Evening star., 1915-02-21

lives in such way!" she murmured.
Il suppose that anyone who let go killed." said
Tolemache
@Mais non, Msieu'," Pere Jean assured him. The
blessed saint would not permit that No
killed. I'm told But the project has forbidden it these
twenty years.
Are the rings in good condition.
Certainly, " 'sen. Where does one get such
iron made in those days?"
Lets test of EN-, anyhow, said Tolemache,
and before the Mortified girls realized what he he
had leaped from parapet to rock, and cnging
couple of rings.
OH, Monsieur Tolemache!7 screamed Barbe
~ please come back, Monsieur!7 cried Madeleine.
"Hi! Hi 1t is forbidden by the prefect!T beloved
Pere Jean
But Yvonne, though angry and pallid with fright,
only said, Don't be stupid Lorry. l should never
have thought you would show off in that silly manner
She spoke in English. Tolemache, gazing down at
her in comical, sdelong way answered in the same
language.
I'm not showing off. Do you think that any French
lived who could climb where l couoln't?"
"No one said word about ,-ou."
"Yes Mere Pitou said I'd shiver when 1 the
place. Now watch shiver!'
He swung outward. Even in her Distress Yvonne
noticed that he took strong pull at each ring before
trusting his whole weight But she made no further
protest. uttered sound; though Madeleine and
Barbe were screaming frantcay, and: the old care
takers voice cracked with reteraton of the projects
commands
Tolemache out of sight round the angle of
the tower and the two Breton girls to the other
parapet to watch for his temperance Not Yvonne.
The dread notion possessed her that she might
Laurence Toleache dashed to his death those cruel
rocks sixty feet beneath and she knew that,
witnessed the horrc spectacle would leave her
vision So she waited spebound in front of the altar,
and gazed mutely at tawdry images that stood
there Could they help these grotesque cacatures of
heavenly beings, carved and gded wooden blocks with
curiousy nane eyes and thick lips? Her seemed
to be atrophied. She of feeling of dull
noyarce when the boy, attracted by the and
Pere Jeans shrill vehemence running from his
post and thus would surely miss the second appearance
of her father and Mere Ptou. But the young peasant
quick wtted. He had seen the pilgrims turn and
the ascent he dashed into the bery because
he could thence obtain view of event that he
had often heard of but never seen,-a man swinging
himself round Sainte Barbes tower by the shepherds
hooks, such being the local of the series of rings.
So the bell toled its deep, strong notes, and stimuli
taneousy Madeleine and Barbe sfrieked in wilder
pitch of frenzy Tolemache had just swung round the
second angle of the tower His hand had caught the
ring that side; but the staple yielded and
he vanished
All, mon Dieu! he has falen!" cried Barbe colaps-
ing forthwith in faint
Fortunately Madeleine saved her from nasty tumble
the rough stones; though she herself nearly dis
traught with Pere Jean raced off down the right
hand fight of steps, moving with remarkable ceerty
for so old man, and gaspng in his panic:
"MAe diables! What will M'seu le Prefet say
now?"
Evidently the caretaker feared lest Sainte Barbes
miraculous powers should not survive
Yet his faith justified. shout heard from the
towers hidden face.
"Je men fche de sa!' the cry. I'm right as
nail I've got to return the way came-thats all!7
Yvonne listened in dream. She her
father and Madame Pitou crossing the plateau. For
instant her eyes dwelt the features of the fright