.Ill'b
10 Tirifl OMAHA 1 > AILY ) iKt SUNDAY , MAY 22 , 1998.
Ashes of Empire.
. .
By ROBERT W. CHAMBERS.
( Copyright. H93 , l > y Hobcrt W. Chambers
( ii.ii'TRit vui c
Ho went nwny laughing.
Hurko reappeared at Ilarewood's door.
"Jim , that kid Is horc. May filio con
in 7"
"Yes , " said Harcwoocl , listlessly.
A moment later Hcd Hiding Hood ci
ter/jd , removed her Btnall wooden shoes , nr
pattered up to him In noiseless chatmon
Baying seriously , "Uon Jour , Monsieur Han
wood ; pcut on entrer , Hl'l vous plait ? "
"Indeed , you may , " ho said , mnllln
"Have you come to pay mo another lilt
vlBlt ? "
Hcd Hiding Hood shook her head nr
Dtood looking up at him , waiting for It
kins that was to her thu moat Importm
event In her dally life. He laughed a'n
held out his hands. She put both frail nrn
nround hU neck and raised her face. Th
polcmn rlto accomplished , the child slghc
end nettled closer to his shoulder.
"I have finished the dishes , ' " she c :
plained. "I then played with Schchernrad
Then I learned my lesson. H was nrltl
nictlc. I was perfect. "
"Are you sure , Hcd Hiding Hood ? ' "
"Yes. I repeated It to Mile. Hllde. SI
raid It wni quite perfect. I then playc
with Mehcmct All , the parrot , who Is in
friend. I am fond of the parrot. "
"Supi.osc , " said Ilnrortood , "that soni
time you were very , very hungry ; Woul
you cat Mehemct All ? "
"No monsieur. "
"Why ? "
"The parrot Is my friend. It would t
shameful. "
Harettood laughed aloud , and Hed Hldln
Hood , looking anxiously at him , laUKhci
little lough , sadd (
too a timid , Joylcsa
than tears.
"You are right. That would not do i
We must never old oui
nil , would It ?
ticlvc.s at n friend's expense even n pai
rot's. "
Here ended the lesson , for Harewood foun
that loyalty and unselfishness were virtue
which Hed Hiding Hood would never nee
to learn from him. As for lies , the chll
apparently had never conceived the Idea c
telling one. That lesson , too , had ende
with a laugh and a kiss , nut alas , ap
Iiroprlatlng pastry was Hed Hiding Hood'
besetting sin , and It took all of Harewood' '
cleverness to explain to her the dlffercnc
between mine and thine. She did compre
hend nt last , and gave him her promise fc
future abstaining , and with this was ac
compllshcd the moral regeneration of Re
Riding Hood which , after all , was no ver
dlfllcult undertaking.
"I came , " said Hcd Riding Hood , "to to !
you several things. Shall I ? "
"By all means , " replied Harewood , anxl
ously.
"Then I will. The first Is that I was pot
feet In arithmetic ; I have already told yo
that. The other Is that Mile. Yolctto ha
gone out. She has gone to the market ,
think. The third Is that Mile. Hlldo I
quite alone In the parlor. "
Harewood looked at her suddenly , a fair
color under his eyes.
"Why do you tell mo that , Red Rldln
Hood ? "
"necause , " said the child , "I think sh
would llko to have you como down. "
"Did she say so ? "
"No. "
"Then why do you think so ? "
"I don't know , " said Hed Riding Hooi
looking up Into his faco. Harewood put on
arm around the child ; his eyes were at
sently fixed on hers. After a few moment
he sold : "Do you love Hllde , Hed Rldln
Hood ? "
"Yes and you also , monsieur.-
"Mo ? "
"H you do not mind "
Harcwood smiled and said :
"I want you to love me , too , lied Rldln
Hood and Mile. Yolettc and M. Bourke-
Mile. Hlldo best of all. Will you ? "
"I don't know , " said the child , "whethe
I love you or Mile. Hllde best. I must thin
for n day , " _ she continued sedately , "an
then I will tell you. Good-by. I am goin
to shell peas. "
"Good-by , Red Riding Hood , " said Hare
wood , "and will you please come again ? "
"Yes tomorrow. "
She trotted over to the door , put on lit
wooden shoes , turned nnd said , ' "Adlei
Monsieur Harewood ! " and went away dowr
etalrs , tap , tap , tap , over the tiles.
Harowood shook out his coat , washed tt
Ink stain from his hands , brushed his hal
settled his necktie , then , took a dozen turr
up and down the room. Presently he wei
to ttourke's door nnd opened It , but th ;
young man was again asleep , fists double
tip llko an Infant's , face burled In the pi
low. Haro\\ood watched him for n momen
preoccupied by his own thoughts ; nftc
awhllo he turned away down the stair
stopping softly , on Dourko's account ,
The door of the parlor was open , Schoherr
zado lay on the sofa , eyes closed , tall tral
Ing on the floor. The lioness opened or
eye when Harewood entered , Immediate !
closing tt , however , when she saw who
was. Harewood had never taken any notlt
ot her ; therefore , as a self-respecting llonei
she snubbed him. Hlldo was not In tl
room , but ho heard her voice not far awa ;
probably In her own bedroom. She we
singing to herself , as she often did over he
needlework :
Of nil the saints In Drlttuny
Kalnto Hllde ,
Kulnto Hlldo ,
la blessed evermore
Ke dropped Into a chair , smiling i
Scheherazade and listened to Hllde's volet
Puchlk , pachlk. ma fach bllmn' ,
KCH d'ho sulmlln d'ho c'humpr
I In Inch d'e'houd ober kompllmnnt !
"Hllde ! " ho called suddenly ; "Sail
d'ac'h , ma douslg Hllde ! "
There was a slleuco ; then Hilda's voli
In utter astonishment :
"M. Harowood ! Who taught you
speak llrcton ? "
The next Instant she was at the dee
flushed nnd wondering , her needlework 1
her bands.
"Suludan ma deus a dlabell , " he sal
laughing. "I learned Breton In Morblha
mademoiselle. "
"Hcnuez zo cum den a gallte" she ai
aweicd saucily , also laughing , "Who ev
would have believed that an American cou
peak the Dcnton tongue ? "
"I heard you singing about Salnte-HUc
and the little page , and all that , so I thougl
I'd llko to hear more of It. Could you woi
just as well here , mademoiselle and sin
too ? "
" " 1 don't know. " she said , seating he
self and passing her nocdlo through a bit
llunncl. She looked up nt him once , UK
dropped her lids , and began to. BOW. Aft
sllenco she looked up again , saying ;
"Yolette and * I are Brctonnes. Did yt
know Ut"
"I think I suspected , " ho replied , grallln
"Why. monsieur ? "
"Yoletto's eyes they are the rare Dretc
blue. Betides your songs are always Flnli
terre ongs and you know how tow Frem
people can * peak the Breton language. Yc
and Yolette often speak It when you ai
lone together. "
She watched him , ihyly , a little Indlgnai
that ho knew so much more than she could
have expected.
"Really , " she said , "It would be only Just
If I understood Kngllsh when you nnd M.
Botirko talk together so rapidly tr-r-r-r-r !
C-r-r-r ! In your English tongue ! I am
displeased , monsieur. I shall talk no moro
Breton with Yoletto. "
"Will you sing something In Breton for
me If I sing you a beautiful little English
song , Hllde ? "
Hlldo laughed outright.
"Yes If you sing first. "
"Hero goes thcnl It's n song I'm very
fond of , " nnd ho began to drone out "Jim
Crow. "
"Horrid ! " exclaimed Hllde. putting both
hands over her cars. "How can you make
such sounds like June beetles nround n
candle. "
"Isn't It pretty ? " demanded Harewood , n
little disconcerted. Ho hadn't much voice ,
but he was fond ot.music and proportion
ately soulful when ho sang. "Jim Crow"
being his favorite and his limit , ho had
sung It with an enthusiasm that set Hllde's
nerves on edgo.
"Anyway , " ho said , "It Isn't as dlngdong
as the French songs. "
llmrlctte etult Illlo
D'un baron ilc rcnora , i
D'unu lllustro famlllo
Klalt Ic benu Damon ,
II t-tnlt full mi tour.
Kiln etnlt lonna et belle ,
101 d'un pnrfult nmnur
Us etiilciit Ic modele.
"I don't know anything to compare with
that for Imbecility , " he said.
Hlldo was laughing so gayly that
Scheherazade woke up , cast a reproachful
glance at them both , and loped off Into the
garden. This made Hlldo laugh the moro ,
and Hnro\\ood , catching the Infection ,
laughed too , not knowing exactly why.
"Wo arc very ridiculous , " said Hlldo ,
gathering up her needlework. Her cheeks
were aglow with delicate color , her eyes
brilliant nnd fairly dancing with mirth.
After an Interval the sudden soberness
which always follows laughter soon came
upon them. Hlldo resumed her sewing.
Harowood leaned back In his chair , watching
her wistfully.
Dreaming there In the silent room , whom
bars of sunlight lay across the carpet , nnd
diowsy ( lies buzzed along the window panes ,
there came to them a sense of pcarc , of still
ness , of desire fulfilled , something they had
never before known nor even wished for.
She began speaking to him quite natur
ally , Indolently occupied with her needle ,
now and then raising her head to look at
him , resting her clear eyes on his with
confidence. Such moments are rare In life ,
but they como to all at times , when every
thing seems but the continuation of familiar
conditions , long established , an unchanging
regime , pleasant , even In tenor , without
trouble , without desire. She told him of the
convent , of the death of her uncle , of her
hopes , her fears. She spoke of Brittany , of
Carhalx , of the Pardon of the Birds , and of
Salnte Anne d'Auray. She painted for him
In quaint phnsos the chapel ot Morlalx , the
coast of St. Hildas , the Icelanders , and tha
blessing of the fleet. He asked her to sing ,
and she sang the "Ar Vlnorez" dellclously.
Carmcl ,
Carmcl , <
Na vo ket dlmet nr Vlnorez
Ken vo bet pardon nr Cnrmel
She told him naively of Ker-Is , that city
punished and submerged because of the fault
of Abes , daughter of Oradlon , the king.
"Qu'y ji-t-11 dans la vlllo d'ls si la Jeu-
nesse est tellement joyeuse ot si J'entends
le blnlou. "
She recited the Qwerz of Count Gweto and
her eyes filled at the moment of peril.
"Seigneur Dleu ma fllle , comment fera-t-
on ! " and the reply :
"Allez dans la chambro blanche prcndre
de beaux ntours ! "
All the pathos and mystery of the Bro-
tonne was In her eyes and voice as she
r
PLACING "THE PROPHET" ON Till
RUE D'YPRES.
paused In her sewing and Intoned for bin
the "Vespers of St. Ulldas. "
"O. Vierge glorleuso Marie ! " until hi
seemed to hear the sea bells tolling oft thi
cliffs and the long coast swell washing
rocking , washing , where the surf curls In i
flurry of settling sliver sands.
"There 1st something more In' Brittany , '
he said , vaguely uneasy "something beside
the waves and the bell buoy and the vespcri
of the sea. At Treguler they have a son )
called 'Little Madeleine , ' or 'Madelelnlc. ' '
"Madcllnlk , " she said , her face llghtlni
up with an Imperceptible smile. "It Is real ! ;
a cbansonnctto for the Inn , with Us gay re
train ;
"Ho ! felt J'y vnU ;
Ho ! felt ! je n'y vala pas ! "
H Is very easy , monsieur , to see where joi
spent your evenings In Treguler. "
Ho laughed and hummed the dasblni
chorus
"Ho ! fe ! grnon ; ho ! fol no noon ! "
until she caught the spirit and joined be
clear \olco to his , and they sang the chansoi
of little Madeleine until between laughte
nnd tears Hllde sank back , both white hand
closing her ears In protest.
At the same moment Yoletto appeared
market basket over be\- arm , a picture o
T amazement.
"What on earth la all this about llttl
Madeleine ? " sbo cried. "Never never hav
I seen such children never ! never ! And
monsieur , may I ask who taught you m ;
native language ? "
Harowood confessed his knowledge , whll
Hlldo , becoming very serious , opened th
basket and made a mental Invoice of It
contents.
"No , " said Yolette , "I1 did not forget , bu
do you know they are a little too dear. Th
butcher aald It wu because the Germ -
wcro stealing everything In the north , I
told him It was nonacnic.
"I think , " said Hnrowood. "that thing *
are going to bo n little dearer In Paris. Of
course , everybody says that wo have food
enough to la t a long time , even If the Ger
mans should blockade the whole depart
ment , but It will nmko things more i-xpen-
slvo and I only wish to gay that you must
not bo too Indulgent to Monsieur Uourko
and myself , "
Hlldo looked up at him without imswer-
Ing. All her shyness had returned with the
return of Yolette. Her sister smiled and
glanced at the basket , saying , "I think the
dinner will be nice even without pigeons. "
She started toward the kitchen , but
paused to say : " 0 , I forgot to tell you.
The soldiers are marching Into the Prince
Murat barracks and 'a company of sailors
Imve brought a cannon and are mounting It
on top of the ramparts across Iho street.1
"If they fire , It will break every window
In the house , won't It ? " exclaimed Hllde In
consternation.
Harewood frowned nnd started for the
door.
"Hark ! " said Yolette , "the people nro
cheering outside. I can hear the drums In
the barracks. Can > ou ? Hllde , where are
you going ? '
Hlldo had started with Harowood , but now
she hesitated , looking 'at Yoletto with trou
bled eyes.
"If if they fire the cannon and It
bursts " she began.
"Of course , " snld Yolette gravely. "Then
why do you go near It ? "
Hllde looked blankly at her sister , then
sat down nnd bent swiftly over her sowing.
She had not been thinking of her own safety ,
but Harewood's , nnd when she realized that
her checks turned scarlet.
CIIAPTI3H IX.
The l > riiilit > ( .
When Harewood reached the front door ho
stood amazed. The Hue d'Ypres , that broad ,
sunny street , usually as quiet and deserted
*
_ _ . _ .THEY HAVE FlttBD | "THE PROPHET ! " ' " ' '
as a country road , was thronged with people ,
from the Porto Rouge to the Prince Murat
barracks. In front of the house the people
were silent and attentive , watching n swarm
of laborers gathered around the bastion. A
company of sailors from the fleet stood lean
ing on their rifles In front of a strange ,
shapeless structure that towered Into the
air above the heads of the crowd , one long
steel arm stretched out stark against the
sky. Beyond It , on the rusty rails of the
narrow-gaugo track , stood a car truck ,
painted blue , nnd on this truck lay a
gigantic cannon.
The gun carriage had already been placed
on the circular track , sunk into the cement
below the ramparts , the terrassicrs were
shaving the terrace , sodding It along the
glacis , nnd piling sacks filled with earth
across the angles of the cpaulment. The
rotten gabions and packed barrels that sup
ported the gun terrace were being removed
nnd new ones substituted. Locksmiths and
carpenters worked In the bomb proofs and
the tinkle of chisel and thud of mallet came
up half smothered from below.
Down the street drums were rolling sonorously
ously from the court of the caserne , and
now , bugles sounding , rifles glittering in the
sun , a company of Infantry Issued from the
sallyport nnd marched solidly on to the
Porto Rouge , their red trousers a long ,
undulating line against the green of the
glacis.
Suddenly above the crowd the great
derrick began to move , three chains dang
ling from Its single rigid arm , the little
rusty engine staggering under the spasms
of steam jets. Slowly the cannon swung
up into the air , turning as the steel arm
turned , further , further , lower and lower.
Then In the stillness a boatswain's whistle
sounded , once , twice ; the crowd swayed for
ward , and thousands of voices rose in thun
dering cheers ;
"Vivo la Franco ! "
All that night Harewood lay restlessly on
his bed thinking of the future , which until
ho first met Hllde had held no terrors for
him. Now It was different. The menace of
a siege meant something more than ex-
cttment and newspaper despatches , It meant
danger , perhaps famine , perhaps vannihlla-
tion , to a city that had suddenly become im
portant to him because Hildo lived there.
He had never seen a slego. His Ideas on the
subject were founded on histories. He
could not believe that any army would bo
able to absolutely Isolate such a city as
Paris Itself nothing but a gigantic citadel ,
with Its double armor of fortresses and ram
parts , Its suburbs , railways , forests and
rivers. He believed that even If a German
army sat down before the walls It could
never sustain such a position against hunger ,
against the sorties of the hundred thousands
of troops , against these new armies "that
everybody said were forming In the south ,
at Bordeaux , at Tours , at Rouen , fro.-n the
war ports to the Loire. In common with
the great mass of the Parisians he ntver
doubted that , as soon as the Germans ap
peared , the bombardment would begin ; bu
ho doubted the ability of a Prussian artil
leryman to send shells Inlo Paris from a
gun outside the range of Mont Vnlerlen.
Nevertheless ho was not satisfied with the
Rue d'Ypres as a haven ot safety for Hllde
at such a time. It was practically on the
city ramparts , It was close to
one of tbo gates , the Porte
Rouge , and closer still to the bar
racks , and ho knew that If the * German
cannon troubled the city at nil the fire would
bo concentrated on the fortifications , the
gates , the magazines and the barracks.
Lying there In the darkness ho could hear
from the ramparts the marine sentinels'
challenge as they walked the rounds ; the
stir and the movement of horses , the dull
creaking of wheels. He thought ot the four
great forts that covered the country be
yond the Vauglrard secteur , Montrouge ,
Vanves , Ivry and Vlcetre , If the Germans
attempted to seize Meudon , there was the
fort of lasy ; If they advanced toward Ore.
tell , the fort of Cbarenton blocked the way.
Could they hold St. Cloud with Mont
Valerlen looming like a thunder cloud In the
north ? Could they seize Sevres , under tha
cannon of PolnKfUjJourT No. Ho could
not see how a CliArntnn buttery would bo nblo
to send Its nhcllMntO the bastions of Mont-
rouge , and thls'fcoffclus'lon comforted htm
until ho fell nsleftj fo dream ot n cloudless
sky raining shell * oyrr a city where Hlldo
lay while and dc H ! nnd ho awoke , tremb
ling In every UrotfHe turned over and
trlodt to go to sldf'uagain , , but ho could not ,
dreading a sleej > that might bring back
such dreams. A <
He thought'of ( fio'ujke , slumbering peace
fully In the next room ; ho thought of Red
Riding Hood nndtoP Yolette , nlso asleep ,
but for a long tl'tjiq ho avoided the path ot
thought which he had so often shirked be
fore the path that led to the solution of a
question , Awake , sometimes nslccp , the
question repeated Itself It was repeating
Itself now , more persistently , more monotonously
onously , than ever. The question was
"Hllde , " nnd Hlldo remained nn enigma ,
not because ho could not solve the enigma ,
but because hu would not. As ho lay there
ho felt that the tlmo was coming when tt
would bo Impossible to evade an explana
tion with himself. Ho shifted his head rest
lessly nnd opened his eyes In the darkness ,
and before ho knew It ho had faced the
question at last. '
What had happened to him ? What was
going to happen ? Why should thoughts of
Hlldo occupy him constantly ? Was It be
cause , In n moment of unselfishness , ho had
renounced the Idle nmusment of Inspiring
nffcctlon In n young girl ? Why'had ho re
nounced It ? Every man , consciously or un
consciously , seeks the same amusement , nnd
If conscience Intervenes , Is it not easy to
pretend that the woman was perfectly aware
of the game ? Or , If the result does turn
out grave for the woman , n man can nlwnys
have" recourse to those little exercises of
dlplomntlc-halr splitting with his conscience ,
to Vihlch men's consciences so easily adapt
themselves.
It Is merely a matter of chance , this amuse
ment , which may or may not be harmless.
A selfish man takes the risk , risking noth
ing himself.
All this was .clear to Harewood as he la
there In the dark , but It did not satisfy hit
as It had once. Moreover , whereas n fe'
days ago he was certain that ho hlmscl
risked nothing , now ho was far from sun
He asked himself whether he was in dangc
of caring seriously for Hiide , but ho coul
not reply. Had ho been simply curious t
know how far he could go ? Had It bee
vanity , after all , or n lower Incentive ?
His face grew hot with shame and sell
resentment. He was mentally vlndlcattn
Hllde defending her against himself , bu
ho did not know It. He thought It wa
himself that he was vindicating. | Thl
mental protest of .Innocence left him calmc
and less restless , and after a little he fel
asleep. Whatever ho dreamed must hav
been pleasant , for the morning sun , stcalln
Into the loom , Illuminated his face , yount
peaceful , touched with o smllo as tnnocen
as the woman ho was walking with 1
dreamland.
Bourke woke up , regretfully , saying
"What the deuce are you grinning nbou
In your sleep ? Get up , Jim. I'm going t
St. Cloud to see what's In the wind. You'l
come , too , won't you ? "
"Yes , " said Harewood. "I suppose th
trains are running yet. What's the news1
While ho was bathing and dressing Bourk
ran ver the morning papers , reading alou
the telegraphic dispatches.
"Hello what do you think of this ? Whc :
the Germans entered Laon some craz
French soldier ran to the citadel and fiun
n torch Into the magazine. "
"Read It , " said Harowood , lathering hi
fnco for a shave.
"Horo It Is : 'Through the cowardice o
treachery of the governor of Laon , the duk
of Mecklenbourg entered the city on the Ot !
of September , at the head of the enemy'
Sixth cavalry division. It was ralnln
heavily. Suddenly a frightful oxploslo :
shook the city to Its foundations. Th
citadel had blown up , killing more than 10
of our soldiers and 350 Prussians. Thl
awful catastrophe was the work of an o !
French soldier , a veteran ot the Crime
and of Italy , who , not having the courag
to surrender the place to the Prussian :
crept Into.the magazine and set fire to l !
blowing himself and everybody there t
pieces. The duke of Mecklenbourg wa
wounded. Our General Theremin was klllei
The German troops , recovering themselves
cried that they were betrayed , and , fllngln
themselves upon our unarmed Mobiles , mas
sacred them In the streets and at the hous
doors , The slaughtcrj was swift and mercl
'
less. But who , r'eracmbcrlng the horrlbl
courage of that .horqlc madman , can' pro
nounce one word 'of blame or ot regret fc
bis deed ? Honor/Jg / , the dead ! ' "
Harewood , razqv poised , face lathered
stared at Bourke.1' * > '
"It's simply ghastly' " he said. "It bring
the whole business out more plainly , docsn'
It ? Laon Is only 'a ' ( ew days'- march froc
Paris. I can't reailze'f that people are dolni
things like that whiio.you and I sit still am
scribble rot to tho'Journals. ' "
"I don't know Ui'at ' vyo've had such an cas ;
time of it. " saldiiDaurke. "Mars-la-Tou
was no foot ball gome , Jim. And as to
you you've glve ) ' ; t e Prussians chance
enough to shoaU , your Idiotic head ofl
' " ' "
haven't you ?
"Nonsense ! " said Harewood , returning t
his shaving. "I mean that there's a vas
difference between us and those poor devil
of soldiers out there. That citadel bust
ness chills mo to the marrow. Go ahcai
with your newspapers , Cecil. "
Bourke continued reading aloud , skim
mlng through the mass of proclamation !
edicts , appeals from hospitals , charities , un
til ho was tired.
"There's nothing now , " he said , throwlni
down the lournal ; "It's merely the sarai
crisis growing moro acute hour by hour
As far as I can make out the Germans an
somewhere between hero and Laon , thi
French fleet has done'nothing , the Mobile !
are a nuisance , the national guard * an
raising h 1 In Belleville , an army Is form
Ing along the Loire to assist Parts and
Garibaldi Is coming to France. That' * I
( air synopsis of the whole business. As foi
the United States Interfering , It's not likely ;
Italy's gratitude It not to bo counted on ;
Franco must taco the music nlonr. "
"I wish , " observed Harowood , "that the
Paris journals would exhibit leas hysteria
and moro common sense. They've had Bis
marck'killed every week since last August ,
they've captured Moltke , they've Innocu-
latcd the Rod Prince with typhus , they've
announced the mutiny ot every regiment In
the Bavarian nnd Saxon armies. Look at
the way the government Is blowing up
tunnels nnd bridges. What lunacy ! They're
only hampering their own movements nnd
It takes about a day to lay pontoons. " Ho
put on his coat , standing up for Bourke to
brush him.
"That's n big cannon they've mounted
down there , " ho observed , looking out of the
window. "Como on , Cecil , breakfast musl
be watting. "
AH they descended the stairs Hlldo anil
Yoletto , stood nt the front door looking nl
the cannon across the street.
"Good morning , " snld Yoletto brightly ,
"Messieurs , have you seen The Prophet ? "
"Which particular prophet do you meanl
I'm n llttlo In that way myself , " snlil
Dourke gnyly , "nnd I prophesy that we arc
going to have n most delicious" bawl 6l
cafe au Inlt In n minute or two. "
"Anyone can prophesy that , " said Hllde ;
"Yoletto means the cannon. The soldiers
hnvo named It 'The Prophet ; ' everybody In
talking about It ; the morning papers say
It can throw shells ns largo ns n man nnd
that It will bo terrible for the Prussians. "
"Oh , " snld Harewood , "so they call It
The Prophet ! ' "
"All the same , " said Yolette , "I hope It
will not need to prophesy. "
They stood a moment looking at the great
silent gun , at the squad of sailors who were
exercising around It , then Yolette laughed
lightly and summoned them to breakfast ,
leading the way with her arm around her
sister's slender waist.
"There Is nn awful creature , " said Hllde ,
"who calls himself the Mouse and who came
Into the hallway early this moinlng and
asked for Monsieur Harewood. "
Shouts of laughter Interrupted her. IJourko
begged Hnrewood to Introduce his frleud , the
Mouse , nnd Yoletto Insisted until Hnruwood ,
a llttlo red , cxplnlncd who the Mouse was.
"And you helped him to bide from the
police ? " exclaimed Yolette , horrified.
"That's Just like Jim , " said Bourkc , who
had enjoyed the story keenly.
Hlldo said nothing. Her changing face
was turned to Harowood ,
"What did he want with mo ? " asked
Harewood , carelessly. "Money ? "
"No , " said Hllde , with n strange llttlo
shudder. "He said : 'Tell him to go to the
"Undertakers" If he ever needs help. ' "
"The Undertakers ! ! " gasped Yolette.
"It's not what you think ; It's n sort of a
club In lielluvllle , a nest where the elite
of the cut-throats congregate , " said Hare
wood , much amused. "I suppose the
creature Is grateful to mo for hiding him.
I don't think I shall accept his Invitation. "
"Gratitude Is rare In that species , "
observed Bourke , cautiously. "I fancy he'd
cut your throat for n franc , Jim. "
"Probably ho would , " laughed the other.
Hlldo listened In silence. When Bourke
slung his binoculars over his shoulder and
said ho was going to St. Cloud with Harc
wood , Yolette Insisted on putting up for
them a llttlo luncheon. Hildc aided her ,
silent , preoccupied , deftly tying the small
parcels and wrapping up two half bottles ot
red wine. At the front door Bourke stood ,
telling Yolctto not to keep dinner waiting ,
as they might stay away all night , and , as
Harewood started along the hallway to join
his comrade , Hlldo began carelessly :
"Of course , Monsieur Harcwood , you are
not going to thq the 'Undertakers ? '
'J'AVhy , ' , nohfc , , said , surprised , "wo nro
going to St. Cloud. "
"But I mean you are never going are
you ? "
There was a silence. Ho looked at her
without stirring , one hand on the door.
Again that swift emotion sent the blood
thrilling , tingling , leaping through every
vein , yet , even then , he reasoned even
then , when In her face ho saw reflected bis
own emotion even then when a fierce
desire to take her in his arms this girl BO
close to him Hllde , who would not resist.
Ho stood there dumbly , one hand twisted
In the door handle , daring neither to speak
nor move for her sake. The enchantment
of her bent head , tbo curve of her scarlet
mouth , the white bnjids Idle by her side ,
held him fascinated.
Bourke called Impatiently , and came
through the hallway toward them. At the
Bound of the voice Hllde raised her head
as though aroused from a dream. With
dazed eyes she moved toward tbo door , holdIng -
Ing the little packet Harewood's luncheon.
"Time to start , " ettlA Bourkc , with n
cheerful smile. "Arc you ready ? "
"Yes , " said Harewood , shortly.
Ho took the luncheon from Hllde's list
less hands , thanking her and saying
goodbye , then followed Bourkc out Into the
Rue d'Ypres.
When they had gone Yolette went back
Into the garden , where , slate In hand , Red
Riding Hood sat , accomplishing multiplica
tion. Hlldo lingered by the door , watching
the sailors , rifles en bandoullere , drilling
with "The Prophet. " From the bastion the
short commands of the officer came clearly
to the ear. "La hausso n quinz cents
metres. Premiere piece , feu ! La haussc u
deux mlllcs metres ! Premiere piece , feu ! "
Then , pretending that the gun had been
fired , the two cannonlera in the center
swabbed the piece as the brigadier and
artificer unlocked the breech , the two load
ers hoisted In a dummy shell , and the aldo
polntcur affixed the lanyard. Mounted 01
the gun carriage , high ngftlnst the sky , thi
potntcur rested both hands on. the breech
while behind him two cnnnonlcrs I in per
centlbly swung the enormous gun fron
right to left. Then he straightened up , botl
hands raised , the movement ceased , tin
captain verified the elevation , the Aid.
polntcur seized the lanyard ,
"First piece , flro ! "
And the pantomime recommenced , n sue
cession of figures trotting backward ant !
forward , suddenly rigid , then nn nbrup !
gesture , a command , and the dark blu <
figures trotted to and fro again. Hlldi
looked nt the barracks beyond the Km
Pandoro , where , through n' brlof Interval ol
Iron ratling , she could sec the line of In
fantry marching and wheeling to the sound
ot bugles. Down at the Porto Rouge t
solid column of wngons poured over the
pont-lovls vehicles of every size anil
shiipe , piled with furniture , bedding , grain
cabbage , or bales of hay and potato sacks
The country people nnd the Inhabitants ol
the suburbs wore coming Into the city In
constantly Increasing numbers , bringing
with them furniture and live stock. Farm
wagons , piled high with bedding , on whlcli
sat children or old women , holding the
family clock , crowded ngnlnst furniture vans
from Paris , loaded with the bric-n-brnc ol
prosperous suburban merchants ; oxen hud
dled behind smart carriages driven by serv
ants in livery , cow a , sheep , even turkeys nnd
gecso pursued n dusty course through thu
gales , nnd over all rose the cries of the
tcumsters , the lowing of caltle , the ominous
murmur of disheartened things , fleeing from
that Impending tempest that was rolling on
from fcomowhero beyond the horizon.
In the eyes of Iho men there was moro of
despair than of terror ; the old people were
dumb , peering tlnough the dust with hope
less eyes , tearless and resigned. Even the
children , laughing up Inlo Ihelr w.islful
mothers' eyes , grew sober , nnd snt on the
heaps of bedding , staring down nt the hud
dled cattle , trampling by on cither side.
To Hllde , however , the distant wagon
train , half hidden In dust , wns scarcely
visible , except where It wound through the
sate. Even there shu could not distinguish
features or ago or BOX , for the Porte Kongo
was too far nway , nnd the foliage of the
chestnut trees hid n great deal. How much
9)10 ) divined IB not certain , but she turned
iwny Into the house , n now weight on her
heart , n sudden heavy foreboding.
In the bird store the canaries were singIng -
Ing lustily in the sunshine ; Hocco tha
monkey cracked nuts and ate them with
fearful grimaces at Mehcmct All , the par
rot , who looked nt him enviously , upside
lown. Hllde dropped some fresh melon
seeds Into the parrot's china cup , renewed
the water In all the cages , stirred up Iho
squirrel's bedding , and but down , her dim-
; > led chin on her wrist.
She thought of Harewood , of the first tlmo
they had entered the bird store together.
She thought of that moment when , before
ihe know It , ho had bent nnd kissed her ,
ind , wonder of wonders , she had kissed him.
rt'hy ? The eternal question always re-
.urnlng why ? Why ? It wearied her to
ihlnk , and what was the use ? Until he had
{ Isscd her she had always supposed that
men n kiss was sin. The sisters at the con-
font said so. Now she did not know she
know nothing except that they had kissed
jach other. She had not resisted. She had
lover thought of resisting. In his presence
she wns satisfied and yet frightened , con-
: cnted , yet restless. She never tired of
watching him. She wns curious , too , about
Mm , wondering what his thoughts were ,
Twice since that first day ho had looked nt
tier In the snmo wny , with the same unex
plained question In his e > cs n question that
left her breathless , confused , dazed. Sad
ness , too , came later , and wlstfulncss , a
fatigue , n weakness , that made her eyes
; row tired and her limbs heavy.
She went slowly Into her bedroom only to
itand before the faience Saluto-Hllde , think
ing , thinking. She had never asked Salntc-
Illldo of Carhalx for aid because she did
not know what to say , and when she tried
to think the gold and nzuro mantle of the
lalnte distracted her attention. How often
bad she counted the links In the chain
iround Salnte-Hllde's china neck ; how often
dad she striven to understand the placid set
smile on her polished face yet always
thinking of something quite different of
Harewood and the kiss and the question ,
unanswered , In his eyes.
And , as she stood musing In the twilight
at her chamber , suddenly the room swam ,
the floor seemed to fall beneath her. a
'rightful explosion shivered every window
> ane In the house.
Hllde reeled , clutching nt n chair ; Yoletto
: rcpt in , pale , shaking In every limb.
"It Is nothing , " she gasped ; "they have
fired 'The Prophet. ' The Prussians are In
Meudon woods ! "
( To bo Continued. )
Jimt to Eime IIU Conxclenee.
Chicago Post : The sick man suddenly sat
up In bed. His end was near and it was
ovldent that something preyed upon his
mind.
"I cannot die this way , " he said hoarsely.
"I must break nway from my evil associa
tions. This career of prevnrlcnllon must
ccaso before I am called to my last ac
count. "
They thought ho was wandering In his
mind nnd they humored him when ho called
for a pencil and some paper. ,
"Bo quick ! " ho cried after scribbling n
Few lines. "Take this to the oftlco. It Is
my resignation. "
It seems hardly necessary to explain that
iio was the cable editor of a yellow journal.
t Don't Put It Away
on the Shelf.
Tou are right in using Wool Soap for woolens. All
careful people must do that. But you are wrong in putting
Wool Soap away until the next washing day. You lose
nine-tenths of its value.
It is impure ingredients that make other soaps shrink
woolens. But these do more than shrink wool. Used on
fine goods * of any kind , they cat the fabric. Used on the
skin , they roughen it and redden it.
Used on the face , they spoil the com
plexion.
Other makers of soap haven't our
secret. All soaps except Wool Soap
have some injurious 'ingredient
enough to shrink wool ; enough to
barm the skin.
Whenever soap touches the skin , or
fine fabrics , or wool there's where
V MAMA I WltM MISJC vou rippcl
"CCU
UICD NAD. JUU
" Wool Soap U an itcetlent article , and every woman will to benefited by
Ulnc -HUM V. BAuu , Treat. Nat'l W. C T. U.
:
MUNYON'S FAME.
Known the World Orcr ni the IleBI
factor of SaHcrlnK Hnraanltf.
Mnnjron'a Improved Homeopathic Home
Rpinnlloa nre doing more to rid the world
of pnln oud ulcknona than oil tlio doctor *
combined. These tllicoverles , harmless to
tlm hands of a child , are proving their
potency In BO innny thouitnndH of CUKPS that
It would be sheer tiimlnox * for hny elok
liernon to turn away from tliclr bcncllts. A
etiiitil of witnesses , strotchliiK from Knnt to
West and North to .South , amnnic all tin-
tlntiH , are telling their on res and praising
Munyon , whom tliry look upuu ns tticls
benefactor and friend.
Munyou guarantees that his Kheuniatlnm
Cnro will cure nonrly all cnxos of rlicuum-
flam In a few hours ; that liU Dynpcinln
Cure will euro lndlKetlon nnd nil stomnch
troubles ; tlmt his Kidney Cure will cure
IK ) per cent , of all ra es of Klilnoy trouble ;
Unit his Catarrh Cure will euro ontnrrli , no
mntter lionlotif ? standing ! thut hla Honil-
auho Cure will cure any kind of hendnehe
In a few minutes ; tlmt his Cold Cure will
quickly lircnk up nny form of cold , nnd B
on tliroiiKh the entire. Hit of lih remedies.
Onlilo in Itenlth nnil medical mlvlro abso *
Intely free. 1'rof. Munyou , 1005 Arch at *
1'Jilladelpulo.
The L. S
GOVERNMENT
wants slrontr men in Its
service. With ono ao-
kcord the Army nnd Navy
"endorse llAK-llKN as
the greatest known
fctronRlhcncr , Jnvlgorat-
or and rcstorutlvo. It
creates solid Ucsh. mus *
clo nnd strength , clears
the brain , strengthen *
the nerves and onuses
the goncrntlx o organs to
quickly regain their nor
mal powers. l''or nerv
ous prostration , overwork - ,
work , Impaired vitality'
In cither sex , or exermlvo use ot opium , liquor
or tobacco , It positively cannot bo excelled.
Ono box will work wonders. Six will euro.
IIAH-llKN Is for sale by nil druggists , 01) tub-
lets , CO cMiti. Ono to two months' treatment.
Fill out and mall us the Ulngnosi.s shoot in each
box , and wo will glvo your case apcclul atten
tion without extra charge. JIAR-llKN Is pre
pared by Hialmer O. Uenson. Ph.D. , II. S. , dl-
rnct from the formula of K. K. llarlon , M. D. ,
Cluvolaml's most eminent specialist. Mailed
in closed package on receipt of prleo.
UKS. BAKTON AND IlKNhON ,
lv 01 liar-lion lllock. Clovelana. a
, For sale by Kuhn & Co. . IStn and Doug-
'as ; J. A. l-'uller & Co. , 1402 Douglas St. .
> nd Graham Druff Co. , loth and F.irnam ;
' Cine Phurmncy , 27th and Leuvrnworth ;
Peyton's Pharmacy , 24th anil Lravonworth ;
E. J. Ssykoni , South Omaha , and nil other
Jrug-glnts in Omaha. South Omaha. Council
Bluffs.
Patronize
Home Industries
Uy IMirclinilutf Goodn 3In le at tUe Fol.
'AcliriiHku KnctarlcBi
AWNINQ3 AND TENT9.
OMAHA TI2NT AAU IlUIIIIKIl CO.
( Successor * Omaha Tent anil Awning Co. )
Manufacturer * tentt , awnlngi ; jottwra ladlei"
ind Bents' Mackintoshes. Tents tor rent. 1111
Purnam St. . Omaha.
nnKWEKIES.
OMAHA IIIIKWINO ASSOCIATION.
Carloail shipments made tn our own re frigs
? rntor cars. Illue Illbbrn , Elite Export , Vlenni
Kxport anil Family Export delivered to all part ]
3f the city.
BOII.EI1S.
'
XMAIIA IIOIl.Ell WORKS ,
JOHN II. LOWRKr , Prop.
Boilers , Tnnki and Sheet 7ron Work. Special
acuities ( or doing repairs , etc. Tel. 1139 .
COHNICE WOHKC.
3. P. KI'EM..TKH ,
KAGI.K COIIXICB WORKS ,
Manufacturer of GMvanlzcd Iron Cnrnlces. OV.
ranlred Iron Skylights. Tin. Iron and Rlatt
Hooflnc Acent for Klnneam Steel Cellini.
( H-IO-IZ North Klcvcpth Btreet.
CRATKKR FACTOninS.
AMHRIOAX IIISRUIT ANIJ MF'O. CO.
itiA Crai-ker Manufacturers
OMAHA , NEII.
DYH WOUKfl.
lOIIORDSACK'S TWIN CITV DYM
WORKS , inui Knrnnni St.
DylnR and cleaning of garments and coodi ot
nery description. Cleaning of nno garment *
ipeclalty.
FLOUR MIM.S.
S. l > \ OILMAN.
Flour. Meal. IVcd. Tlran , lOU-n-n North 17th
trw. Omaha , Net ) . C. E. Illack. Manager ,
i elephone S92.
IRON WORKS.
DAVIS & COWnil , ! , , IRON WORKS.
Iron u n ill Urn MX Koumlrrn.
Manufacturer ; ) and Jobbers of Machinery. Oen.
: ral repairing a specialty. 150 | , 1C03 and 150J
Jackson street , Omaha. Neb.
UNSEKH OILv
WOODMAN I.INSKKIJ Oil ,
Manufacturers old process raw Unseed oil , ket.
le boiled llnreed oil , old procens ground llnieej
akea , ground and ccreehcd flaxneeti for drug.
: l t . OMAHA. NER.
MATTnE83E8.
"
OMAHA IIKUDING CO.
Manufacturers of high grade Mattrcstei , IIU
Tnrnev Street. Omaha.
OVKUAI..T. . AND BU1UT PACTORIK8.
KAT7.NKVK.VS'COMPANY" *
Mfr . Clothing. I'antn. aiiirU. OveralU.
OMAHA. NEII.
BHIRT FACTORIES.
"
J. II. KVANS ,
NRIIRASKA SHIRT COMPANY.
ixcluiilvo custom shirt tailors. 1517 Farnara
VINEOAR AND PICKLKS.
HAARMANN VI.MHIAR CO.
itanufaclurers of Vlnp ar , Pickle * , Catnupi
[ u tard > . rel ry and Worcestershire Sauce.
WAOONR AND CARIHAnES.
WIM.IAM .
For a good , ubttantlal vehicle of any descrlp.
on , for repainting or rubber tires on ntw or ol
heels-the be t place ls ! 7th and I avenwortb
"
nitUMMONI ) CARRIAGK CO.
Cheap , medium priced and tony carriages
ny thing you want , second hand or new. Hoid
imrters for rubber tires , warranted , Uth and
[ siney. opposlta Court House.
CIOAR MANUFACTUREim.
IIKNB * CO ;
largest factory In Ihe ,
west beading Jabber *
f Om h . - Kansai City. Uncoln nd at. JoseaS
JtndU our iood . UOf F rn ra Strtil.