The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-06


she found sympathetic; the womans
eyes had drawn Julia to her. It was
Comtesse de Ia Maine, widow.
young as herself and, as Julia said
vastly better-looking. Turning to
fremont on the balcony, when he told
her she was beautiful, she said:
Madame de la Maine is my ideal of
loveliness."
The young man wrinkled his fair
brow.
do you think SO. Mademoiselle? :?
Why?"
"She has character as well as per.
feet lines. Her eyes look as though
they could weep and laugh. Her
mouth looks as though 1t could say
adorable things"
fremont laughed softly and said:
Go on, you amuse me-"
"And her hands look as though they
could caress and comfort. like her
awfully. wish she were my friend"
fremont said nothing, and she
glanced at him suddenly.
"She says such lovely things about
you, Monsieur"
Really! She is too indulgent."
Don't be worldly" said Miss Red.
mond gravely, "be human. like you
best so. Don't you agree with me?"
Madame de la Maine is a very
charming woman" said the young
man, and the girl saw change come
over his features.
AT this moment, as they stood so
together, fremont pulling his mus.
tache and looking out through the
bougainvillea vines, dark figure
made its way through the garden to
the villa, came and took its position
under the balcony where the duke and
Miss Redmond leaned. 1t was a ma.
tive, a man in filthy rags. He turned
his face to fremont and bowed low
to the lady.
"Excellency," he said in broken
French, my name is Hammet Abou
I was the ordonnance of Monsieur le
Capitaine de Sabron."
What" exclaimed fremont, what
did you say?"
ASK him to come up here" said
Julia Redmond, "or, no-let us go
down to the garden"
1T is damp" said fremont, "let me
get you a shawl"
mo, no. need nothing"
She had hurried before him down
the little stairs leading into the gar
den from the balcony, and she had be-
gun to speak to the native before Ire
mont appeared. In this recital he ad-
dressed his words to Julia alone.
Il am very poor man, Excellency,"
he said in mellif1uous tone, 'and very
sick
Have you any money, Monsieur"
pray do not suggest it," said the
duke sharply. Let him tell what he
will; we will pay him later"
81 have been very SICK" said the
man. Il have left the army. do
not like the French army" said the
native simply.
You are very frank said fremont
brutally. why do you come here at
any rate?"
'Hush," said Julia Redmond i'm
ploringly. DO not anger him, Mon
sieur, he may have news" She asked:
Have you news?" and there was a
note in her voice that made fremont
glance at her.
Il have seen the excellency and
her grandmother" said the native,
many times going into the garrison"
What news have you Of Captain
de Sabron?" asked the girl directly.
Without replying, the man said in a
melancholy voice:
Il was his ordonnance, I saw him
fall in the battle of Dirbal. l saw
him shot in the side. was shot, too.
See?"
He started to pull away his rags.
fremont clutched him.
"You beast" he muttered, and
pushed him back. III you have any
thing to say, say it,
Looking at Julia Redmond's color
less face, the native asked meaningly:
Does the excellency wish any
news?"
:. Yes" said fremont. shaking him.
And II you do not give it, it will be
the worse for YOU"
Monsieur lie Capitaine fell, and
fell, too; saw no more"
fremont said:
you see the fellow is half lunatic
and probably Knows nothing about
Sabron. l shall put him out of the
garden"
But Miss Redmond paid no atten-
tion to her companion. She controlled
her voice and asked the man:
Was the Capitaine de Sabron
alone?"
Except" said the native steadily,
with glance of disgust at the duke,
except for his little dog"
"Ah!" exclaimed Julia Redmond,
with a catch in her voice, "do you
hear that? He must have been his
servant What was the dogs name?"
MY name" said the native, lis
Hammet Abou."
To her at this moment Hammet
Abou was the most important person
in North Africa.
What was the little dogs name,
Hammet Abou?"
The man raised his eyes and looked
at the white woman with admiration.
"Pitchoune." he said, and saw the
effect.