The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-03-13
CHAPTER K,
The Town.crler.

The Town-Crier.
The bell in the unseen chapel ceased
ringing as we came out on the cliffs OF
Paradise where, on the horizon the
sun hung low, belted with single
ribbon OF violet cloud
Below the cliffs, on a crescent Of fiat
sand, from which sluggish, rosy rivu-
lets crawled seaward a man stood
looking out across the water. And
the mayor stopped and called down to
him; "Ohe, the Lizard want some
body to drum and read a proclamation.
Where's Jacqueline?"
At this instant young girl, a mere
child, appeared on the beach, dragging
a eea,rake over the ground behind her.
She was 1.-THE creature. barelimbed
and ragged, with the sea-tan on throat
and knee. The girl caught sight Of
the mayor and gave him laughing
greeting which he returned with a
shrug
IF you want a town-crier," she
called up in a delciously fresh voice,
scarcely tinged with the accent, IN
cry your edicts and I'll drum for you,
| tool"
The girl threw her rake into boat
and leaped upon the rocks at the base
OF the cliff.
"Jacqueline! Don't come up that
way!" bawled the mayor, Mortified.
Hey! Robert! Ohei! Lizard! Stop
her or she'll break her neck"
Breathless, hot and laughing, the
girl pulled herself up over the edge of
the cliff. | held out my hand to aid
her, but she pushed 1t away, crying,
Thank you all the same, but here |
am"
The mayor looked at her angrily,
but, probably remembering he was at
her mercy, suppressed his wrath and
held but, the telegram. Can you read
that my child?"
yes, can read it. Why not? Can't
you?"
Read? the mayor Of Paradise!"
repeated the outraged magistrate.
What do you mean. lizard of lizards
gorse cat!"
Now If you are going to say such
things | won't drum for you," said the
child, glancing at me out OF her sea
blue eyes and giving shake to her
elf-locks.
| gave her hand-bill; 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 to read this in the square?"
Il will give you a franc to read 1t,
Jacqueline"
mo, no-only-oh, do let me come
in and see the heavenly wonders!
Would you, monsieur? IL cannot |
pay-but would-could you let me
come in? will read your notice, any
way" she added, with a quaVer in her
voice.
Come whenever you like, Jacque-
line" said. ASK for me at the gate"
"And who are you, monsieur?"
my name is Scarlet"
Scarlet" she whispered, as though
naming a 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 pair of sabots,
too. Come, hasten little idler!"
We entered the mayors garden,
where the flowers were glowing in the
Iuster Of the setting sun. The mayor
soon reappeared with drum and drum
sticks in one hand and pair of sabots
IN the other Go, my child" he said,
and Jacqueline marched through the
garden out into the square by the foun-
ain, drum-sticks clutched In one
aimed fist, the scrolls of paper in the
)ther
In the center OF the square she stood
/ moment, looking around, then raised
he drum-sticks; there came click, a
lash of metal, and the quiet square
echoed with startling outcrash. AL
'eady a knot of people had gathered
Lround her; others came swiftly to
windows and doorsteps; the loungers
eft their stone benches by the river,
he maids Of Paradise focked from the
,ridge. The drum-roll ceased.
Attention! Men Of Finistere! BY {
rider of the governor of Lorient, all (
nen between the ages Of twenty and
orty. otherwise not exempt, are or
Tered to report at the navy yard bar
acks, war-port Of Lorient, on the 5th {