The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-06-12

and stared into It. The clock licked
firmly, the logs fell apart with soft
sliding sounds. and he stared down at
themhis thoughts far AWAY look
came into his eyes as II they concen-
trated on something beyond the range
OF sight, the characteristic look OF
Francois. the old look OF dreamer, of
seer OF visions.
Then Lucy stood In the doorway,
gentle, charming from the slippered
feet, locked over the instep to the
shadowy locks OF light hair on her
forehead.
Good evening. Monsieur. am
sorry ] kept you waiting. Hannibal
hurt bis foot and must find plaster
and bandage for him. But you will
have enough Of my talking even now.
Father says ! talk great deal Do
I, Monsieur
Francois stood regarding her. with
frank admiration In every muscle of
his face. He smiled, the same. gentle
amused smile with which he had adj
dressed the portrait. you never talk
too much for me, Mademoiselle. IT
10 pleasure to me always to hear
your voice." he answered In the deep
tone Of Frenchman, the tone that
has ever a half note of tragedy, as of
some race-memory which centuries do
not wipe out Only" he went on
speaking In French, zone must not
talk English. That is breaking the
law, you remember, Mademoiselle."
She answered very prettily in his
own tongue, In words that halted a
little. Very well, Monsieur. / will
do my best" He still gazed at her
smiling, without speaking, One could
understand that a girl of more
self-contained people, this open hom-
age Of manner, this affectionate gem
tleness, might seem to mean more
than a brotherly loyalty. The girls
pulse was beating fast as she made an
effort for conversation. What were
you thinking OF as you looked at the
fire when / came In. Monsieur? 1t
had an air of being something pleas
ant Did not say all that beauti-
fullyf" she finished In English.
He corrected lame verb with seri-
GUS accuracy and she repeated the
word. and laughed happily.
But you haven't said yet what you
were thinking about"
The large brown eyes turned on
hers. 1T was OF my old home in
France, Mademoiselle, when | was
very littie," he said simply. "A large
fire of logs makes me think of that"
TELL me about IT," she begged with
quick interest. ''Will you? Was there
always fire at your house?"
'But no. Observation-Disclosures, of
course. in the summer 1t was of the
winter time thought, when the neigh.
bors came, In the evening, and we sat
about the hearth, sometimes twenty
| people, each at his different duty, and
my brothers and sisters we're there.
and the dear grandmere. was there
and" he stopped. Does Mademoi-
selle really wish to hear how it was
in that old farmhouse of ours, in the
shadow of the Jura Mountains?"
Indeed, Mademoiselle wishes it,"
she assured him. at will be a trip
to Europe. | am sure | shall speak
better French for going to France for
ten minutes, and being among the
French people, your friends. Wait
now. till am comfortable" She
turned deep chair so that 1t faced
him. and dropped into 1t. Put foot.
stool for me- she ordered, as south,
ern women order the men they care
lfor-and the men they do not. And
she settled back with her little feet
on II and smiled at him. For a mo
ment the mans brilliant gaze rested
on her and the girl saw 1t, and thrilled
to II. Nov, Monsieur. racontez-moi
une historic" she spoke softly.
Francois Beaupre's look turned from
her TO the fire. and the air of gazing
at something far away came again
1T is a picture l see as | think OF
that time OF my childhood" he began
as II speaking to himself. "A picture
many times painted in homelike col
ors on my brain. Many night in the
winter have sat, little boy. by the
side of my grandmother, at that great
hearth, and have looked and have seer
all the faces. have heard all the voices
and the fire cracking. and the spin
ning-wheel whirring, even as SCI
them and hear them tonight.
And from time TO time one of ths
men, as he talked. rose up and strods
across the room to the great oak table
where lay always on wooden plate
long loaf OF black bread. with I
knife. and always a glass and bottl,
OF eau-de-vie-b brandy. And remem
Der how manly It looked to me. watch
ing, when I saw him take the loa
under his arm and hold IL. and slic'
on boldly q great piece Of the fresl
J rye bread. and pour out a glass o
brandy and toss II OF as be ate tn
bread. The stories seemed to grow
better after the teller had done that
And always waited. even through
the tale Of the ghost and the fire
! breathing hound. till the talk shout
: swing round AZ II did ever towar