Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-21

was the thought that Madame de Ferrie
was out In II alone.
tried one of the long calls we some
times used in hunting. She might hear
and understand that / was near to hell
her. But IL was shouting against many
walls No effort pierced the muffiinl
substance which rolled thickly against
the lungs. Remembering II was possbl,
to override smaller craft, I pulled will
caution, and so bumped lightly against
the boat that by lucky chance lowered
In my track.
rs II you, madame?" / asked
She hesitated.
rs II you, monsieur"
Yes"
"I think am lost. There is no shore
| The fog closed around me so soon. / was
waiting for it to lift a little"
1T may not lift until morning, madame.
Let me tie your boat to mine"
do you know the way?"
"There is no way. We shall have to
feel for the shore. But Lake George is
narrow and ! know it we'll"
"I want to keep near you"
Come into my boat and let me tie the
other one astern."
She hesitated again. but decided, THAT
would be best"
I drew the frail shells together-they
| seemed very frail above such depths-and
! helped her across the edges We were
probably the only people on Lake George,
finder lighted in one boat would
| scarcely have shown us the other, though
in the sky an oval moon began to make
itself seen amidst rags OF fog. The dense
eclipse around us and the changing light
overhead were very weird
Madame de Terriers hands chilled mine
and she shook in her thin cape and hood.
Our garments were saturated. I felt
moisture trickling down my hair and
! dropping on my shoulders.
She was full of vital courage, resisting
the deadly chill. This was not a summer
fog, lightly to be traversed. 1t went dank
through the bones. When I had helped
her to a bench. remembering there was
nothing dry to wrap around her, slipped
off my coat and forcibly added it's thick
ness to her shoulders.
do you think I will let you do that.
monsieur"
My teeth chartered and shocked to-
gether so 1t was impossible to keep from
laughing. as I told her / always pre-
ferred to be coatless when l rowed a
boat.
We could see each other by the high
light that sometimes gilded the face, and
sometimes was tarnshed almost to
eclipse. Madame de Ferrier crept for
ward, and before ] knew her intention.
cast my garment again around me. l
helped the boat shift its balance so she
would have to grasp at me for support;
The chilled round shape of her arm in
my hand sent waves of fire through me-
With brazen cunning. moreover, that sur
prised myself, instead of pleading, l die
tated.
"Sit beside me on the rowers bench,
madame, and the coat will stretch around
both of u.s."
Like a child she obeyed. We were in
deed reduced to saving the warmth of
our bodies l shipped my oars and took
ore for a paddle. bidding Madame de
Ferrier to hold the covering In place
while / felt for the shore. She did so
her arm crossing my breast her soft
body touching mine. She was cold and
still as the cloud in which we moved;
but / was a god, riding triumphantly
high above the world, satisfied to float
through celestial regions forever, bear
ing in my breast an unquenchable coal
of fire.
The moon played tricks, for now she
was astern, and now straight ahead in
that confusing wilderness of vapor
Madame" l said to my companion,
why have you been persuaded to go
back to F'rance?"
"I have not been persuaded. I have
been forced by circumstances Paul's
future is everything"
"You said you would rather make him
a wood-chopper than a suppliant to the
Bonapartes."
81 would. But his rights are TO be con-
sidered first. He has some small chance
OF regaining his inheritance through the
influence of Count de Chaumont now.
Hereafter there may be no chance. You
know the fortunes and lands OF all emf
gres were forfeited to the State. Ours
have finally reached the hands Of one of
Napoleon's officers. / do not know what
will be done. l only know that Paul
must never have cause to reproach me-"
I was Obliged to do my duty In my
place as she was doing her duty in hers;
but / wished the boat would sink, and
so end all journeys TO France. 1t touched
shore, on the contrary, and / grasped
a rock which jutted toward us. 1t might
be the point of an island, II might be
the eastern land, as / was inclined to
believe. for the moon was over our right
shoulders.
Probing along with the oar found a
cove and a shallow bottom, and there
beached our craft with great shove
How good the earth feels underfootp'
said Madame de Ferrier. We were both
stln. I drew the boats where they could
not be fioated away, and We turned our
faces 70 the unknown. l took her un-
resisting arm TO guide her. and she de-
pended upon me.
This day ! look back at those young
hgures cropping through cloud as at dis
embodied and blessed spirits. The mans
intensest tenderness. restrained by his
yirginhood and his awe OF the supple
delicate shape at his side. was put forth
only Ia her service. They walked against
bushes. He broke a stick and with IL
probed every yard OF the ascent which
they were Obliged TO make. Helping his
companion from bush to log. from seam
TO seam OF the riven slope. from ledge
10 ledge, he brought her 70 level OF
high forest where the fog was thinner
ana branches interlaeed across their
faces.
The climb made Madame de Ferrier
draw her breath quickly. She laughed
when We ended H. Though ] knew the
shores AZ well as a hunter. Il was i'm
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