Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1923-10-31

ms taking my last farth1ng-on Lou
lse' because of her airs. Enough. it's
uone. Sazarac can challenge and he
"a lie can send second-if he
knows a gentleman in the CITY. which
Is lmprobable-when l am sober Nv
aIIalr Is In Langhorne's hands. Now
to bed!"
ne staggered along the gallery. But
suddenly, with shrug, a bow-a face
serene IN the moonlight-Captain Sa.
zarac addressed him.
Sir, l am minded to recall nv
words. Now, shall claim my wager /"
say-to bed" mumbled Carr
thickly. He reeled at his door. waved
palsied finger at them and crashed
against the furniture within.
MISS Lestron stood at the baIus-
trade Of the winding staircase as the
stranger was descending. A step be-
low he turned:
Il claim my wager. Let them have
care who put jest upon me in this
town! The sea is near and il
Is wide. Wide, Mademoiselle. and
deep; and far-very far, is the way
to its secret places"
Il do not understand" She was
watching him intently. He had gone
to the next turn of the staircase. The
moonlight struck the silver of his
sword hilt. She leaned forth. and her
eyes struck fire from his own when he
glanced up. "Far?" she whispered:
And it may be beautiful I"
He watched her lips. The perfume
of the jasmined wall seemed to rise
from the court and engage her; she
seemed afloat in a purple sea formed
by the shadows. A face, a form lumi-
nous In the mists of his dark years of
remembrance The soul of his youth
was stirring he had dared
all, lost all, on decisions quick, hot.
pregnant as this, in days long put
behind.
Il love you" he said quietly. "You
will remember that"
She heard his boot on the stones
OF the court. He was passing the
pomegranate clump when he thought
moonlight.
A white thing, a light thing-a
feather, petal in the air. But he
saw no more, nor heard sound from
above. He went to the untenanted
street. wondering if she had waited
until his footsteps died away. He
wondered why he had spoken; and
then he laughed. Sazarac, the packet
gamester Jean Laftte, last Of
the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Of a van
ished time, back to tread the streets
where his life was not worth the
flicker of moonbeam in the jasmine
screen below her window
After he had gone, something did
stir. A man crawled out from the
shadows across the area, went to the
gardened center of the court and
searched under the fig and pomegran-
ate leaves. Presently he muttered
and Strengthened up, white blossom
In his hand.
"Eh?" he said. "a camellia :.
1t has been in her hair. She was to
wear it to the opera. and Carr's orgy
tonight prevented. I would have seen
her pass she would have
thought me a red-eyed beggar stand
ing by the areaway, but would have
seen her pass"
John Jarvis stared up at the silent
balcony. Then he, too, went his way.
1.-THE Cafe la Veau Out Tete-" he
grumbled. 81 shall put on my old
waistcoat again to get drunk in.
SaZarac! D-n this Sazaracl A
flower from her hair, and the fool
did not see it, A flower for Sazaracl"
At the Cafe la Veau he entered by
the garden gate and went to sit
among the huge wine tuns under the
tiled shed. Three measures of liquor
and 1 could paint white camellia
against her hair" he unused; "but the
taproom and l together could not
paint love in her eye---for me-"
After that he sought a bench and
slept Presently in came another and
by the same stealthy passageway. A
huge seaman, this, with broad hairy
chest, and tattooed arms. He exam
ined the sleeping painter, took off his
coat and spread it above him. He
must be kept drunken and asleep"
muttered Johannes. '"The fool would
shout it through the town-the Cap
tain Jean returned, and meeting us old
ghosts up from the islands Enter,
Old Slit-Nose! None here save John,
the taproom avocat. A howl from him
and he draws my knife point! Sit
quiet and await. Our host gave me
the keys and is abed he pre-
fers not to know what he should not
know, like any wise man.