Evening star., 1914-11-15


flowers and faint fragrance blown from rose
fields titled by fairies in his nostrs he walked.
Always he had hid his delicate dreams from prylng
world with jealous care, this whom the world
thought cold and dull and hard.
lust for brief moment the shadow of doubt
had crossed his mind. There had been many traps.
And then he laughed, remembering those frank, brave
eyes. She might be cold and scornul for awhile, his
shadow woman but she would have part in traps
I'd so, when the gray chill twilight was falling, he
walked alone the house of Simon Krienan.
Alone in the little living room, stripped of all that
could be sold she awaiting him. his shadow woman.
And he wondered why her eyes loomed so large and
dark from face that white snow, and why her
hands clcncled though she would stay their
trembling Did she fear him, she actually afraid of
hmo She would fear longer if he but dared tell her
something of that which in his heart. Perhaps
dav he would dare to tell her
"You sent for me- Madam he said in his quiet voice
with its odd note of gentcncss.
He her moiscn her lips before she could
Eyes" she said, IL sent for YOU.
The day was dying fast. The little seemed to
be filled with shadows. She stood among them, and her
face white and pnched and robbed of half its
beauty He caught himself wishing that he might see
her in the sunshine among flowers
as there anything he began.
And then the door that he had closed behind him
flung open and the room filled with women, with
women who had crouched whinpering with hate, and
waited for this moment. There hate in their wild
their clutching hands. Not for nothing had they
watched their children starve.
They crashed to the door behind thenl and for
tense moment they hung waiting poised to spring.
Peter Van Stel had swung round to face them. Now
he turned and flung swift glance at the whitefaced
girl standing with clenched hands beyond the table.
And his lips shut close He had fear at ALL Even in
that moment the girl of that. and her heart
thrilled at the thought.
"What do YOU wish with meo@ Peter Van Stcl asked,
addressing Lisbcth kreman.
"What do we wish?" she answered shrilly zone
thing, only one thing You shall promise to end the
STRIKE to give the wages that demand If not
If not"
"Yes," said Peter Van stel quietly. "And if not?"
ave will make you promise. she sh1eked We
have got YOU, Beast! You caught and trapped.
Promise by the God that shall Judge between
will force promise from you.'
a will not PROMISE Peter Van Stel said steadily.
Lisbeth Krieman laughed horribly. You will not?
Wait till we have tried little torture"
Anna sprang forward. "No no! l will not have it!
He shall not be harmed! brought him here
She was between the women and the man. ust for
moment as he heard her words, Peter Van Ste smiled.
So, in spite of ALL he had not misjudged his shadow
woman. But that smile died swiftly. Lsbeth kreman
beside herself.
"Sand back you-" she shrieked "Ah, would you
shield him.
And she struck the girl the mouth, with blow
that drew blood and sent her faint and reelng
the room. Peter Van Stel had drawn a silver whistle
from his pocket He blew one long call, and then-the
upon him with the rage of beasts.
HE like child in the grip of their mad strength.
IL They bore him back upon the table and held him
there despite his struggles They tore off his coat and
barred his body the waist. They had drawn the long
combs from their hair and they held them menacingy
before his eyes and above his naked flesh.
"Promise, promise swifty!' they howled. If You
value your eyes and skin, you will make haste to prom
Use! Beast Animal, Hog be swift
He had ceased his vain struggles Their hot breath