The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-03-07
CHAPTER XVI.
The End of the Dream.

The End of the Dream.
1t took place on the road which runs
from Ajaccio to the Cape de la Parata
not far from lies Sanguinaires; not
main-traveled road. The sun had not yet
crossed the mountains, but crisp gray
light lay over land and sea They fired al
the same time. The duke lowered his
pistol. and through the smoke he sa"
Breitmann pitch headforemoSt into the
thick white dust Presently, nay almost
instantly, the dust at the left side OF the
stricken man became a creeping black
ness. The surgeon sprang forward.
"'Dead?" asked Picard
NO. through the shoulder. He has a
fighting chance"
THE wine last night; my hand wasn't
steady enough. Some day the fool will
curse me as a poor shot The devil take
the business! not a sou for my pocket,
out of all the trouble 1 have had But
for the want of a clear head 1 should
be a rich man to-day. Who thought he
would come back"
II did," answered NJ. Ferraud.
"You?'
with pleasure. I brought him back;
thank me for your empty pockets, Mon
sieur. If 1 were you 1 should not land
at Marseilles. Try Livarno, by all means,
Livarno.''
For this?'' asked Picard, with a jerk
of his head toward Breitmann. who was
seat.
No: for certain letters you have not
sent to the Quai d'Orsay. You compre-
hend?''
What do you mean" trucuIently; for
Picard was not in a kindly mood this
morning.
But the little Bayard of the Quai
laughed. Shall I explain here, Mon
seur? Be wise. Go to Italy, all of you.
This time you overreached, Monsieur lie
Due. Your ballet dancers must watt
And with rare insolence. NJ. Ferraud
showed his back to his audience. climbed
to the seat by the driver. and babe him
return slowly to the Grand Hotel.
Hildegarde refused to see any one but
NJ. Ferraud. Hour after hour she sat by
the bed of the injured man. Knowing
that in all probability he would live, she
was happy for the first time in years.
He needed her; alone. broken, wrecked
among his dreams, he needed her. He
had recovered consciousness almost at
once. and his first words were a curse
could talk but little. but he declared
that he would rip the bandages if they
did not prop his pillows so he could see
the bay. The second time he woke he
saw Hildegarde. She smiled brokenIy,
but he turned his head aside.
Has the yacht gone yet?''
mo"
When will il Sail?"
Tomorrow" Her heart swelled with
litter pain. he woman he loved would
be on that yacht. But toward Laura she
held nothing but kindness tinged with a
wondering envy. Was not she, Hide
talents than she, more accomplishments
Alas, yes; one! She had had the uncon-
scious power of making this man love
her
To and fro she waved the fan For
while, at any rate. he would be hers
And when NJ Ferraud said that the
others wished to say farewell she de-
clined. She could look none of them in
the face again. nor did she care. She
was sorry for Cathewe. HIS life would
be as broken as hers; but man has the
world under his feet. scenes of action,
changes to soOthe his hurt; a woman has
little else but her needle.
All through the day and all through the
night she remained on guard. surrender
ing her vigil only to NJ. Ferraud. With
cold cloths she kept down the fever, wip-
ing the hot face and hands. He would
pull through, the surgeon said. but he
would have his nurse to thank There
was something about the man the doc
tor did not understand: he acted as if he
do not care to live
The morning found her stilI at her post.
Breitmann awoke early. and appeared to
al int i1 ~
why do you waste your timer His
voice was colorless.
Il am not wasting my time, Karl
His head rolled slowly over on the pill
ow till he could see outside. Only two
y three fishing boats were visible
When will the yacht sail?'
Always that question! GO to sleep. I
will wake you when see it."
I've been a scoundrel, Hildegarde."
Ind he closed his eyes.
Where would she go when he left this
Dom? For the future was always rising
~ with this question. What would she
10, how would she live? She, too, shut
Ter eyes.
The door opened. The visitor was NJ
Eerraud. He touched his lips with a fin
,er and stole toward the bed.
"Better?'
She nodded.
Are you not dead for sleep?'
at does not matter
Breitmanns eyes opened. for his brain
vas wide awake. ''Ferraud?"
Yes They wished me to say good-by
or them"
ITO me?" incredulously.
They have none but good wishes"
She will never know"
Not unless Mr.. Fitzgerald tells her."
"Hildegarde, / had planned her abduc- |
lon. Don't misunderstood have sunk
DIV indeed, but not so low at that |
'anted to harry them. They would have ]
1T me free. She was to be a pawn. 1 |
houldn't have hurt her."
you do not care to return to Ger
lany7''
Nor TO France, M. Ferraud."
There's a wide world outside. You |
III ind room enough" diffidently.
AN outlaw"
'-Of kind"
BE easy. I haven't even the wish to i