Middletown transcript., 1912-08-10

looks!"
"Take care you don't lose your
heart!"
"Bah!" Her strong bold eyes
swept back. Much good it would do
mel"
"And for that reason"
"Messieurs!" the landlords voice
broke in upon them; behold" it
seemed to say, as pushing through
the company, he preceded lanky lad
who bore by their legs many plucked
fowls and birds-woodcock, wild
duck, cliff pigeons-and made his way
to the great open fireplace at one end
of the room. There, bending over the
glowing embers, the landlord delib-
erately stirred and spread them; then,
reaching for bar of steel, he selected
a poulet from the hand Of the lanky
attendant and prepared to adjust II;
but before doing so, prodded it with
his finger, surveyed it critically, and
held it up for admiring attention.
"Who says old Pierre Laroche
doesn't know how to care for his
friends? What think you Of it, my
masters?"
"Plump as the Kings confessor,"
muttered the poet.
"Or your King himself!" said one of
the islanders.
"On with the King! Skewer the
King!" exclaimed a fierce voice.
"And then we'll eat him!" laughed
the girl, showing her white teeth.
"Thoughtless children!" From his
place at the table in the small room
adjoining, the priest, attracted by the
grim merriment Of the islanders,
looked down to regard them; the red
fire; the red gown.
Here, at least, will you find a safe
asylum, Father" said his companion,
| the Black Seigneur, in an absent tone;
"a little rough, perhaps, to suit your
calling"
"The rougher, the more suitable
as I've often had occasion to learn
since leaving Verranck."
I "Since being driven from it, you
mean!" shortly.
"Ah, those revolutionary documents
placed in my gardenI"
| "To make you appear-you, Father!
| "a sanguinary characterl" But the
others laugh rang false.
"Alas, such wickedness! But was
too content; the rose-covered cottage
too comfortable; its garden, an Eden!
It was more meet 1 should be driven
| forth; go out into the highways, where
found-such misery! l reproached
myself l had not sought 1t sooner
voluntarily. From north to south
peasants dying, women and children
starving, no one to administer the last
rites-on every side, work, work for
the outcast priest! For ten years 1t
has occupied him-a blessed privi'
lege-"
"And then" the young man, who
had seemed absorbed in other
thoughts, hardly listening, looked me-
chanically up, you came back?"
"a weakness of age! To see the
old place once more! The little
church; Gods acre at its side; to
stand on the hill at Verranch and look
out a last time over the beautiful
vale toward the Mount" Briefly he
paused. yet l am glad l yielded to
the temptation; otherwise should l
not have met your old servant, San
chez; who told me all-how you had
long been looking for me, and ar
ranged our meeting for that day-on
the island of Casque!"
But not" the young mans de-
meanor at once became intent; his
eyes cleaned with sudden fierce
lights, "for what followed"
The priest sighed. Shall I ever
forget it? The terrible night, the
troop-ship, the killed and wounded.
And the poor fellows taken prison
ers! can not but think of them and
their fate. What will it be-"
The other did not answer; only i'm
patiently moved his injured arm and,
regarding him, the down-turned, dark
countenance, the knit brows, quickly
the priest changed the subject Of con-
Versation.
In the large room some one began
to play, and before the fire, where
now the birds were turning and the
serving-lad, with a long spoon was
basting, the dark-browed girl started
to dance. At the side Of the hearth
old Pierre smoked stolidly, gazed at
the Goals, and dreamed-perhaps of
the past, and dangers he had himself
encountered, or of the present, and his
ships cattered-where?- profit
able, if precarious errands. Somberly.
in no freer mood than on the occasion
Of their first visit to the inn, the crew
looked on; but a tall, savage-appear-
ing islander soon matched her step;
a second took his place; from one
partner to another she passed-wild,
reckless men whose touch she did
not shun; yet it might have been no
ticed her eyes turned often, through
wreaths of smoke mist=like in the
glare and glimmer Of dips and torches,
toward the Black Seigneur.
Why-her gaze seemed to say-did
,, he not join them, instead of sitting
there with priest? She whirled to
the threshold; her flushed face looked
.. in. "Are you saying a mass for the
souls Of your men who were cap
tured?"
81 see," he returned quietly, you
have been gossiping"
"A woman's privileged" she flashed
back. But how did it happen? And
, not only your arm," more sharply re-
garding him, "but your head! fancy
If were to push back few locks Of
that thick hair I should discover-it
must have been pretty blow you got,
my Seigneur Solitude!" He made no
reply and she went on. "You, who I
thought were never beaten! By a
mere handful Of troops, too! Did you
have to run away very fast? If were
a man"
Your tongue would be less sharp %
he answered coolly, the black eyes IN
different.
Much you care for my tongus!"
she retorted.
"No?"
: "No!" she returned mockingly, when