the butterfly; that
she had meant to keep in all its starch
ed purity the little white dress that
Aunt Marguerite and old Marie had
so carefully, so painstakngly, made
for her; that she had meant to stroll
only a little way a-down the path
that led to the broad acres that had
once been Of Valette ere came the
clutching fingers of hard faced poverty
TO wrench them thence. She would
tell them these things; she would ex-
plain about the butterfly. But would
these things, that explanation, be suhi-
cient? She did not know. Her father
was a strange man, a proud man, IA
man reserved. She loved him much
But sometimes he was strange. She
did not understand She felt far from
him, very far. And Aunt Marguerite
was even the shadow of her brother.
And so she hurried on
In the great room Of the house of
valette, a room that once had had
even the splendor of the old chateau
in the Norman hills, but now time
worn, sunk into the dullness that
marks decay, were they preparing to
do their last dead slave the honor of
the candles, for old Christian had been
obedient, faithful-yes, even to the end
of his days. And for this he was
to have the honor that comes to the
Valettes in their going.
1t was old Louise who counted the
candles now for the last slave, the
slave that was dead Stout, heavy fea-
tured, clad in rough gray gown and
cap of spotless white, she bent over
the leather box that lay upon the
old table, taking therefrom the candles
and counting them as she did so. And
as she counted there came to the kind
ly old face n look of worriment.
At length she turned hearing foot
steps Came through the door the sis
ter of NJ. de Valette Across the som
ber room she came, a highborn, high
bred woman of sixty, a woman Of deli
cate pale, gentle face and slender fig
ure. Old Louise courtesied
You are counting the candles? ask
ed Mile. de Valette, 1t was a ques-
tion that was not a question. She went
on. MY brother tolls the bell for Old
Christian with his own hands"
The old servant shrugged her shoul !
ders
who else is there to do it?" she
queried
Mile. de Valette said, lie maitre Will |
play the requiem" She was counting |
the candles Finishing, she exclaimed
MY good Louise. there are not enough, |
Old Christian was SiXty-three."
Again Louise shrugged her shoulders |
"Icge are thirty-eiGht," she crum-
bled. THAT should be enough Old |
Christian. He was but a black slave. !
after all She shook her head
In the year of our Lord 1915, you |
know, slaves. especially dead slaves |
were not Of much value. Candles were. |
Mile de Nalette, pity in her gentle |
l,,,,.+ ,,-ot,1d have Y,,oda ro,,l,r l,ut cv, |
was hers there had en-
tered the room Father OMara, priest |
of the parish-a kindly man Father |
O'Mara, who lived much in the out OF |
doors. a strong man and rugged and |
a man of the kind that it were good |
for God to have in his labor
He spoke in a full, deep voice that
echoed resonantly from the dim raft
ers with barely trace of brogue. The
old servant courtesied Mile. de Va
lette inclined her head graciously.
"You are welcome, Father O'Mara,"
she said. I'VE are preparing the can
dies, you see. But there are NOT
Louise"
The old servant turned
Mile. ue \alette, with a llght gesture,
indicated where. upon the walls. tar
nlsheI sconces upheld blackened can
dies.
"Take those" she commanded 81
will loo', through the house for 9th
ers"
she bowed to Father O'Mara, who
himself bowed and passed through the
door Old Louise obediently went
from sconce to sconce, gathering the
half burned bits Of wax and wick that
were to be the last earthly tribute 10
the dead slave. At length she came
again to the table, laying the old be
side the new.
Father O'Mara took pinch Of snuff.
her with shrewd kindly gray
eyes.
mot enough candles?" he said at
length
The old servant shook her head