New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-09
The Flower of the CS0rse
By Louis Tracy

He ought to be christcned Asticot!'
Al an astcot - a maCgot il was well that none
mn. yvonne had overheard Mere Ptou's biting
comment. or the fshermar's new nickname might
have stuck. its point being specially apprecihoie
in a fishing community.
The weather that night was peculiarly calm ana
mild. even tor Southern Brittany. Shortly ai'er
midnight Ingersoll, who had been watching
Yvonne and Tollemachc dancing the gavot'e' IN
which the girl was adept and her lover SUI.
acientlv skiltul partner to show OF her graceful
stems to the utmost ndvantag', suddenly decldeu
to smoke a cigar in the open air
He quilted the studio by French wlndo" ana
strolled into the garden, which stretched soine
little way up the steep slope OF the hIlH anu
through narrow strip toward the road on one
side Of the cottage. Owing to the feast foh'
Aven was by no means asleep; but the streets
were empty, as the people were either entertain
ing or being entertained. In house near we
church girl was singing the "Adeste fde!es
IN , high. pure treble. Those in her company
men. women and children, burst into the mar
rnonious chorus. "Venite adoremus; venite ado
rerus in Bethlehem" As tho appeal swelled and
then died away and the girls voice took up me
solo Ingersoll remembered the verse. And sud
denly there was with the angel a multitude OF
the heavenly host. praising God and has eyes
grew dim with unshed tears.
The HYMN ceased. From some more distant
gathering came the stunning OF banjo IN '"e
latest Boulevard refrain. lnGersoN smiled at
that Not often might any man hear twenty cen
turie. summed up concisely. lie was ABOUT
10 re-enter the cottage when woman hat!ess'
but with head and face yelled in a shawl OF blacs
lace. appeared indistinctly in the roadway lie
knew instantly that II was his wife only TWO
women in Pont Aven walked with such ease anc
elegance. and they were Yvonne and her mother.
second later he heard the familiar creak OF
the garden gate So she was coming in! lie was
utterly at loss TO account for this amazing IN
trusion. He had counted implicitly on his wife's
sense Of good breeding and fairness restraining
her from any frenzied effort to undo the havoc
Of the past, and a spasm of anger shook him now
because of this threatened invasion Of his small
domain. At any rate she should not have the hys-
terical satisfaction Of placing him in false posi-
ton before Mere Pitou and her guests, to say
nothing Of Yvonne and Tollemache.
lie retreated into the deep shadow OF a lofty
retaining wall, whence he could without being
seen. IT, as he expected. there a connection
among the dancers when the unexpected visitor
was announced he would escape by way Of the
open hillside and remain away during some hours.
Then, in the morning, Yvonne and he would end
an ntolerable state OF things by leaving Pont
Aven for some unknown refuge until Lorry told
them that the coast clear.
Thus do men plan when beset By some unfore-
seen difficulty. Be they wise foolish, they sell
dom learn that in those crucial moments Of life
when events Of real Importance take place they
are as straws caught in a whirlpool, and no moro
CAPABLE than straws Of predetermined govern
ance Of their deeds and movements.
Ingersoll was barely hidden before he received
q fresh surprise. His wife had not gone to the
door She was In the garden, and coming round
to the back, evidently meaning TO look in the
jewellers and remain unseen. She halted but a
few PAGES short of the place where Ingersoll
standing, and soon he knew that she was crying
in heartbroken way Her very attitude, the
care she took to restrain the sounds of her grief
and not become visible to any eye that CHANGED
to look out through the open window, showed
that she was in the depths Of despair By
rapid revusion Of feeling the mans heart ached
for her Strive he might, and strong as were
the dictates Of the social laws that closed and
bolted the door Of reconciliation, he tempted,
or It may be dviney inspired, TO make known his
presence and utter words Of healing and forgive
ness.
But the opportunity no less than the impulse,
passed as quickly it had risen.
The dancing had stopped Evidently IN response
to some question Of Yvonnes, Tollemache came to
the window and peered out.
"Ingerso!" he cried.
There was no answer The artist could not be
detected in any event, and the change from a well
lighted room TO the external darkness temporarily
blinded Lorrys sharp eyes, or he might have
noted the slight, shrinking figure beneath one Of
the apple trees
Hes not there" he said, speaking over his
shoulder TO Yvonne.
The girl came nearer 81 him go OUT
she persisted.
Eyes. of course. | saw him, too. he stopped
to light cigar. Bet you he's gone for q stroll.
You remember last year at this time he went to
Julias for half an hour
That was an unfortunate recollection on Lorry's
part He was aware Of it instantly; but Yvonne
helped to slur it over by saying that she had no
doubt dad" would return. Then the two
rejoined their Breton friends.
Mrs Carmac clearly meant TO take no further
risk of discovery. She hurried away. After
momentary indecision Ingersoll followed. His
action was inexplicable. to himself II arose,
perhaps from a desire to make certain that his
wife reached the hotel. Such motive was at
least comprehensible It came within the bounds
of that intelligence which regulates ordinary
human affairs But there is another and subtler
shirt essence which sends out through space It's
impalpable invisible, yet compelling influences.
peal for help and finds response in some other