The Washington herald., 1920-09-13

~ IoSetner that the candles flick
cred but once. The marquis stood
smiling, the fingers of his left
hand resting. outspread upon the
end of the table. David remained
erect, and turned his head slowly,
searching for his wife with his
eyes. Then, as a garment falls
from where it is hung. he sank.
crumpled, upon the floor.
With a little cry of terror ana
despair, the widowed maid ran
and stopped above him. She found
his wound. and then looked up
with her old look of pale melan-
choly. Through his heart" she
whispered. "Oh. his heart"
Come" doomed the great
voice of the marquis, "out with
you to the carriage. Daybreak
shall not find you on my hands.
Wed you shall be again. and to
a living husband, this night
The marquis, implacable and
huge, the lady wrapped again in
the mystery of her cloak. the
postillion bearing the weapons
all moved out to the waiting car
riage. The sound of its ponder
Gus wheels rolling away echoed
AAi StHh Nit NllIdEe.
In the hall of the Silver Flagon
the distracted landlord wrung his
hands above the slain poets body,
while the flames of the four and
twenty candles danced and flick
cred on the table.
THE RIGHT BRANCH.
Three leagues. then, the road
ran, and turned into a puzzle 1t
Joined with another and a larger
road at right angles. David stood,
uncertain, for a while. and then
took the road to the right
Whittier it led he knew not,
but he was resolved to leave Yer
noy far behind that night. He
travelled a league and then passed
large chateau which showed tes-
timony OF recent entertainment.
Lights shone from every win
dow; from the great stone gate
way ran a tracery of wheel
tracks drawn in the dust by the
vehicles OF the guests.
Three leagues farther and Da-
vid was weary. He rested and
slept for a while on a bed of
pine boughs at the roadside. Then
up and on again along the un-
known way.
Thus for five days he Travelled
the great road, sleeping upon Ma
ture's balsamic beds or in peas
ants Ticks, eating of their black
hospitable bread, drinking from
streams or the willing cup of the
goatherd.
At length he crossed a great
bridge and set his foot within
the smiling city that has crushed
or crowned more poets than all
the rest of the world. His breath
came quickly as Paris sang to
him in 4 little undertone her vital
chant of greetinG-the hum OF
voice and foot and wheel.
High up under the caves of an
old house in the Rue Cont, David
paid for lodging, and set himself.
in wooden chair. to his poems.
The street, once sheltering citi-
zens of import and consequence.
was now given over to those who
ever follow in the wake of de-
cline.
The houses were tall and still
possessed of a ruined dignity. but
many of them were empty save
for dust and the spider BY night
there was the clash of steel and
the cries of brawlers straying
restlessly from inn to inn. Where
once gentility abode was now but
a rancid and rude incontinence.
But here David found housing
commensurate to his scant purse.
Daylight and candlelight found
him at pen and paper.
from a foraging trip to the lower
world, with bread and curds and
a bottle of thin wine. Halfway
up his dark stairway he met
or rather came upon, for she
rested on -he stair-a young
woman of a beauty that should
baik even the justice of a poets
ina agination. A loose. dark cloak,
flung open, showed a rich gown
beneath. Her eyes changed
swiftly with every little shade of
thought. Within one moment
they would be round and artless
like child's. and long and coz
cning like a gypsy's. One hand
raised her gown, undraping
little shoe, high-heeled, with it's
ribbons dangling. united. So
stoop, SO qualified to charm and
command! Perhaps she had seen
David coming. and had waited
for his help there.
All, would monsieur pardon
that she occupied the stairway.
but the shoe,-the naughty shoe!
Alas! it would not remain tied.
All! IL monsieur would be SO gra.
cious,
The poets fingers trembled as
he tied the contrary ribbons.
You have been so good" she
said. smiling. docs monsieur.
perhaps. live in the house?"
Yes. madame. IL think so,
madame"
Pardon. Certainly 1 am not
discreet IN asking. Monsieur will
a