Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-06-21

Is 1T by tins way one gains the
Frejus road9" he asked in Eng
lish.
Straight on to the end of the,
street, then to the left" answered
the girl in the same tongue,
speaking it readily and without
accent.
"Thank you. This for your
father" and thrusting his hand
quickly into his pocket, he drew
out a fat envelope, sealed with
many seals, placed it in the girls
hand, and hurried on.
An hour later, the two travel
lers, reunited, Toulon we'll behind
them, strobe along a beautiful
road skirting the Mediterranean,
which stretched, a sheet of green
ish-blue, away to the south. But,
strangely enough, they did not
even glance at this panorama. In
stead, they walked with heads
down, as though still fearing to
meet each others eyes.
Back in the narrow Rue du Plas-
son, the girl, her face still very
white, reentered the house, closed
and bolted the crazy door, and
slowly mounted the dark stair
case. From the street outside
came excited cries, hoarse shout
ing, the clatter of running feet;
but she did not stop to listen. In
deed, she did not seem to hear, but
dragged herself up from step to
step as though a weight was on
her feet.
The house was Of four stories,
and she did not pause until she
reached the top one. A stream of
yellow light poured through an
open door, and she entered and
closed the door behind her. A
lighted candle stood on a table in
the center of the narrow room, but
already the rays of the sun were
beating against the single window.
Besides the table, the room con-
tanned two chairs, rusty stove,
and a cupboard in which were a
few dishes. Against one wall
stood a cot, and the back of the
room was curtained off, no doubt
for the girls slesing chamber.
She stood for a moment staring
llstlessly before her, as though
trying to remember what she
should do next; then she laid the
envelope on the table, blew out the
candle, started a fire in the stove,
and placed a kettle upon it. Fin
ally she drew a chair to the win
dow, sat down, and looked out
across the harbor.
Opposite the house was a long,
low building, the wine market, so
that her view Of the harbor was
unobstructed. 1t was alive with
boats, ~circling around or speeding
towards a black and shapeless
mass, above which some shreds of
smoke still fingered. Her lips
were moving as she stared at it,
and her face was bloodless; and
she pressed her hands to her
breast, as though in pain.
At last the singing Of the kettle
reused her. She seemed tofpull
herself together; then she rose,
made the coffee and placed some
rolls upon the table. Finally she
picked up q knife, and with the
handle smote sharply against the
wall. A moment later, the door
opened and a man camesin.
AT first glance, one thought him
very old, for his hair was white as
snow, his body shrivelled and
bent, his face lined and sallow. But
at the second glance, one perceived
that these were not the marks Of
age but of the ravages Of the fiery
spirit which dwelt within the
body and which pcered from the
burning eyes. At this moment,
they cleaned with a luster almost
demoniacal.
Breakfast is ready, father"
said the girl. "And-and the man
came past, as you expected, and
gave me that for YOU she added,
with a little gesture toward the
sealed envelope.
The man advanced to the table,
picked up the envelope, and
walked on to the window. For d
moment he stood staring out
across the harbor ; then there was
the sound of ripping paper, a mo-
ment's silence, and he thrust the
! envelope into his pocket and
turned back to the table.
IT is weIli'' he said, and sat
down. 1t is well, Kasia!'
81 am glad Of that, father she
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