Nogales international., 1932-05-11

Of course. that won't be of much use
to us until the war is over. But
made him write down all the names,
and gave the list to M. Caron and
he has promised to keep it safe for
9you-''
But you'd go with me?" he broke
in, alarmed.
"Of course. I'll go with you. But
I'm SO silly, wanted him to keep it
in case-anything happened. You'll
remember that he has it?"
you're still afraid" Rosanof ac-
cused her. Look. darling, I've been
through it. I can tell you. The anaes-
thetic's unpleasant. That's all.''
He was not aware of the dawn. But
Mata Hari saw the sun rise gray in a
misty sky. 1t looked as if it would
clear, though, and be a very pleasant
day. She heard footsteps in the stone
corridor and rose and said that she
ought to get ready She brushed her
hair and twisted it up again, and put
some powder on her face and made
herself generally neat. Oh, if only
ne could see her just for one little
second! Not the cell and the cots
and the barred window, but just her
alone. 1t entered her mind that it
was pity she had not known before
how black and pallor and simplicity
became her, and she gave a little
laugh to think how foolish that idea
was now
Rosanof believed she had got over
her scare. But her voice seemed bit
shakey as she said good morning to
the nuns and told Rosanoff the doc
tors and nurses had come for her
Don't be frightened, dear" he re-
peated. I'll wait right here until the
operation Is over"
"Oh. no, you mustn't! don't want
you to. M. Caron will take you back
to the hospital. And he'll let you know
at once :. just how 7 am
Darling. you are afraid" cried
Rosanoff in great concern, funabling
IN the dark to get to her.
She took his head in her hands. and
kissed him.
mo. I'm not :. Goodbye, my be-
loved"
But you sound so tragic"
Goodbye, my beloved" she said as
gaily as she could SIS that better?"
II assure you. dear. it won't hurt
you. See, you close your eyes and tako
a long deep brea th-like this-and
that's the last thing you know. And
when you wake up it's all over.
Really i. you'll see !. :. it won't
hurt at all''
The warder stood at the door, blink
ing hard. and the two nuns with
downcast heads in their black wells
Mata Harf gave each of them a mute
pressure of the hand
I'll remember" she called back to
Rosanof. who remained motionless.
looking in the direction from which
her voice came and smiling for her
same. "A long deep breath . and
that's the last thing you know :. :.
Goodbye"
In the corridor. Maitre Caron waited
with Captain Lafarge. Dubois, and the
officer Of the guard. The six soldiers
Of the escort were below with bayo-
nets fixed. All OF them hated their
who stood out from among them in
his civilian clothes. looked very yellow
She spoke to him, as the loser to
the victor
II am ready"
Dubois bowed to her. Captain La
| farge stared straight ahead like q good
| soldier
She let 'Caron embrace her and kiss
! her forehead. She was wet with his
tears and one dripped saltily onto her
mouth. With Rosanoff not far be-
hind. it was impossible to talk, but
she made a gesture at once imperious
and imploring, to commend the blind
man to the old advocates care. He
understood at once and stepped back
and put his arm about Rosanof' S
shoulder to steady him.
AS she was descending the steps. her
| lover realized that she was going
away-that they were all going away.
He grasped the rail and in his pathetic
eagerness to follow her with his body,
since he could not with his eyes,
would have thrown himself down the
stairs If not for Caron.
There was no daylight in the cor
ridOr. but they had still to traverse a
sort of dining-hall studded with
wooden benches. ard here the first
hint OF the ever-rising sun crept i'll
like white shadow Here they were
near the entrance to the courtyard
and far away from RosanoF
After that there was the courtyard
And Mata Kari thought that the diff
ference between life and death was
only difference in time. Only E
short while ago she had reckoned il
years and later in months then it hac
been days and yesterdays it had beer
hours. This morning it had been min
utes. and now it was only questio.
of q few seconds. To reckon in etei
nifty To be without time No time
all! What vast and icy UnimagineaE
lay beyond the region where a secon.
counted!
rTata TEari was SHOT on chill morn
. ing at Vincennes. Hcr last word
we're
. IT'S not as good a house as I'm &C
customed to. But I'll do my utmos
to make this last performance th
best"
, TIE END.