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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (May 3, 1903)
THE ILLUSTRATED 1JEE. May 3, 190a which log of live wood were burning, with a slow, equable flame. Yvette had paused at the door aa If even at that moment she had meditated flight. Cavalier watched her closely, but not aa he had done in the houseplace of the Ben Chretien. He beckoned her to come nearer. "I would apeak with you a moment," he aald. "1 may never thua apeak with you again. You have gone by your choice out of my world. I never thought to love any woman till I saw you. I had consecrated myeelf to God and His service." He did not take his eyes from the girl s face. He spoke, net In angry denunciation, but with a certain resigned sadness almost sweet in its intonation. Yvetta did not answer in words, but she did grow a shade paler aa he continued: "It Is nothing to you a man's love," he said gently. "I might have known it. I ought to have known It. But that which was but the passing of an hour to you, my lady, waa life, death and all the hereafter to mo. "And now," he went on, after a pause, "having tasted of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that is within the garden, I must go ontslde, where the angel awaits me with the flaming sword that turns every way. I go back to La Cavalierc. I will de clare In the full assembly of the Brethren of the Way what my advice Is. Having partaken of the feast I will not be slack in paying the reckoning. In a week you shall hear from mo. In a month I shall be able to tell you what proportion of our young men my Influence can enlist under the ban ner of the king of Prance to fight bia battles. Yvette For went up to him and took hia hand. With a swift impulsive movement aba lifted It to her lips. "You are a thousand times better than I." she aald. "Give God thanks for your escape from me!" The young man trembled from head to foot. He reached out his arms toward her, restrained himself by a violent effort, and let his hands fall by his side. He opened the door cf the chamber In which their In terview had passed and went out almost blindly, stumbling on the threshold as he went. This tlma no bayonets were crossed before his breast. MutVets clanged on the pavement aa the guard turned out. Swords flashed to the salute, and Jean Cavalier, the baker's boy of Geneva, took hia way In the darkness back to the little hill fortress of La Cavalerle. This time, however, he ad ventured forth without companion. CHAPTER XXXI. While Yvette Foy waa playing for the faith and honor of the young chief of the Camisards within the entrenched village of La Cavalerle, on the opposite heights of the Causae Nolr, among whose black rocks were perched the turreted houses of St. Veran, the three other principals of our hietary continued to lead a quiet existence. Of course, even in St. Veran, Maurice Ralth was very far indeed from being Idle. With the assistance of Billy Marshall ha organized the fighting forces of the village, erecting rough but strong forts among the scattered boulders, digging trenches and extending the defensible area on which the cattle and sheep of the villagers must sub sist in time of closer siege. As usual, Mr. Patrick Well wood preached and prayed with the utmost acceptance. Never had such words of fire been heard in St. Veran. And Flower-o'-the-Corn? Naturally she was more beautiful thau ever. Something sweet, innocent and sage disengaged itself like a perfect perfume from every look and action. She and Maurice were by no means dem onstrative lovers, and she sat most often bolide the old man, when he was not en gaged in his ministrations among the pooler houses of Saint Veran. Maurice bad fulfilled his commission In carrying out the landing of stores and Stories of Starving (Continued from rage Three.) Rudyard Kipling has experienced that form of starvation which is most common In great centers of population living for weeks and months at a time on an insuffi cient amount of food. He has admitted that he tried it for the sake of experience, and In "The Light That Failed" he has de scribed his feelings. "It is not easy," says Mr. Kipling, "for a man of catholic tastes and healthy ap petites to exist for twenty-four days on fifty shillings. Nor Is It cheering to begin the experiment alone In all the loneliness of London. "Dick paid seven shillings a week for his lodging, which left him rather lesa than a shilling a day tor food and drtnk. Half a day'a Investigation and comparison brought him to the conclusion that sausages and mashed potatoes, twopence a plate, were the best food. Now, sausages once or twice a week for breakfast are not unpleasant. Aa lunch, even with mashed potatoes, they be come monotonous. Aa dinner they are im pertinent. At the end of three days Dick loathed sausages, and, going forth, pawned his watch to revel on sheep's head, which is not as cheap as it looks, swing to the bones and the gravy. Then he returned to rending back a dispatch, ao he felt himself at liberty to await further orders where he was orders which In present circum stances would have some difficulty in reach ing him. Only Billy Marshall and his wife Bet mourned and longed for the floshpots of Keltonhlll fair. The gypsy saw the great ranges of ragged taus scattered among the broom and whins, the larger tents for the drinking booths, the earthen "lean-tos," the gayly-caparisoned "cuddles" of the wandering tinker or the more staid saddle bags of the packman's shcltlos. Dans of escape floated indefinitely before his eyes, growing more and more impossible to be put behind him. CHAPTER XXXII. In the little room, which at night waa the bedroom of Monsieur and Madame Montbeliard and In the daytime the gen eral place of meeting of the family, In cluding the visitors, four friends were as sembled, talking over ways and means. In the window seat, naturally a little apart, sat Maurice Ralth and Flower-o'-thc-Corn. The lovers spoke low, with clasped hands, leaning one toward the other like Bhooka of corn in a harvest field. A sharp knock came to the door. Flower-o'-the-Corn sat up suddenly with immense dignity. A blush vivid as a damask rose flooded her cheeks. The distance between herself and Maurice increased as Imper ceptibly and mysteriously as that which grows between the shore and a voyager gazing over the parting vessel's stern. Upon Billy Marshall's entrance Maurice stood up with a quickly darkening brow. "What do you want here?" he said, with all the brusqueness of a lover whose tete-a-tete has been Interrupted. The gypsy saluted with his own alow self-respect, the true Galloway dourness, which passes not away with the centuries, and which strangers find so aggravating. "Malster Maurice," he said, "I hae bode wl' ye as lang aa Bet and me can bide. I maun be back on the Rhonehouae braes by the day of Keltonhlll, and Bet maun gang wl' me. If ye winna let us gang, we wull Juist hae to tak' the road wantin' your honor's valued permission." "Billy," said Maurice, sternly, "that ia not the way to apeak to your superior offi cer!" "Is't bo?" inquired Billy, aa one who asked for information. "Weel, that's a peety, too, for it's e'en the way I spak to my cornel In the auld sax-an'twentleth. An' what's guid eneuch for him will hae to do its dooms best to serve for you!" The sudden fervor of Billy's tones inter rupted the flow of controversial divinity by the fireside. "Wherefore do you speak of leaving this haven of rest and peace?" demanded the chaplain of Ardmillan's regiment. "Ye may ask," said Billy, "and by the Lord, I'bb no be alow in tellln' ye. Ye are a learned man they tell me. Did ye never hear tell o' Keltonhlll Fair in your travels athwart the world?" "I take it," said Mr. Wellwood, "it ia your desire to depart out of this place in order to be present at certain festivities in your own native country of Galloway." "Dlnna caa Keltonhlll Fair a festeevity, man, as if it war Just a kind o' Englishy Klrsmass of a Sant'a day like what ye mlch see amang thae benlchted haythen. Man, there's malr nor ten thoosend men, forbye weemen and bairns, no to speak o common Eerish fowk there, aud malr horses than wad reach to Johnny Croat's standing head to tall and to caa Keltonhlll a fes teevity! Then the drinl:, man, ye canna gang the first sax mile in ony direction after the second day without sprachlin' ower drunk fowk at every third step. And to caa that a festeevity!" Patrick Wellwood rose to his feet and lifted bis right hand high in the air with a solemn aspect. "I am with you," he said; "I had thought that I was called to remain and speak unto the people. But I see few in this place sausages and mashed potatoes. Then he confined himself entirely to mashed pota toes for a day, and wa3 unhappy because of pain In hia inside. Then he thought re gretfully of money thrown away In timee past. "There are few things more edifying unto art than the actual belly-pinch or hunger, and Dick, In his few walks abroad he did not care for exercise; it raised desires that could not be satisfied found himself dividing mankind into two classes those who looked as if they might give him something to eat, and those who looked otherwise. 'I never knew what I had to learn about the human race,' he thought, and, aa a reward for his humility, Providence caused a cab driver at a sau sage ehop where Dick fed that night to leave half eaten a great chunk of bread. Dick took It would have fought all the world for Ha possession and it cheered him. "The month dragged through at last, and, nearly prancing with impatience, ha went to draw his money." Women who have been on the verge of atarvatlon will not apeak of it. One woman who had been without food for over a week waa asked: "How did you feel?" "Do cot speak of it," she replied. "I who are not prepared -to die while. If this be truo which this poor ignorant man hath spoken, there remain depths of wick edness yet to be plumbed in mine own hand. I have a call. Yes, I will take my pilgrim staff In hand an over pass. I will company with you and preach the gospel at Kelton hlll!" Hilly had gained a powerful ally. For Frances would not once have thought ef opposing her father when the "rail" came upon him. Yet It was with something of sadness that sho. looked forward to the breaking up of the sweet aud peaceful time. It was arranged that they should set out upon tho following Monday. The route by Switzerland was chosen, both because Pat rick Wellwood and his daughter knew it better, having already traveled It on their way thither, and because a complete "uu derpround railway" existed for sending persons and things in and out of the Ce vennts. On the Sabbath Patrick Wellwood preached what was understood to be his farewell sermon to the people of St. Veran. His text was "A city set upon a hill can not be hid." and the preacher spoke of their little defenced town as Kadeah in the wild erness where from the twice-smitten rock the water of life had flowed out. And In a corner Frances Wellwood sat on a stool, with Maurice Ralth standing erect beside her. And there were tears in the young man's eyes, because of his love and for those sweet first days that should be no more. These two went out together, and as they followed tho dusky line of the temple wall. Flower-o'-the-Corn put her hand upon the young man's arm. "Maurice, you have loved me here where there are only poor common folk, these peasant women! but will it be the same when you are once again aide to my lord duke?" "Frances," cried the young man, aghast at something like the sound of a sob, "you cannot think It, you cannot dream it? Waa I not my lord's secretary, almost his com panion, before I ever set eyes on you? Did I ever love any woman aa I have loved your' "You have told me so," aald Flower-o'-the-Corn, with her face directed to the ground. "Look up, little one," he said, earnestly, "look at me and tell me that you do not believe this thing. These are words and no more. Listen! I am a poor man you will have a hundred offers from richer, bet ter men than Maurice Ralth. My patrimony ia but one great run for black-faced sheep. My castle la half ruinous only a few rooms In it are Inhabited. We shall be poor that is, if you keep your promise and share that poverty with me." She smiled up at him through a mist of tears. "Well, love me love me--keep on loving me," she murmured. And after a alienee she added, "And do not get tired of telling me of it, please!" CHAPTER XXXIII. The Healn-Gatherer'a Hat. Th fierce mlnstral of the Rhone valley, which parches the body and even shrivels the Immortal soul, had ceased blowing at dusk, and now upon borrowed horses Pat rick Wellwood and hia daughter were pick ing their way through the pine woods and marshes of northern Provence, while the other three trudged afoot, Maurice leading Flower-o'-the-Corn'a beast in the tracks of the guide, who stalked ahead like an anxious heron. He waa a long man, but toned up in leather garments, shining with dirt and grease, and knew the ways alike in dark and light. The horses, which hud belonged to Pierre the wagoner of Roehe-a-Bayard and Hoo, stayed behind at St. Veran. The good Montbclairda steadfastly refused to receive tbem as a present. "No," auid the stout Huguenot; "If the Lord continues his providences toward Hia was horrible. I will never talk about it." Another, in reply to a similar question, aald: "I don't remember. I think I must hava been mad." RAY T. SEAMAN. A Girl Engineer " Miss Alverda M. Stout of 300 Oak atreet, Columbus, O., is a splendid sample of what a woman can do In the field of Invention and practical mechanics. Miss Stout is a full-fledged engineer. She has not only tho qualification of ability, she has tho high authority of the state for practicing her calling, for she has complied with ita laws, passed tho examination with honors, and has her engineer's license, aa legal aa that held by any male engineer In tho Buckeye state. Miss Stout Is but 18 years old. In Sep tember, 1898, she made her debut into ttt business world as a bookkeeper In tha Dyesville Flouring mill. But office work didn't prove congenial, and besides tho ambitious girl waa not able to make as much money aa she thought aha ought to. So abe conceived the plan of studying tho milling business. 8o rapidly did her ap plication fit her for advancement that ia a short time, in spite of ber youth, she was put in charge of the flour department. 11 own. and I am enabled to sell your horses to any Advantage, I shall forward tho pries of them to the romp of my Ixrd Marlbor ough." As they went Maurice and Frances coa versed in a low tone. In the marshes tar away the bittern boomed duly all unhred.d, while in all the ditches along whose banks they made their devious way, certain frogs, small and green as to their persons and optimistic of disposition, croaked tenta tively in tho darkness, anticipant of spring. Their guide had been supplied to them at their last halting place, when be had agreed in his soft liquid-sounding Provencal speech, to guide them safe to a rosln-gathercr'a hut at the northeastern corner of tha strangely rplintcrcd hulls railed the "Al pines," which, with their white stone pin nacles, glittered mysterlotiHly under tha atarllght. Yet It was a not unrheerful time. They had left the doom-strlrken Cevennca behind tbem. Soon the land of safety and of their owbj religion would be about them. Meantime there was the weariuem of limb and tba prospect of rest and food In the resin gatherer's hut on the flanks of tho rocks of Baux. Thnt at least would be welcome, Frances thought ah, never welcomer. For In spite of Maurice Hatth'a sustaining hand, and his careful management of the slow-stepping beast, Flower-o'-the-Corn had grown deadly tired. And as the lantern turned a moment In the hand of tho guide upon those behind, Maurice saw dark circles about her eyeB. "Not much farther up there In yonder cleft It was!" averred the guide. "A good family yea, a man and his wife, stanch upholders of the way. They would soon find themselves there. They will pile, lb twigs cf pino and fragrant junlpjr spread the blankets and, after food partaken of, sleep out their sleep In quletnccs." The man and woman c.ime to their door. There mas a red glow within and a pleasant smell of roasting chestnuts disengaged It self upon the night air. Maurice lifted Frances Wellwood down. Indeed, she let herself slide Into hia arms liko a tired child. He carried her within. Wine, black bread and the roasting chest nuts constituted tho not Ignoble fare upoa which the little company of five made out their evening, or rather rooming meal. Maurice made Flower-o'-the-Corn drink a copious draft of the wine, which waa good and strong, from the neighboring vine yards of St. Remy. Then they made her couch, aud Bet Mar shall, with u crooning tenderness, covered her up. She was asleep in five minutes. Meantime Maurice sat by the fire and dozed, while Patrick Wellwood, vigorous and controversial as it he had Just awak ened from a dream of assisting at the as sembly of divines at Westminster, ex pounded the great doctrine of Justification, by faith. Maurice nodded and agreed, his mind far away, and his eyes on the shawls in which his love lay muffled up on her bed of pino branches, Billy and Bet undlsgulsedly snored, while near the door the guide and the resin-gatherers murmured together, wakeful as Arabs about a rampfire. Maurice slowly raised hlmaelt at the end Of one of Patrick Wellwood'a .lengthiest paragraphs. "I will see what the morning promises," he said. Maurice opened tho door. There was a great flare of blood-red sunrise fronting him, with black figures silhouetted tower ing against it. "Good morning. Anglais!" said a voice. "We have been waiting for you. Step this way. Our orders are not to disturb the lady." The house of the resin-gatherer waa sur rounded by two companies of dragoons. The men were sitting tbelr horses motion less as statues, and it was tbelr figures which the eyes of Maurice, still blinking with the dusk and smother of the chamber, had seen ink-black against the splashed scarlet ot the dawn. (TO BK CONTINUED.) Gradually she acquired a knowledge of machinery and mechanical devices. Ens found that nothing fascinated her half as much. Then she determined to learn engi neering. Friends aought to dissuade her, but the aspiring engineer was obdurate. In July, 1899, she began firing, and two months later she was entrusted with tha responsibility of managing the entire plant. She passed the rigid examination, pre scribed by the state, with complete success. The district examiner said be bad never re ceived more Intelligent answers. The engine Miss Stout runa Is a sta tionary one. She dispenses with mascu line help, shoveling her own coal, and doing all the furnace work. Far from prov ing a atraln thia arduous work seems to agree with the fair engineer, and aha la aa healthy, sturdy and charming a girl aa caa be found anywhere. Cost of the Challenger Sir Thomas Llpton evidently values Ehamrock III more highly than either ot its predecessors of tho same name. Thai previous Shamrocks were ins-wed for 60 000 each, but tho late t rhiUenger has) bee underwritten at 1100,000. Of course) these amounts are far bUow the valo the yachts. I IV ft I, , ,