The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1920-08-04
CHAPTER VII
(Continudl
.aAAa

She had hearu inc SNAiSN
sound of a voice.
I She went up to the wall and pres
entity gave start. The voice was
raised higher. The sounds became
more distinct Some one, a child was
singing, and she caught the words;
And the mother said,
Rocking her child abed:
The Virgin Mary weeps with you"
Veronique murmured:
The song the song
II was the same that Honorine had
hummed at Beg Neil. Who could be
singing it now7 A child, imprisoned
. in the island7. A boy friend of Fran
cois's2
And the voice went on:
Babes that laugh and sing
Smiles to the Blessed Virgin oring'
Fold your hands this way
|. And to sweet Mary pray.
The last verse was followed by a
silence that lasted for a few minutes
Ais Well appeared 10 be listening
with Increasing attention. as tnOush
something, which he knew Of was
about to take place.
Thereupon, just where ne stoou,
there was a slight noise OF stones
carefully moved. AIS Wen wasseu
his tail frantically and barked' 80 70
speak, In a whisper, like an animal
that understands the danger OF
breaking the silence. And suddenly
about his head, one Of the stones was
drawn inward, leaving n fairly large
aperture.
Ans Well leapt into the hole at a
bound, stretched himself out and,
helping himself with his hind legs.
twisting and crawling disappeared
inside.
"Ah, there's Master All's Well!.
said the young voice. How are we,
Master Ans Well? And why didn't
we come and pay our master a visit
yesterday? Serious business, was III
A walk with Honorine? oh, II you
could talk, my dear old chap, what
stories you would have to tell! And
first of all. look here -
Veronique, thrilled with excitement
had knelt down against the wall. Was
1t her sons voice that she heard
Was she to believe that he was back
and in hiding2 She tried in vain &c
. see. The wall was thick; and there
was q bend IN the opening. But how
q
: plainly each information reached hel
; ears!
: Look here" repeated the boy
y why doesn't Honorine come to sc
|. me free? Why don't you bring he.
: here? You managed TO find me al
: right. And grandfather must be wor
I ried about me But, But what nat, al Al
: the same mind, Ell, old chap? AN
= well, isn't TT Ais as well as vel
, can bel"
: Veronique could not understand
: Her son--for there was no doubt tina
I. IL was Francois-her son was speak
. ing as IL he knew nothing Of wha
!, had happened. Had he forgotten
: Had his memory lost every trace o
\ the deeds done during his At O
madness?
Z Eyes, a At of madness" though
Veronique, obstinately. He wa
mad. Honorine was quite right; h
was undoubtedly mad. And his rea
son has returned. Oh, Francois
Francois!
She listened. with all her tense be
ing and all her trembling soul, to tn
u words that might bring her so niue
!" gladness or such an added load c
despair. Either the darkness woul
\ close in upon her more thickly an
"A neaNlly Jnin ever, OF udyilBnI was
u pierce that endless night in whic
she had been struggling for fiftee
X years.
y why, yes" continued the boy :
y agree with you, Ais Well But a
the same l should be jolly glad
you could bring me some real proc
Of 1t. On the one hand there's n
4 news OF grandfather or Honorin
. though I've given you lots of mes
e..
there's no news OF Stephane. An
that's what alarms me. Where
he? Where have they locked hi
u up? Won't he be starving by now
Come, All's Well tell me: whel
did you take the biscuits yestel
A. day? BVt, look here what
= the matter with you? You seem
~ have something on your mind. Wh'
!" are you looking at over there?
you want TO go away? No? The
what is 1t?
The boy stopped. Then, after
moment, in a much lower voice:
did you come with some one
~ he asked. rs there anybody benin
" the WALTZ
The dog gave a dull bark. The
there was a long pause. during whiC
\ Francois also must have been lister
ing
8 that It seemed to her that Franco
50 must hear the beating of her hear
81 lie whispered:
5 rs that you, Honorine?"
There was fresh pause; and
a continued:
: yes, I'm sure it's you
4 can hear you breathe WI
y don't you answer"
4 VeroniQue was carried away by
u sudden impulse. Certain gleams
, light had flashed upon her mind sim
she had understood that stephan
~ was a prisoner, no doubt like Fra
co.'s. therefore a victim Of the enem
= and all sorts of vague suppOsitio
ditted through her brain. Beside
!" how could she resist the appeal
y that voice? Her son was asking h
a a question her son!
% Francois =. Francois" s.
~ stammered.
p. "Ah." he said, there's an answe
T. knew 1t! II is you, Honorine7"
MO. Francois" she said.
"Then who is III"
pic "a friend OF Honorine's,"
Of "I don't know you, do II"