Las Vegas optic., 1913-09-27

NY companion OF the morning nau
whispered rose gracefully and came
toward me.
Slender, yet with that charming out
line of body which youth wears as a
promise, she moved across the ter
race in her flowing robe of Grape
and welcomed me with a gesture and a
pleasant word, which I scarcely heard,
SO stupidly stood, siIenced BY the
absolute loveliness of the girl Did l
say loYeliness? No, not that, but
something newer. something far more
fresh, far sweeter, that made mere
physical beauty thing less vital than
the colorless shadow of a crystal
stepped forward to meet her, and
took off my forage-cap.
is It true, monsieur, that you have
come to arrest us?1 she asked, in a
low voice.
Yes, madame" | replied, already
knowing that she was the Countess.
She hesltated; then:
"Will you tell me your name?
am Madame de Vassart."
Cap in hand | followed her to the
table, where the company had already
risen. The young Countess presented
me with undisturbed simplicity;
bowed to my turkey-girl, who proved
after all, to be the actress from the
Odeon, Sylvia Elven; then / soIemnly
shook hands with DR.. Leo belmont,
Professor Claude Tacernier, and Mon
sieur Bazard, ex-instructor at the Fon-
tainebleau Artillery School, whom
Immediately recognized as the snipe-
faced notary had met on the road.
Yesterday, Madame la Comtesse,"
/ said, turning to the Countess de
Vassart, "the Emperor could easily
afford to regard with equanimity the
movement in which you are associat-
ed Today that is no longer possible"
The young Countess gave me be-
wildered look.
is it true" she asked, that the
Emperor does not know we have sew
cred all connection with the Interna-
tionale?"
:'If that is So" said ], "why does
Monsieur Bazard return across the
fields to warn you of my coming? And
why do you harbor John Buckhurst at
La Trappe? Do you not know he is
wanted by the policew
Monsieur Scarlett," said Mademoi-
selle Blyen, suddenly, why does the
government want John Buckhurst?"
"That, mademoiselle, is the affair of
the government and of John Buck
hurst" / said.
After troubled silence the Count
ess asked me if / would not share
their repast, and l thanked her and
took some bread and grapes and a
glass of red wine.
1t made me uncomfortable to play
the role was playing among these
misguided but harmless people; that
l showed it in my face is certain, for
the Countess looked up at me and
said, smilingly you must not look at
us SO sorrowfully. Monsieur Scarlett-
1t is we who pity you"
And replied, Madame, you are
generous" and took my place among
them and ate and drank with them
in silence, listening to the breeze in
the elms
/ turned to DR. belmont
with the German armies massing
behind the forest borders yonder, it
is unsafe for the government to leave
you here at La Trappe, doctor You
are too neutral"
"You mean the government fears
treason?" demanded the doctor, grow
ing red
eyes," I said, ''if you insist"
The Countess had turned to me in
amazement.
"Treason" she repeated, in an I'M
steady voice. 'Is it treason for a
small community to live quietly here
in the Alsatian hills, harming nobody, |
asking nothing save freedom of |
thought? Treason! Monsieur, the |
word has an ugly ring to me. / am
a soldiers daughter!"
There was something touchingly |
illogical in the last words this young
apostle of peace naiyely displaying her
credentials as though the mere word |
Soldier covered everything.
Because I have learned that the
boundaries Of nations are not the
frontiers OF human hearts, am /
traitor? Because know no country |
but the world, no speech but the uni
versal speech that one reads in a
brothers eyes, because / know no bar
riers, no boundaries, no limits to hui
man brotherhood, am ! traitor?
The young Countess had risen in
her earnestness and had laid one slen-
der, sun-tanned hand upon the table.
WARP" she said. "What is this
war to US? The Emperor? What is
he to us? We who have set a watch
on the worlds outer ramparts, guard
ing the white banner Of universal
brotherhood What is this war to
usI"
'Dp you mean to say that you care
for your own birthland?" |
demanded, sharply.
Il love the world all Of it--every
inch and II France is part Of the
world. 80 is this Prussia that we are