Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1910-04-15

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, q were they preparing to
doEtheir, last dead slave the honor of
the candles, for old Christian had been
obedient, ,faithful-yes. even to the end
of his days. And fol-, this he was
to have the honor that comes to the
,valettes in their going: II =
It was old Louise: who counted the
candles now for the last slave y the
slave that was dead: Stout, heavy fea-
tured, clad in rough gray gown and
cap offspotless 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
" old face a look of worriment. d j5s ss 81
At length she turned, hearing foot.
steps. Came through the door the sis
ter, of M. de Yalette. Across the SOM;
Der room she came, a highborn, high
bred woman Of sixty, q woman Of deli
cate, pale, gentle face and slender, fig-
ure.s Old Louise courtesied. 49, - ~ way
!, 'Yon are counting the candles?'' ask
ed Mile. de Va1ette. It was q ques-
tton that was not q question. She went
Oh, my brother tolls the bell for old
Christian with his own hands III '.g$ %4i 3. !
The Old servant shrugged her shoul-
ders. 31S 4 s5 s s 5s IT, e E.
/: ib55'.t'Wh no else ii there to do ,it9'' she
queried Il: j<.s: t.S5>. SILL. .5$ $ s
Mile de valette said, lie maitre will
play the requiem. = i33% She was counting
the candles Finishing, she}exclaimed:
IN good Louise, there are not? enough!
Old Christian was sixty-three." ~ a 4 S}
Again Louise shrugged her shoul ders.
\ Il Here are thirty-eight," fshe: grlIn-
bled That should be- enough Old
Christian! a He was but q black slave,
after ALL, She shook her head. !. u ,ss5;.: ~
In; the year Of our Lord 1915, you
know, slaves, especially dead, slaves,
were not of much value. Candl es.were.
5S,, de 5F;Valette, pity In her gentle
heart, would have made reply, hnt ere
opportunity was hers there had E.en-
tered the room Father o Mara priest
sc the parisha kindly man Father
O'Mara, who lived much in the out Or
doors, a. strong man and rugged and
d man of the kind that II were good
for God HUI have III his labor. s,5
81; He spoke. In IA full. deep voice that
echoed resonantly from the dim raft
ers with barely trace OF brogqe. The
| old servant courtesied Mile. de- Va
llette inclined her head graciously. 95s
You are5 welcome, Father O'Mara,'' z
|$she said. atstWe are preparing the can
dies, you see. But there are not
enough, Louise! "a $$3553
The Old servant turned. s N s{s
l8 Mile. de Valette, with y Hight gesture,
indicated where, upon the walls, tar,
nished sconces upheld blac kened can
lsdlea
Fake those, Il sshe commanded. 81
VIII look through the house Tor Il 9th "a
ers. 4
she bowed 8to Father O'Mara. who
himself bowed and passed through THE
door. old q louise obedi ently went
from sconce TO ssconce, gathering the
lhalfg burned bits ~ wax and wick that
we're "a he the last earthly tribute g
the dead slave AL length she came
again 70 the table. lying tho old be.
side the new
Father O Mara took d pinch of gnufr
waite ching her with ii reWd, kindly gray
Eeyes. VII.
ot enough ,c.andl w, he said q,
length.
A he Old servant shook her head.
b. fat Iler. y she returned, mot nm
Hess you can vince the master thai
4 old Gh tan was much younger thar
tsiie said he was. Couldn't yos ray
now, that ne wouldn,t have bsen r,ors
than, she stopped. counting The nev
candles and tia Old Tour Dbl
FINISHED
sslelh, more tslhaa tors