Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-02

meadow. do you mean the new mar
| aus. the old marquis cousin, monsieur?
He went away directly after the burial"
What burial?"
THE old marquis burial. Mat was
before St Johns day."
BE careful what you say. my child!"
Didn't you know he was dead. mon
sieur7"
Il have been on Journey. Was his
| death sudden7"
He was killed in a duel in Paris"
l sat down on the grass with my head
In my hands. Bellenger had told the
J truth.
One scant month the Marquis du Plessy
| fostered me like a son. To this hour
my slow heart ach- Cor the companion
ship Of the llghtest lost delicate spirit 1
ever encountered in man.
Once I lifted my head and insisted,
1T can't be true!"
solmenly. "it is true. The blessed St
Alpin. my patron. forget me II I tell you
n lie."
Around the shadowed spot where 1 sat
l heard trees whispering on the hills,
and cart rumbling along the hardened
dust of the road.
Monsieur" spoke the goose girl out Of
HSA bOOu HedTls IL you want TO go TO
his chapel l will show you the path"
She tied a string around the leg of the
wicked gander and attached him to the
tree, shaking a wand at him In warning
He nipped her sleeve, and Missed, and
hoped, his wives demonstrating softly;
but his guardian left him bound and car
ried her knitting down a valley to a
stream. across the bridge, and near an
opening In the bushes at the foot of
hill.
Go all to the right, monsieur" she
said, land you will come to the chapel
where the Du Plessys are buried
gave her the largest coin In my
pocket, and she flew back as we'll as the
spirit of childhood could fly in wooden
shoes. All the geese, formed in a line,
waddleG to meet her perhaps bearing a
memorial OF wrongs from their husband.
The climb was steep, rounding a dark
ehed ferny shoulder of lush forest, yet
promising more and more a top of sun
nsht. At the summit was a carriage
road which ascended by some easier
plane. Keeping all to the right as the
goose girl directed. l found a chapel like
shrine
1t was locked. Through the lattjced
door 1 could see an altar, whereunder
the last Du Plessy who had come to rest
there, doubtless lay with his kin.
sat down on one OF the benches under
the trees. The ache within me went
deep. But all that sunny hlllcrest seemed
frightened by the marquis. 1t was cheer
iul as his smile. Let us have a glass
OF wine and enjoy the sum-" he said In the
breeze howing around his chapel. "And
do you hear that little citizen of the tree
trunks, Lazarrep'
The perfume OF the woods rose inyisibly
to cloudless sky. My last tryst with
my friend was an hour in paradises
antechamber.
The light quick stepping of horses and
their rattling harness brought Madame
de Ferrier's carriage quickly around the
curve fronting the chapel. Her presence
was the one touch which the place
lacked. and l forgot grief. shame, impa-
thence at being found out in my trouble.
and stood at her step with my hat In
my hand.
She said-"O Lazarrel"-and Paul beat
on Ernestine's knee, echoing-"O Earl"
and my comfort was absolute as release
from pain. because she had come to visit
her old friend the marquis
1 helped her down and stood with her
at the latticed door.
How bright 1t is herev' said Eagle.
1T is very bright / came up the hill
from a dark place"
Did the news Of his death meet you
on the postroad?"
1T met me at the foot of this hill The
goosegirl told me-"
'Oh, you have been hurt! she said,
looking at me. Your face Is all scanned.
Don't tell me about Mittau today. Paul
and ! are taking possession of the es-
Napoleon has given them back to
youl"
Yes he has begged the De Chau-
monts to let me come alonel BY hard
posting we reached Mont-Louis last
night. You are the only person in France
70 whom would give that vacant seat
In the carriage today"
l cared no longer for my own loss. az
am afraid has been too much my way
all through life; or whether l was A
prince or not. Like paradise after death,
as 30 many OF our best days come. this
perfect day was given me by the marquis
himself. Eagles summer dress touched
me. Paul and Ernestine sat facing us,
and Paul ate cherries from a little bas-
ket, ana had his fingers wiped beating
the cushion with his heels In excess of
impatience 10 begin again.
We paused at turn OF the height be.
fore descending. where helds could 81
seen stretching 70 the horizon, woods fair
and clean as parks, without the wildness
Of the American forest, and vineyards OF
bushy vines that bore the small black
grapes, Eagle showed me the far boun-
daries OF Pauls estates. Then We drove
where holly spread its prickIy foliage
near the ground. where springs from
ellis trickied across delicious lanes.
Hoary stone farmhouses built four
square like fortress. each having a
stately archway, saluted us "a we
passed by. The patron and his wife came
out, and iaborers. pulling their eaps.
dropped down from high-yoked horses.
But when the Ions single street OF stone
cottages which formed the village opened
its arms. could see her breast swelllne
and her gray eyes sweeping all with
comprehensive rush.
An elderly man, shaking some nalaa |
in wire basket dropped Il al his feet |
and lowed and bowed, sweeping his can |
10 thc ground. Some women who uefe /
washing around rooted pool left fhe.r |
paod'fe. ana ran, Uiplnf suda from fheIr |
arms and houses discharged fheir in
mtIfs babies n fhndrtns arms. rlver.
o|H nHn the s|npIicIly of lhelr lIses an1 !