The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1913-10-31

repeated the outraged magistrate
What do you mean, lizard of lizards
gorse cat!"
Now If you are going to say such
things l won't drum for YOU" said the
child, CHANGING at me out of her sea
blue eyes and giving a shake to her
elf-locks.
| gave her a handful; at the first
glance her eyes sparkled, the color
deepened under her coat Of amber tan;
she caught her breath and read rapidly
to the end.
"Oh, how beautiful" she said, softly.
"Am l to read this in the s%quare?'
81 will give you a franc to read it,
J%acQueline.
mo, no-only-oh, do let me come
in and see the heavenly wonders!
Would you, monsieur? II cannot
pay-but would-could you let me
come In? l will read your notice, any
way" she added, with a quayer in her
voice.
Come whenever you like, JacQue-
line" l said. ASK for m at the gate"
And who are you, MONSIEUR
MY name is Scarlet"
Scarlet" she whispered, as though
naming q sacred thing.
The mayor, who had toddled some
distance ahead of us, now halted in the
square, looking back at us through the
red evening light.
"Jacqueline, the drum is in my
house. I'll lend you a pair of sabots,
too. Come, hasten little idler!"
We entered the mayors garden,
where the flowers were glowing in the
luster of the setting sun. The mayor
OOH reappeared with drum and drum.
sticks in m hand and a pair of sabots
in the other. GO, my child" he said,
and J%acqueline marched through the
garden out into the square by the foun.
tain, drum-sticks clutched in one
tanned fist, the scrolls of paper in the
other.
In the center Of the square she stood
a moment, looking around, then raised
the drum-sticks; there came a click, a
flash of metal, and the quiet square
echoed with a startling outcrash. AL
ready a knot Of people had gathered
around her; others came swiftly to
windows and doorsteps; the loungers
left their stone benches by the river,
the maids of Paradise locked from the
bridge. The drum-roll ceased.
Attention! Men Of Finistere! By
order Of the governor Of Lorient, all
men between the ages Of twenty and
forty, otherwise not exempt, are or
dered to report at the navy yard bar
racks, war-port of Lorlent, on the 9th
OF November of the present year, to
join the army of the Loire.
"Bretons! France calls! Answer
with your ancient battle-cry, 'Sainte
Anne! Sainte-Anne!' The eyes Of the
world are on Armorica! To armsl"
The girls voice ceased; a dead ST.
lence reigned in the square. The men
looked at one another stupidity; a won.
an began to whimper.
The curse is on Paradisel" cried q
hoarse voice.
The drummer was already drawing
another paper from her ragged pocket,
and again in the same clear. emotion.
less voice, but slightly drawing her
words, she read:
TO the people of Paradisei The
manager Of the famous American trav.
cling circus, lately returned from a
tour of the northern provinces. with
'amels' elephants, lions and a magnia.
'ent company of artists, announces
'tupendous exhibition to be held in
at greatly reduced prices. thus
enabling the intelligent and a%pprecia.
i've people Of Paradise to honor the
republican circus, recently known as
he Imperial circus, with their benevo.
ent and discerning patronage! Long
I've France! Long live the republici
1ong live the %circus!"
A resounding roll Of the drum end.
"a the announcements; the girl slung
urum over her shoulder, turned to
right, and passed over the stone
sabots clicking.
The maids of Paradise were weening
by the fountain; the men gath.
rec near, and their slow, hushed
oices scarcely rose above the ripnle
I the stream where Robert the liz.
rd 1shed in silence.
walked across to the OuimperIe
BAD and met JacQueline, dancing
long with her drum. We stood in the
liddle Of the high-road looking
trough the dust haze, she doubtless
roaming Of the splendors to come. I
cry, very tired.
suddenly, straight out of the flaming
atee Of the sunset, the miracle was
'rought. Breathless, she shrank back
mong the weeds, one hand pressed to
or throbbing throat. Then she caught
'ght Of something through the dust
nat filed her with a delicious terror.
nd she cried out. For there, uptow-
ring In the haze, came trudging a
reat, gray creature, a fearsome.
thing in crimson %trappingg.
apping huge ears. 1t shufHed past.
a dusty trunk; the sparkling
npunRaap anu4C-od - ~