r
20
ran ohaita datlt bee: sun day, march is. 1003.
44 FLOWER O' THE CORN, faA
mm By R- crockett- If
I I (Copyright, 1909, by S. B. Crockett.)' J j
IHAPTF.R X.
A Womin'a 1 Its.
Yvette Fojr watched Maurice leave the
terrace where they hart mood so close
together beneath the blossoming purple
erecpers with a smile on her face that was
by no means affected. All was not lost
because the fir I coup hart somewhat mis
carried. She had, however, sufficient knowl
edge of men to make no further attempt
that night.
It Is true that th smile on her face was
a bitter one. And as she betook herself
to her needlework aid her book the twin
carlct Hps were compressed more tightly I
than usual, and there was a certain hard
and fixed look about her great dark eyes.
"A minute before 1 did not care about
him at all," she murmured to herself,
"and I do not now. I have other things
to live (or. But, of all people In the
World, she shall not take him from me!"
Round a street corner came the far
beard chant of the child mourners, the
clear voice s'lll ladlng it, a heavenly In
strument such as angels might blow upon.
Yvette shrugged her shoulders disdain,
fully.
"She does It for effect," she murmured.
"The. days have been when I have done as
much myself (she smiled at the remem
brance). Aye, and may again, If that Is
tbe way the wind blows. If she chants
litanies, 1 can sing psalms. She has made
a captive of Jean f'avniler so they say I
the new prophet the ex-bnker's boy of
Geneva, who has come among us to de
liver Israel from the hands of the Tnll
Istines!" It Is Impossible to express the fierce bit -ternern
with which the girl spoke. There
was a gleam almost of madness in he,
eye the revolt of a keen and haughty
spirit against surroundings more hateful
to It than death.
Yet to do her Justice It ws only when
auch an one as Maurice Ralth came In her
way that Yvette Foy let herself go. She
bad a philosophy of her own In this as In
all things. Fhe had too great a contempt
for the Camlsard peasants who surrounded
her. In spite of the fact that their midnight
marches and sudden assaults were making
all Europe ring with their fame, to lift bo
much as an eyelash upon them. Not even
young Jean Cavalier, handsome, wlee,
courtly, polished, could move her.
"I have the misfortune to be born of
the peasant's party," she said, "but there
Is no need that I should mix with them. I
will pray with them, watch with then, en
dure long sermens with them. But I will
not love them, talk with them, hold com
radeship with them. And doubtless In
good time there. Is a way out. If not by
this young Englishman, why by another!"
Yvette had a secret storehouse of books
locked safely away In an empty escritoire
books which had been sent her by Eugenie
la Oracleuse, her friend of the Parisian
school This private library Included
among others the "Grand Cyrus," "Clelie"
and tho latest volumes rf the dictionary
of Bayle strange books to be found In the
escritoire of a Camlsard girl In a village
standing upon its defenses in the wilds of
the Cevennes.
From these she had learned the lan
guage of Marly and Versailles. Though
till to outward appearance a poor girl,
tier mind dwelt constantly with dukes and
princes. Shi walked the narrow corridors
of the Bon Chretien as if they had been
the hails of the hotel de Raraboulllct Itself.
To do her. justice, however, it was not
tba nature of Yvette Foy to sit down and
cry over tho spilling of milk. On the con
trary, she would serenely betake herself to
the work of preparing another.
Bo Yvette sat musing upon the young
Englishman who had left her. She bore
him no mallc6 for his sudden departure.
"Well, better luck next time," she had
said with a shrug of her shoulders. "You
can. hardly expect to win every trick of
the game, pretty Mistress Yvette. But no
more will the Milk-and-Watcr girl that
is one comfort."
For so she named Flpwer-o'-the-Cora
as often as she thought of her.
She hummed a gay, careless tune learned
in Paris:
"Shall I go carry a hymn book, sing
psalms, take short steps demurely, abase
mine eyes upon the ground? O, I could
do It. Yes, I have done It before," so she
meditated, "and if I Judge rightly, these
things are not what this young man loves
a firm grip of the hand, a bold meeting
eye, not tco forward, but as a man to a
onan. These will take him, ao be that he is
worth' thei taking."
She smiled as she saw, looking out at
the window, Maurice Ralth stride away
across the little open square of the village
and round the newly rebuilt fortifications
of the Knlghta Templar. He walked fast,
at if he would thus disengage hlmse'f from
troublesome thoughts. .
Yvette laughed, a little low laugb ail to
herself, .very pleasant to hear, .it Was so
full of good humor and mirthful apprecia
tion of the circumstances.
"He must walk fast who would get away
from that Infection!" she murmured.
"Yes," she said, "I am sure of him. He
la too much a man of action to care very
long for milk and water."
Her 1 father entered at this moment,
Idling uncertainly toward a chair, as it
ho had scarce a right to a seat in his own
bouse.
"Well, Martin Foy," aaid his daughter,
without raising her head from her work
or taking the trouble to conceal the book
which lay open upon the writing table be
fore her, "what news today of the won
drous baker's boy? Hath his excellency
Oensral Jean Cavalier defeated all the
marshals of France and amashed hla bread
oven with their batons?"
The old Camlsard shook his head som
berly. "Yvette, Yvette." he said in a voice as it
bad been saddened with the singing of
psalms and a manner chastened by habitual
self-repression before the prophets and
chiefs of hla faith, "when will you learn
to speak well of men great and holy? Wnen
will your hard heart be touched?"
"Pshaw!" cried the girl, "can you not
ee, father, they are all mouthing fools! I
am sad and angry to stand by and see you,
cay father, giving your bard earned sub
stance to such fanatlca. What does Catlnat
know of any Ehlloh?"
"I am. grieved for you, my daughter,"
aid her father sadly, "tor It ye do these
things in the green tree, what will you
do la the dry? Nay, I have spoken con
cerning you to Jean Cavalier himself "
The girl looked up for the first time,
her face flushing pomegranate red under
her dusky skin, her white teeth a mere
line between hr indrawn lips, her great
eyea bright and dry with anger.
"You take too much on you, Martin Foy."
ate aald sharply and bitterly. "I have
nothing to do with them, mark me; no
nor with your boasted Jean Cavalier him
self, though I grant you that. In spite of
hla baker's oven, be Is a bird of another
feather!"
' As the words left the girl's Hps a young
man entered lightly, dotted his hat with a
low bow to Yvette, and stood as if he had
tidings to deliver.
Martin Foy leafed to his tset with a light
in his dull eyes. The resigned manner with
which he had listened to his daughter was
gone.
"Cavalier," he cried, "Jean Cavalier! You
do this bouse sn honor! My daughter, rise
and bid the greatest of our prophets and
leaders welcome! General of the army of
the Lord, the younger Gideon of our host,
my daughter bids you welcome!"
The girl rose with a haughty and con
temptuous gesture, her eyes still flashing
angry fire. She swept the young man a
courtesy, to which he responded with an
equal austerity not too much and not too
little, yet marking as a man of breeding
might do his recognition of the unfriendli
ness of his reception snd ills Intention not
in any way to presume.
"I am no general." he said In a voice sin
gularly low and pleasant. "and you name
me rightly, Martin Foy. when you call me
simply Jean Cavalier. As you know, there
are no titles among us, the Brethren of the
Way."
The girl stood still, her train circled
proudly about her, her head tbroon back,
regarding him. But Jean Cavalier bore her
scrutluy unabashed, yet with a singular,
sweet modesty natural to the man.
There was something altogether very
winning about the youth. It was difficult
indeed to reconcile the boyishness of his
face, the crisp curls about bis small, well
formed head, the blush that came and
went upon his cheek, the slight, dark, downy
moustache on his Hp, with the reputation
which he already possessed all over Europe
as a veteran soldier, who had worsted 'great
marshals, past masters of war, and who
had compelled the court of Versailles Itself
to alter its methods of dealing with tho
contemed rebel peasants of tho Cevenes.
But of all this the daughter of Martin
Foy rocked nothing.
"Has it be in a good season for visions?"
said Yvette Foy, keeping her great eyes
steadfastly fixed upon the young man before
her.
Jean Cavalier did not blush. Neither did
he seem put out even for a moment. Stead
ily he gave the girl back eye volley for eye
volley.
"The comlpg of the vision or the going of
It." ho said with dignity, "it Is not mine
to hasten or delay. When the Lord has
work for his people he will make bare his
arm!"
The glrl.made a quick little gesture of In
finite contempt.
"O, do not weary me I know the Jargon."
sho Bld, "the trick of it is too easy. For a
comfortable salary I could be a prophetess
myself."
"I think if you will consider the deeds
which God has been pleased to do by me
since he brought me hither you will admit
that tho Spirit of the Lord hath not alto
gether spoken In vain!"
"You . have beaten General Argenton,
and the poor old brigadier, San Prlvat,"
Bhe said bitterly, "and what of that? Is a
regiment more or less aught to the master
of armies? Shall Louis the King be less
the king for a score of such victories?"
"Not less, but more," said Jean Cavalier
gently; "moreover, it has been revealed to
me that one day I shall stand before Louis
the King and not be ashamed! The king Is
still the king, and we hold ourselves his
subjects all the more tht we resist the
persecutors who have blinded his eye and
led him astray."
"An hour or two ago," she said, "I saw
a company of those loyal subjects of youra,
General Cavalier, dragging a cannon into
the village. Was it perchance to Are sa
lutes in honor of his Majesty's birthday?"
Jean Cavalier smiled, almost the sweet
smile of a child.
"I had not thought that his Majesty had
so whole-hearted an advocate within these
walls," he said kindly; "Martin Foy, we
must be careful before whom we talk our
secrets!"
Then he turned to Yvette Foy, and
walking straight up to her, he laid his hand
on her wrist. There was nothing of fa
miliarity In the action, yet the girl winced
and then stood stonily still.
"Listen," he said in a low, even tone,
characteristic of him. "I have a message
for you also, Mistress Yvette Foy. We of
the folk called Camlsards are no unfrlepds
to the King only to the priests and those
who take the name of the king's authority
in vain. We will obey him, save in the
matter of our consciences save in the
things wherein we have appealed to a
higher tribunal, and, aa It were, stand be
fore Caesarl Let this remain in your mind.
Por the present I hold no further word
with you!" (
Ho removed h'.a hand from the girl's
wrist. Bhe returned to herself with a kind
of shudder, but before she could speak the
young man had bowed as formally as be-
Yretti' stamped her foot In hot anger.
' "So that 'Is hla power,' she said, "and
he would make me feel It me who con
temn and despise all his prating crew.
Well, wait wait! There Is this day and an
other day after this. He also Is a young
man, and, though he is strong in his will
magic, I will break his will, and his magic,
both of them. He shall crawl like a
worn on the ground before me. ere all be
done. I also have a magic older and
simpler than he dreams of. He can cast
his glamor on these ignorant peasants, mud
stained from the furrow. He can sway the
listening assembly. I have heard him
breath breath the power of the spoken
word the thrill of personality that passes
out from a man others do great things
because he wills It. I have seen it, and I
know. But Just because the power goes
from him, he la left weak. All the more
that he binds thousands to hla wlTl, he
shall not be able to resist mine. Ah, Jean
Cavalier I will teach you to set your
hand on the wrist of Yvette Foy. You I
will take with the strong hand!"
She plucked at the growing greenery of
the balcony where she had sat with the
young Englishman. A spray of purple
creeper came away in her hand. Bhe
shredded the petals one from the other
and dropped them over the iron bars.
"So so will I do with the soul of Jean
Cavalier, because he hath tried to humble
me, according to the power that is given
to me, I will cause his prophecies to cease
I will shut his soul to the invisible. I
will make him even as other men he, who
calls himself the leader of many. And at
the last I will give him ashes in hla mouth
even apples of Sodom exceeding bitter
fruit!"
As she spoke she broke into a trill of
laughter.
"I declare," she said, "I have quit
caught the twang. I am preaching without
knowing It."
And without, upon the Irregular pave
ment of the little atret. two men met and
greeted each other. Tbey were Maurice
ouse.
uncovered and stood humbly before Jean
Cavalier, who nodded slightly In acknowl
edgment of the salutation.
"When shall we go over the papers to
get her?" said one. . "There la the ren
detvous near Cette to arrange for, and
the time Is short."
It was the wagoner who spoke, humblr,
as If ha pleaded some favor of quarter or
victuals.
"Tomorrow nightl" said the other, look-
lng carelessly Into the' distance. "Bring
your servant with you to my rooms. I
think he speaks no French. We shall ar
range all then. And he will keep the door.
He can be trusted?"
"That I warrant!" said Pierre, the wag
oner, grimly'. "God pity the man that runs
up against Billy with a sword in his hand
and a door to keen!"
And above them out of the high balcony
of the ancient Templar's house the dark
eyes of Yvette Foy looked after them.
"Men. are such self-important ninnies,"
so she summed up her experiences. "Their
bubbles sre blown so thin that they need
no pricking! They burst of themselves.
As If everyone with brains did not know
that these two were arranging a rendex
yous! And at his excellency. General Cava
lier's quarters, doubtless. Tbey would not
dare to come here. No (she laughed
aloud), not here!"
She stepped back quickly as Jean Cava
lier, as If drawn by the power of her eyes,
turned suddenly and looked back towards
the window.
CHAPTER XI.
The Jodaa Tree I. eta Fall a. Blossom.
During these days at La Cavalerle,
Flower-o'-the-Corn went about with a
sweet, smiling graclousness which won all
, "LOOK!' LOOK!"
hearts all, that Is or nearly all.
Her father's lodgings were (aa we know)
in one of th old towers which overlooked
the Templar gates. Opposite .to them In
the corresponding tower which completes
the other wall lived Jean Cavalier, all alone,
as a prophet should.
But for all that there was much coming
and going between the two tower of the
gateway. For Patrick; Wellwood,' though
making no professions to be a prophet, was
rapidly obtaining a spiritual Influence over
the Camlsards of the Cauascs second, only
to that of Jean Cavalier himself.
Meanwhile Flower-o'-the-Corn. wrent her
ways from door to door, not as a duty, but
because she genuinely loved all people of
every rank, and was Interested in their af
fairs. It was thus that she had entered the
household of one Joseph Moreau, rn old
soldier like Foy, the Innkeeper, and a
former companion of his in the regiment of
grenadier. Like Foy, this man had been
touched with the strong teaching of obedi
ence to Impulse contained in the teaching
of the Camlsards. But, iinltke Foy, be had
come to the village of La Cavalerle to
marry, and bad there espoused a young girl
still In her "teens'" The little white
wrapped figure waa their Brat child, born
but a day or two before, and already wafted
from the sight, a if after a trial It had
found the great world some deal too rough.
Frances Wellwood' pity for the forlorn
child-mother showed readily In ber eyes.
It was that, more than the act of carrying
the babe to the tomb, that bound these two
to ber.
These two women had never met till the
morning after the day of Maurice's arrival
In the camp. The little town of La Cava
lerle was not at that time so closely shut
up a to prevent a dally market being still
held in the little square. It waa there after
the daily service among the white-capped
vendors of fowls and vegetables that Yvette
Foy for the first time encountered France
Wellwood face to face and held speech with
her.
It was not often that Yvette betook
herself thither,- either to kirk or market.
For the most part she left the provend
erlng of the "Bon Chretien" to her father
snd the kitchen servant. But on this
occasion she had deigned to accompany ber
father to the church for an early service.
In order as she said to hear whether this
new preacher from Geneva bad more to
say for himself than their own prophets
who rambled among tha texts of scripture
like unbroken colts In a field of clover.
But Yvette Foy's chief desire In visit
ing the church at an hour ao unusual was
to take up a position In the vicinity of
Flower-o'-the-Corn and study ber rival as
attentively as might be without drawing
attention upon herself..
This she managed to csrry out without
difficult.
The Camlsard church of La Cavalerle waa
a plain, oblong building, dating from the
old war qf religion la the middle of the
sixteenth century. There was then.no
reserving the places. Each brought his
own folding chair or. In most ease knelt
upon the cold floor in time . of prayer,
and stood like soldier at attention during
sermon.
At the first glance Yvstt had noted
where Flower-o'-the-Corn bad placed her
self, which aa waa usual with ber, was
immediately beneath her father. For the
old man, wrapt in some great meditation
of hla own, occkslonally needed to. b re
minded where be was and what wa ex
pected of him. On more than one occa
sion he had given out- hi text, and ttyeo
tandlng a moment to collect hi thoughts,
bad gradually become ao entranced by the
noble thought which the word of scrip,
tura suggested to him, that aa had forth-
with shut the book and descended the
tt'lplt stairs without giving utterance to
a single word.
Patrick Wellwood stood In the pulpit
when Yvette entered. He had been edu
cated at Geneva. Here he had learned
French of that notable fluency and vigor
which can only be attained In youth. Be
side which h had spent by far the greater
part of hie life abroad, and so It was
that he could speak to the Camlsards of
the Cevennes in their own language with
all the vigor and point with which he ad
dressed the Presbyterian veterans of Ard
mlllan's regiment.
Flower-o'-the-Corn's eyes were fixed
upon the father. She did not even ob
serve that Jean Cavalier had placed him
self directly at right angles to her, side
by side with Rolsnd and Catanat In a
place which had come to be reserved for the
elders and prophets of the Camlsard peo
ple. She had only thought of the commander-in-chief
of the Camlsard forces as
a young man who had shown himself will
ing to be kind and helpful to her father
upon more than one occasion. And this
counted for much with Klower-o'-the-Coru.
So much so. Indeed, that she gave the
young man a grnteful nod and smile when
he returned from conducting the eld man
to the pulpit, which he did with a sweet
SHE WHISPERED, EAGERLY TO FLOWER-O'-THE CORN.
and bumble dignity that became him no
little.
It chanced that Yvette Foy arrived In
the church Just in time to Intercept the
glance and to watch the blood spring hot
and responsive to the young soldier'
cheek.
There wa another who had observed the
byplay a dark-sklnnel youth in a wide
blue blouse who stood neas a pillar at (he
door. To him Yvette Foy turned with a
bitter smile upon her lip. But he did not
even observe her. His eyes were else
where, even upon the fair face of Frances
Wellwood, now uplifted, as like a flower
turns to the sun, when her father began
to speak.
And Yvette smiled a tolerant smile a
she looked.
"Was It possible," she thought, that she
should have feared to take count and
reckoning with such a babe? Then with ber
deep fold of lace drawn clreely about her
shapely head and recrossed over her bosom,
she turned ber head and nexk this way and
that, thinking no more of the sonorous
words of the preacher than she would of
the roar of the wind In the lime-atone
caves of Mont Ventour, or the surge of
a breaking aea upon a distant shore.
About her head she had wound a thin
veil of finest lace, which- contained and
conditioned, though It did not conceal her
haughtily splendid hair. She knew that her
forehead was bright and broad, beneath It,
her lips were marvelously red. There
was no one like her in all the bills of
Cevenne from Mende to Beiiers. O, yes
the red-and-wblte stranger girl she bad
seen she knew this Frances Wellwood.
She would mo and wait for her In the
market place. The damask rose Is not
afraid of the scentless immortelle.
So she rose unceremoniously In the midst,
of the sermon, laid her stool against a
pillar, and with the air and carriage of a
queen, passed serenely out Into the hot
sudden caressing of the sunlight, venting
a great sigh of relief as the freeh warmth
of the forenoon. breathed upon her face.
The true spirit of Yvette Foy returned
to her aa soon as she had left the dark
morning heaviness of the little church be
hind her. Glooms and fervor of the
spiritual sort she bad none about her, and,
Indeed, she recognized such In others only
as useful factors In the game she loved to
play. . With all her bright cleverness, with
her knowledge of men, books and women,
In spite of the glimpses she bad had of an
other life, the base of her nature was essen.
tlally a desire for the physical well-being
of an animal. Herein lay the difference
between the two girls. . Flower-o'-the-Corn
loved everything In nature. It was all fair
and sweet to her tb.3 green, waving fodder
grass with the wind passing over It in
swirls and waves of color changeful as the
sheen on shot silk the keen verdlter of
the bl'ter artemlsla, the barbaric brlU'.nre
of pomegranate blossom splashed scarlet
against a turquoise sky. These seemed
part of herself. They made her life vivid.
That she lived on plain csmp fare that
she had done so all her day and never
expected to do otherwise, detracted nothing
from the pleasure she felt in being with
her father. In making him happy, and In
gladdening with ready graclousness all
whose lives came across hers. Every blown
blade of grass on the meadow leas, every
head of sorrel sowing Its riain song russet
seeds, every ascendant gossamer with Its
little al: -borne traveler, waa part of the
eternal gladness of life to Flower-o'-the.
Corn. These things were as parts of her
deepest religion, and she prattled of tbem
gaily to her father, who did not even shake
hla head.
Now, though Yvette, tha daughter of
j Martin Foy, the Camlsard, loved some of
(these natural things also, she loved them
i otherwise. She rejoiced In the sunshine
' because In It her bcin expanded. The
1 very tissues of her bond changed with a
sense of physical enlargement and well
being. She hated the winter, but when at
last the spring came and the 1.1a Juice made
the world new, Yvette had strarge thrlll
Ings and Impulses through her hr-dy, as if
she, too, were kin to all that bou.-f-.eonlng
greenery and pink blossoming orchard.
But she rejoiced 4n them merely .xs a
part of the necessary . well being of the
world the warm-aired, full-blooded guai'o
of things of which she had her part as a
creature who loved eating and drinking
and lying long warm abed, as others love
truth and self-nacriflce and the word of
God.
Thus It was with these two who were
now to face each other in the warm, cop
pery glow of the llttlo market place, across
which the early morning shadows still
lay long and blue.
At the stalls there were not many things
to be sold no great choice for the good
wives of La Cavalerle a lamb or two
from the Causses, long-legged and spare
of rib, eggs In plenty, with late fruits
and vegetables. The women sat crouched
on their heels by their baskets or with
their small store outspread regularly on
the ground onions, leeks, garlic, potatoes
ranged side by side, while a calf, tied in
securely to a cart wheel, bleated for the
comparative freedom of the rough-legged
lambkin, which in reality wa to die as
soon as he.
Praise to the Holiest in the 'Height,
And In the depths be praise! j
From the little Camlsard temple came
the chant, weighty and solemn. The mar
ket women inclined their heads with Will
ing reverence. They were all "of the
way,"' and would gladly have been pres
ent, but what would you? The pot at
home must be boiled and who but they in
these times could win the wherewithal to
fill It.
At last the worshipers were coming out.
Martin Foy came out last of all, lingering
a little on the threshold for a word with
the old man, who looked not a little gray
and weary after preaching.
But Martin Foy, though a disciple both
willing and attentive, lost bis grip even
of the divine decree, at the sight which
met his eyes In the warm slantwise pour
of the sunlight.
There in the little Grande place of La
Cavalerle, the sun shining equally upon the
sentinels, on the walls and on the market
women, sitting like brooding bens in the
white dust a.ong the western wall, in the
midst of a silence like ..hat of Eden, there
had happened a thing which waa to affect
the lives and happiness of all those with
whom thla history concerns Itself far more
than the decisions of cabinets and the suc
cessions of great kingdoms.
Of her own accord, Yvette Foy had
crossed the road and was holding out her
hand to Frances Wellwood.
It was near the great door of the Bon
Cretlen, and as these two stood thus, hand-ln-hand,
the Judas tree In the courtyard,
wind-stirred, flung down a last belated
blossom, red as the lips which In the morn
ing sunshine smiled their sweetest upon
Flower-o'-tho-Coru.
Shu took Yvette's hand and smiled also.
CHAPTER XII.
The Spy Hole on the Stairway.
"I have heard of your great ktndnets
to our poor folk," said Yvette Foy, ber
hand still warm within ber new friend's
grasp, "and my heart was touched when I
saw you carry the poor dead babe yesterday
from the bouse of Anna Moureau!"
Flower-o'-the-Corn blushed, and then
suddenly smiled at the newcomer brlghtlv
and 'cordially.
"It was kind of them to let a stranger
do so much," she aald. And then, changing
the subject, she added: "You are Mistress
Foy, are you not, the daughter of the
hostler who baa spoken so kindly to my
father at tbe preachings?"
"I am Indeed Yvette Foy," the girl an
swered, "and one much honored to make
your acquaintance. Why have we not ere
this seen you at our poor bouse of the
Bon Cretlen?"
"Because because " said Francea, her
face breaking Into a slow smile, "In my
country it is tbe custom to wait tor an
Invitation before setting foot across one's
neighbor's threshold."
"But my father tells me be has often In
vited youra to sup with us!" persisted
Yvette.
Flower-o'-the-Corn looked slightly dis
tressed. "I had not thought" she begsn, and
then stopped; "that is, I had not supposed
you would wish to see me!"
"And why, pray? Bomeona has been tell
ing tales."
But taletelllng, even In Its mildest form
of telling on the taleteller, was Impossible
to Flower-o'-the-Corn.
"I heard. "she said artlessly, "thst you
Yvette Foy laughed aloud In her turn.
"You Will tint tell mA m hn tnM vnii " h
said. "It is you who are clever, and I did
not Know u:
f 1 I ... mint J.... -' .It .
t - ait,,. wt-Yn hi mi. iriuipf
Frances, simply. "I have only followed m
I M . . . -
ted
miii.r iron cny 10 city and rrom camp
camp. I know only men."
to
In her inner heart Yvette thought that
to Know men was not the least to bo de
Sired of ftrrnmnllfthmnnti K,.t BK AlA rm
say so. She only drew ber arm through her
vi'iupHiiiun s wnn a smiling, happy air.
The two girls walked apart from t
crowd of the market place, smiling ai
COnVKTOlng. Such a nnlr fnr Inoolln,,, -
never Been together fair and dark, corn
uit ami ine passion nower, pearl a
black diamond.
"Pity me," said Yvette; "I have no
mnt her '
"Nor I." Frances answered with a quick
sigh, Instinctlvei'y drawing her new friend
to her. "I know at times it Is hard for
n. s'ii. itv )uu reinemocr nor:
"Yes, truly," said Yvette," she held my
father from this folly of his while she
lived. And when she died then It wss he
sent me to school In Paris to be out of
his way!"
"Ah," said Francea reproachfully, "do
not speak thus o your father If he Is all
that is left to you, as mine Is! And be
Idea fnv fatfiAV aava K a Mn4 Mmh
... 1 ...j ....... ' j mv aa m uiau.
Yvette laughed a little laugh, very deep
1 . 1. .
iu urr inroni.
"Yes," she said Bcornfojly, "a good man
clnliht las-f hat la Ia ha wim, nn
father. It Is very wall for you, my fair
lady, who go Cut everywhere Into the
world rff men with vnnr fAther fieetna new
lands and the faces of new folk and brave
soldiers, and great men very easy for
you to prate to Yvette Foy of fathers!
"Nav. nav. said Flower-o -the-Corn
blushing, "I know what you mean very
well, but, indeed, It is not so. There Is
no man anvwhere in highland or lowland
mountain or Isle, whose company I would
prefer to that 01 my tatneri"
"Then the more fool you, with uch
rhancca!" murmured Mistress Yvette
under her hreath. But aloud she aald. Pat
ting Flower-o'-the-Corn's delicately round
arm on which her hand was lying. "Ah, one
day, my dear! There Is a ship coming to
you over the sea. Tbe sails of It are samlle
and the masts pure gold, as the old story
tells, and Its burden Is love love love!"
"I suppose love for a woman?" aald
Frances, looking at her wlnsomely under
her eyelashes, "since you fright me such
dreadful thing of men."
Rh a alu-hed.
"Yes, they have been very kind to me
some of them," he said reflctlveiy, ana
and I have not always been very kind to
them."
"That 1 the safest way to bind a mau
to you," said the yolce of experience, "to
be at the first a llttla unkind."
v.,tt.. thnmrht a little and then added:
"Afterward not they tiro of It ooner than
tho other."
Then catching a little fear on the Duell
ing face of France Wellwood, Yvette put
her hand tenderly about the glrl'a neck.
"You need not fear, little one, with Mich a
face as yours and those great fatal eyes
love will come to you fresh every morning
across the years, bo you una or 00 you
iinblnill"
A flguro passed acros the Grande place,
going in the direction of tha Aubefgo of
the "Bon Chretien."
"Who is that?" said Flower-o'-the-Corn,
quickly, for a certain martial awing waa
a.aortinii- itself fvid through the blue
blouse, the corduroy breeches and hooded
cape of Pierre the wagoner.
Yvette patted her cheek again.
''Ah, dearest," she said, most oareaslngly,
"you cannot expect your hlp to come to
anchor up here among thee wild hill.
That la but Pierre the wagoner from
Flanders, he whose barrel were ran
sacked the other night by our good, honest
friends of this Protestant village"
"The same who brought the dispatcher
and the cannon?" said France. "I wa
there out on the Causees that night. He
he has never thanked me for saving hi
life! I should like to ee him again."
"Better Derbaps that you should not,"
said Yvette in a low tone.
"And why?" cried Frances, with a kind
of catch In her voice.
"There are things which it is not fitting
for a girl to hear." said Yvette, still with
her eyes upon the ground. "Remember,
I am older than you. Mistress Wellwood!"
Flower-o'-the-Corn turned instantly upon
Yvette Foy and held her tightly by the
wrist, looking into her face.
"You must tell me now." she said, ear
nestly. "I am no child. I have heard Jiow
men speak to men. He came once and
. ..ki. Kaiio him return. He will re-
UIJ 1 1 1 u
turn. Why, then, should I not speak with
him?"
The dark girl looked every way about.
"It Is not safe to speak out here," she
murmured. "Come to my room and I will
tell you."
Really she only meant to gain time. She
must fatally prejudice the young man In
the regard of Flower-o'the-Corn, and to
this end she bad made certain arrange
ments. There was a private entrance to the Tem
r,iar' house, bv meana of a low door in a
little side street leading into a little cir
cular tower in which was a tair. y mi
the girls presently ascended.
At one point there was a llttlo spyhole,
through the Inner wall, hlch gave imme
diatelv into the stable. Iore thla Yvette
stopped.
Suddenly she clapped her hand lightly
together. This had fallen out beyond her
expectation. Seeing and believing being
one, there was the lees need of explanatory
"Look look!" she whispered eagerly to
Flower-o'-the-Corn.
With something that made ber ashamed
In her heart, yet for the present with no
power to resist, Frances looked. There,
Immediately beneath, were not Pierre the
Wagoner as she had expected, but the two
strangers whom she bad seen at the taking
of the wagons out on the moonlit plain
a man and a woman. Tbey were engaged
In brushing and refolding a military suit
of clothes. It was to all appearance the
same which Billy Marshall had saved with
Jealous rare out of tbe sick king's wagons,
and the pair did their work as if well ac
customed to the task.
"See," said Yvette Foy, with a deep kind
of Bllent triumph, "there, all unexpectedly,
Is the proof of what I brought you here to
tell you. Tbe man who owns that come
among us poor Cevennols as a traitor!"
With the quick eye of one who has lived
all her life aomng soldiers, Frances saw
that the garments, which were now being
swiftly folded and put away, constituted an
officer's uniform of tbe Malson du Rol, or
King's guard, of the French army.
(To be contiued.)
More Troth Tbas Minor.
"At what time doea the 9:20 train get
In?" asked tbe commercial traveler Joc
ularly, of the ticket agent at Hexham's
Corners.
"About noon," replied the official.
And It proved that there was more truth
than bumor In his reply, tbe ssld train
having a habit of being about three hours
late. Detroit Free Press.
Wo iQtreiiort.
Abou Ben Adhem! May he rest In peace!
Iist of his name hla tribe did not Increaae.
Hecause ( think upon It with compassion!
liable, about that time, went out of fash
loa. Chicago Tribune.
CONDITION OF OMAHA TRADE
Vo'nme of Bminess f.r the Week Larget
Than Anticipated.
COLLECTIONS RATHER DISAPPOINTING
Vnlnea on Moat Linen are Abnnt the
"ame aa They Were a Week Ago,
bnt Mill the Tendency la I p
vtartl and t llonnnard,
Trade with Ominu Jobbers and manufac
turers in must linos wax Iii'hW.t In-t week
thmi was generally anticipated. The im
pression whs that pmct.i mly nil of tho
large buyer h.ul been on th.- murk.'t nml
pliu-ed their orders, but from the hi'Hvy
bills that were sold liist week It I' ev.dent
that euch whs n.it the ens-. Travell'i
salesmen also met with go-id euroefs 011 th)
road and the miiil orders rame In freely,
that taking the situation nn a whole lob
bers say they hnve no oiiiikc for romnlnlnl.
Future huxtnms Is nlso In very a slue
tnry condition. Traveling men nro on n
road with a good many different lii.e of
good Bnd so far hnve met with e :ep
tlonnlly ijood success for so earlv in me
season. With anything like an average eto.i
of small grain and corn every one Is coinl
dent that fall trade this year will be very
heavy.
Collections at present are not as satisfac
tory as they might he. Thnt Is owing 10 tho
Tact that there is still a very marked spoi l
age of cars with which to move grain mid
other farm produce. Farmers coneqi:eotlv
have to ask for much credit Ht the ha.idi
of retailers and retailers In turn rot onlv
fell to discount their bills, but have to aisle
their Jobbers for extensions. Tho alUiatlo'f'
as yet is not what would be called exsctlv
critical, but at the same 1n.n unless lis
difficulty Is remedied flsastroun cfects fay
follow. The tendency, tf ouise, I f.r
farmers to keep down exponce. until tbey
can move their crops and get nimn mor.-y.
If the relief comes In time merchant will
not be injured, but if farmers ore short of
money throughout the epring reason trado
in tho country will be mnterlHllv decreased.
Prices have not fluct iHted to anv great
extent during the week under review. Therj
Is, however, the same firm tone to the tradi
that has characterized the situation lor
many months past. Those who are In a
position to know say that present pros
pects point to continued firm markets for
several months to come and that prices on
a great many lines will go hluher before
they will go lower.
Soaar May Go lllahrr.
The sugar market is In practically the
eamo position It was a week ago so far ai
quotations go. Raws are being tlrinly held,
however, and theme well informed are of tha
opinion that the sugar market Is In a very
strong position, with prospect) favi.rable
for higher prices In the future. One nf thi
reasons given for looking for a higher sugar
market is the sale, which was announced
several days ago, of the California
Hawaii Sugnr Refining company of
Crockett, Cel., to the ftpreckles Sugar Re
fining comnanv. Aa nn indication of th
effect that this sale will have on the market
Jobbers are calling attention to the tact
that since the sale took place sugar has ad
vanced on the cost Vi cent. This advance
effects the price In all the territory from
Cheyenne west. This sale is also taken as
an Indication of the fact that the sugar in
terests are constantly becoming more
closely allied, which means n mora atanln
market than has been experienced for many
years, wunoui tnese airrerences tnat rave
existed In the pant refiners will, of course,
have a better opportunity of securing a
good margin of profit over and above tho
eost of production, so that the general opin
ion is mat sugar win sell relatively nigfter
In the future than it has in the. past.
There has not been much change In tho
cheese market during the week under re
view except a little advance on New Yor'
state cheese. Stocks are k-ettlnir verv llal.t
snd It will be the middle of May before ne
grass cneese will oe on tne market.
lne situation In canned corn Is very much
the same as it waa a week ago. Hlval ran
nera are still holding off and refnshia- to
sell future stock. In tomatoes, however.
there is a slightly easier feeling. Baltimore
ana Maryland canners are ottering futures
at sngntiy lower ngures than they were a
week ago and In soot tomatoes there Is
also a slightly easier feeling.
The demand for dried fruits has shown
some improvement during the last few
days, but still' stock Is not moving very
rapidly.
The rice market la firm and nnrliin
Th market on syrups Is also very strong at
tne advance recently reported, f actories
are all heavily oversold and are only ac
cepting orders subject to two or three
weeks delay. Jobbers are freely predict-
lng higher prices and say that they cer
tainly will come if tbe demand continues.
cereals, soap and toDacco are all selling In
practically the same notches they were a
week ago.
Good Demand for Dry Goods.
Omaha dry goods iobbera were verv
pleasantly surprised last week' at the
amount of stock they sold. They thought
that practically all of the heavy buyers
had been on the market, but thev have
since found that they were mistaken. They
have advices that several more will be hera
this coming week, so they are looking for a
fairly good demand for another week or ten,
days. The fact remains, however, that th.
bulk of the spring s'uff has been sold and
that business In that line will ranldlv de
crease from this on. Wholesalers, however,
nave no cause ror complaint, as they have
broken all previous records in the amount
of goods sold, and In fact their trade so far
has been the best in every respect that they
have ever experienced.
Traveling salesmen are now on the road
with fall samples and are meeting with
good success. Merchants seem to be awarn
of the fact that everything points to higher
prices In the f.ittire and as a result are
anxious to get under cover. Another reason
wny they are anxious to buy early is the
fear of a shortage In desirable lines. A
frreat many of the dealers who have been
n the city recently buying spring goods
have placed advance orders for fall goods
so as to make sure of getting what they
want at the proper time.
There is no eoecial market news this
week, a what has been previously reported
aoout ine upwara tenaency or the cotton
goods market Is still applicable. 10 very one
aeems to De confident tnat higher prices
will rule on a number of staple lines. .
Good Robber Gooda Weather.
Rubber aoods lobbers did an excellent
business last week. The combination of
high water, snow and rain and .mud, so
eeneral In the territory tributary to this
market, has nad the effect of making the
demand for rubber goods of nil kinds the
best experienced In a long time. Rubber
boots in particular have been in big de
mand and In fact a number of Omaha Job
bers have sold out their entire stocks and
have telearanhed for more to be sent hv n.
nress. Rubber clothing, particularly mack
intoshes, have" been good sellers and Jobber
say mat ir ine remainoer or tne seasoir In
as good aa the first part has brcn they will
have no trouble In breaking all previous
records.
The demand for leather a-onds Is f illv
heavy as could be exnected at thla
The only complaint local houses iiave to
make Is the slow delivery of good from
the factories. They say that at this time
last year they had a good many orders
filled that they are unable to ship this sea
son because tnVy have not yet received the
goods. They are beginning to fear that
they will have considerable trouble from
this source all the season.
No Change la Hardware.
The hardware market Is In practically thi
same position It was a week ago. There
have, of course, been a few minor fluctua
tiona, but no changes worthy of mention
have been rrpcrted. Trade, however. In
spring lines is starting out In very satis
factory manner and Jobbers expect to do a
rushing business from this time on. Indi
cations are that there will be a good deal
of building and repairing out through the
country as well as in the towns, which will,
of course, create a big demand for hard
ware. Frolta and Prod nee.
The demand for fruits and vegetables was
Just about normal last week. Whenever thi
weather warms up a little the demand for
green stuff shows a marked improvement
The supply has been better of late than it
was a short time ago, but as the demand li
also Increasing there has not been muuh re
duction In price.
The market on butter and poultry Is Just
about the same aa It was a week ago. th"
demand and supply apparently running
Just about even. The egg market has
fluctuated back and forth to quite an ex
lent, but still there have been no very rad
ical changes. It only takes a few warm
days to increase receipts and cause price
to break, and on the other hand a few cold
daya will strengthen the market again.
Voire of Esuerleaee.
"Whst!" asks the attorney "you a mar
ried man, and yet you say you do not know
where a woman's pocket Is?"
"Yes, I'm a married man." rnswers the
witness hotly, "and I want to tell you that
when you get to be one you'll find out that
It s ail you want to do to keep your eyes
on your own pockets without trying to find
out. where your. wife are I'VNew York
Time.
1
