Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-10-03
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window were pasted white strips of
paper bearing, in black letters, the
"Ferme a cause de la mobiliza-
ton"
Nowi..re could he see the word
war" printed or otherwise displayed
The conspiracy of silence concerning
it seemed the more ominous.
Nor, liStning, could he hear the
sinister voices of men and boys call
ing extra editions of the papers.
There seemed to be no need for the
raising of hoarSe and threatening
voices in the soundless capital. Men
and youths OIL all ages traversed the
avenues and streets with sheafS OF
fresh, damp newspapers over their
ragged arms, but it was the populace
who crowded after and importuhed
them, not they the people; and no
sooner did a paper-Seller appear than
he was stripped of his wares and
was counting his ooppers under the
trees before hurrying away for a
fresh supply.
Neeland dressed himself in sec
lions, always returning to the Win
dow to look out; and in this manner
he achieved his toilet.
Marotte the old butler, was on
the floor below, carrying a tea tray
into the wide, sunny sitting-room as
Neeland descended.
Il oversight" explained the young
American, and I'm nearly starved.
Is MademOiselle Carew having tea?''
"Mademoiselle requested tea for
two, sir, in case you should awake, -
said the old man Solemnly.
Neeland watched him fussing
about with cloth and table and sill
yer.
Have you any news?" he asked
after a moment.
Very little, Monsieur Neeland.
The police have ordered all Germans
into detention camps-men, women,
and children. 1t is said that there
are to be twelve great camps for
semble in the Lycee Condorcet for
immediate transportation
Neeland thought of Ilse Dumont.
Presently he asked whether any mes
sage had been received from the
Princess MiStchenka.
France at four o'clock this afternoon.
Mademoiselle Carew has the mes
sage.
Neeland, treasured, nodded:
No other news, Marotte?"
THE military have taken our auto
mobiles from the garage, and have
requisitioned the car which Madame
la Princess is now using, ordering US
to place it at their disposal as soon
as it returns from Havre. Also,
Monsieur lie Capitaine Sengoun has
telephoned from the Russian embas-
sy, but Mademoiselle Carew would
not permit monsieur to be awakened
What did Captain Sengoun say?"
"Mademoiselle Carew received the
message"
And did anyone else call me up?"
asked Neeland, smiling
III await une fe-une eSpece de
DAME" replied the old man doubt
fully, who named herself Fiji la
Tzigane. permitted myself to OBJ
serve to her." added the butler with
dignity, that she had the liberty of
writing to you what she thought
necessary to communicate"
He had arranged the tea table Now
he retired, but returned almost i'm
mediately to decorate the table with
Cloth of Gold roses.
Fussing and pottering about until
the moss of lovely blossoms suited
him, he finally presented himself to
Neeland for further orders, and,
learning that there were none, start
ed to retire with self-respecting
dignity that was not at all impaired
by the tears that kept yelling up
in his aged eyes, and which he al
ways winked away with a demi-tour
and discreet cough correctly stifled
by his dry and wrinkled hand.
AS he passed out of the door Nee
land said:
Are you in trouble, Marotte?"
The old man Strengthened up, and
a fierce pride blazed for a moment
from his faded eyes:
Not trouble, monsieur; but-when
one has three sons departing for the
front-dame!-that makes one reflect
a little" u
He bowed with the unconscious
dignity of a wider liberty, a subtler
" yI-h mo 10
such as he Indifferent to circum-
stances of station.
Neeland stepped forward extending
his hand:
''Bonne chance! God be with
France-and with us all who love lib
erty. Luck to your three sons"
Il thank monsieur" He steadied
his voice, bowed in the faultless gar
ments which were his badge of serv-
ice, and went his way through the
silence in the house.
Neeland had walked to the long
windows giving on the pretty bal
cony with its delicate, wrought-iron
rails, and its brilliant masses of
geraniums.
Outside, along the avenue, in abso-
lutte silence. regiment Of cuira sSieIs
was passing, the level sun blazing
like sheets of crimson fire across
their helmets and breastplates. And
now, listening, the TAR CHATTER OF
their horses came to his ears in an
immense, unbroken. rafting reson-
ance.
Their gold-fringed standard pass
ed, and the sunlight on the naked
sabres ran from point to hilt like
liquid blood. Sons of the Cuirassiers
of MorSbronn, @randsonS of the Cut
rassiers of Waterloo-what was their
magnificent fate to be?-For splen-
did it could not fail to be, whether
tragic or fortunate.
The Americans heart began to
hammer in his breast and throb in
his throat, closing it with sud