Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-25
THE RED LANE ss S,n.s.. %o.s1% J. y. p1n s.,4.,

house' new cassock dragging on his
heels; and the patriarch walked with
him, hands behind his back.
In the dusk, from Madame
oulllette's, came AldMch and Evange
line; and they met the little priest
and the patriarch at the door of the
sacristy, and the four went in to
gether There were no others. 1t
mad been planned that way. For the
shadow of Netal Beaulieu's death still
hovered over their joy. and 1t had
seemed best to take only the few into
their confidence. Their own hearts
could ring the peal: their own souls
| could sing the songs.
SO they were married.
Hand in hand, the groom. and the
bride crossed the square to take the
lane which led to the meadows beside
the river That bit Of journey, in the
glory OF the stars of June, was to be
their honeymoon trip; a few hours
together i'll the peace of the meadows
In front of one of the little houses
Just off the village square, they spied
dusty blackboard with dished wheels;
and from within doors sounded the
plaintive notes of a fiddle.
1t is Anaxagoras Billedeau," whis-
pered Aldrich.
His wife halted him. She put her
arms about his neck and kissed him.
delicious preface of request
Will you go and fetch Billedeau
dear? Ask him to walk with us into
the meadows. / have something to
tell him-to tell you. I have been
waiting to tell it to YOU
The fiddler came out into the even.
ing, wondering. He carried his fiddle.
hurrying forth when he understood
that Aldrich had summoned him. He
trudged behind them till they came
to the willows. The great river was
close to their feet as they sat there.
She told them--her husband and
Anaxagoras Billedeau-of the visit of
Felix Cyr.
After she had finished. Aldrich leap.
ed to his feet. He raised his wife and
drew her close to him.
so | come to you. my husband.
with empty hands and full heart"
she said. before his lips had found
hers.
81 have not dared to speak of that
thing--that money--to YOU. my wife!
l could not speak of il! could not
ask you to give up what was yours.
But, oh. don't you realize what this
means to me? When a man loves a
woman. half the joy Of loving her is
taken away from him if he cannot
work for her, give all TO her, be all
man and woman. Some try to deny,
but they find the heartaches just the
same. Thank God. I need not share
with another in doing for you. my
Evangeline! These two hands are
yours, and from these two hands shall
come that which makes life sweet.
I'm your husband. now-all that the
word husband means! That money
frightened me. Come TO me now.
rich in love and confidence. Oh, my
rich WIFE"
Many minutes passed before they
gave thought to the presence of
Anaxagoras Billedeau.
He was on his feet, clasping his
fiddle to his breast, trying hard not
to stare at this scene of rapture. but
blinking side glances while he waited
in an agony of panic.
"Ah. l salute you and compliment
you, AnaXagoras,' cried Aldrich. You
are the rich man of the border. You
have plenty of money now"
THAT is not so,' declared the fiddler,
choking.
Here, don't you realize that you
are doubling my wife's word?-my
wife, understand. We have just been
married Billedeau! Have you not
heard what she said? I say, you are
a rich man."
The fiddler Strengthened. He squared
his shoulders.
"I was chosen by the great Repre-
sentative Clifford to carry the message
to the reverenced bishop. | went.
suffered l had money, then, for
time. That money was ever terror
by night and burden by day. ], who
have always loved men, drew aside
from them when that money was il.
nv pocket. 1t made life bitter. Do