The evening world., 1920-07-27

ms AhN A1ihnu dhu lhtlu no dNlthNlp@
10 Veronique, who knelt little Way
on, praying and weeping.
1t was all over before o'clock. Mef
and women made their way dOwt
across the island. Veronique, whI
felt as though she were living in
nightmare world where events fol,
lowed upon one another without logic
and with no connected sequence, weni
back to Honorine, whose feeble cor
dition had prevented her from attend.
ing her masters funeral.
I'm feeling better" said the Bretof
woman. I'VE shall go to-day or toe
morrow and We shall go with Fran,
co.'s"
Veronique protested angrily; bu
Honorine repeated:
With Francois, 1 tell you, and witt
NJ Stephane. And as soon as posi-,
pie l also want to go and Ia
take you with me and Fran,
co.'s too. There is death in the island
Death Is the master here. We must
leave Sarek. We shall all CO."
Veronique did not wish TO thwalH
her, But at 3 o'clock hurried stem
were heard outside. II was Correjou
coming from the village. On reaching
the door he shouted:
They've stolen your motor boat
Imposstblel" said Honorine.
But the sailor, all out of breath,
declared:
shes disappeared. suspected
something this morning early. But
expect | had had a glass too much:
l Old not give IL another thought
Others nave since seen what 1 did
The painter. has been cut T.
happened during the night. And
they've made OF. No one saw or
heard them"
The two women exchanged glancesi
and the same thought occurred to
ooth or them; Frances and Stephan9
Maroux had taken to flight.
Honorine muttered between her
teeth:
Yes, yes, that's II: he understands
how to work the boat"
Neronique perhaps felt a certain
relief at knowing that the boy had
gone and that she would not see him
again. But Honorine, seized with 4
renewed fear, exclaimed:
Then then what ara ma 90
do?" ''i' W. ~
You must leave at once, Maine
Honorne. The boats are ready
eVerybody's packing up. There'1l be
no one in the village by eleven
o'clock"
Veronique interposed:
travel"
Yes, l am; I'm better" the Breton
woman declared.
mo, it would be ridiculous. Lot Ia
wait a day or two Come
back In two days, Correjou:"
She pushed the sailor towards the
door. He, for that matter was only
too anxious to 60:
Very we'll" he said, "that'll do; III
come back the day after tomorrow,
! Besides, we can't take everything
1 with us. We shall have to come back
now and again to fetch our things
|. Goodbye, Maine Honorine:
take care of yourself"
| And he ran outside.
| 'COrrejou! Correjou!"
Honorine was sitting up In bed
and calling to him in despair:
mo, no, don't go away, Correioul
Wait for me and carry me to
Z your boat"
She listened; and, as the man did
not return, she tried to get I'D:
, I'm frightened" she said. II don't
want to be left alone"
/ Neronique held her down:
You're not going to be left alone
Honorine. | shan't leave YOU"
Ihere was an actual struggle be-
tween the two women; and Honor
me- pushed back on her bed by main
torce' moaned. helplessly:
I'm frightened I'm fright
ened The island is accursed
It's tempting Providence to re-
main behind Maguennoc's death
was, warning I'm fright
She was more or less delirious, but
stll retained a half lucidity which
enabled her to intersperse a few in
leIHslpie ana reasonable remarks
among the incoherent Bhrases which
revealed her superstitious Breton
soul. ie'o"
She gripped Veronique by her tuo
shoulders and declared:
Il tell you, tho island.s cu-asI
MaguennOc confessed as much him.
self one day: 'Sarek Ia one ~ thA
gates OF hell he said. The gate h
closed now, but, on the day when a.
opens, every misfortune you can
mink OF will be upon it like a
Squall.'"
SHE Gained herself little, at Yer.
onique's enbreaty, and continued, in a
lower voice, which grew fainter as
He loved the island, though
as we all do. A such times he WoI,ld
speak OK II in a way which / did nor
understand: The gate Is a double
/ one, Honortne, and 1t also opens on
T Paradise Yes, yes, the island was
good to live in We loved
It Maguennoc mads flow.
ers grow on IL oh. thoae
flowers! They were enormous: three
times as tall and as beauti-
tul -
The minutes passed slowly. The
bedroom was at the extreme left OF
the house, Just above the rocks which,
overhung the sea and separated from
them only by the width Of the road
r Neronique sat down at the window
) with her eyes fixed on the wrrite
waves which grew still more troubled
= as the wind blew more strongly, rhe
sun was rising. In the direction ~
the village she saw nothing except q
, steep headland But, beyond the hell
of foam studded with the hlacl
points Of the reefs, the view am.
. braoed the deserted plains of The
r Atlantic.
Honortne murmured, drowsilv:
They say that the gate is a ston.
and that il comes from yer,
! far away from a foreip-n rrt..ss