Evening Star Newspaper, April 23, 1898, Page 21

THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 1898-24 PAGES. . 1898, by Robert W. Ashes of Emp where an angry sun Buried in inst a wky of fire I see the crest tlements. deep-terraced, gun en gun. A towered cathedral burns athwart the rays, A maze of windows kindle in the blaze. Chimney and dome and belfry, one by one. Redden to cinders througa the ciimecn buze. Gigxntic shadows fall on roof and wall. Black shapes of shade, fantastic, wax and fade, Graded in gray; the phantom day is laid. Where night's pale sister, tw.l.ght, smooths the pall. The double-thundered din of shotted uns Rumbles, resounds, rolling fiom fort to fort; Bringing the canvon gl om, fiom port to port ‘The tretted Ightning of the cannon runs. Asbes of years of sin. ice. Ashes of oaths and vows and prayers and les, Ashes of fool and knave Ashes of empire under CHAPTER I. The Flight of the Empress. ‘The throng outside the palace had sweli- ed to menacing proportions, tne gay cocked hats of the police glittered above a somber sea of heads, threading the packed square with double strands of color. The throng was not yet a mob, there were no rushes, no sullen retreats, no capricious stampedes, tut it grew denser. Again and again the imperial police pushed into the square, only to be crushed back against the park railings by the sheer weight of the people. From the river a battahon of mutinous Mobiles advanced, singing a deep swinging chorus, through which the treble votces of the newsboys soared piercingly: “Extra! Extra! Frightful disaster in the north. Defeat of the French army at Sedan! Cap- ture of the emperor! Surrender of the army of Chalons! Terrible battie at Sedan! Extra! Extra!’ Across the bridge the people against the Palais Bourbon, receding, ad- vancing, retreating. only to dash back again on the steel-barbed grille, a deluge of eager human beings. a chaos of white. tense faces and outstretched hands. And now over all swept a whirlwind of sound— | surged of splendid sonorous song- ‘Marseti- | laise! The crowd had become a mob. The em- | pire was at an end. ‘A short, fierce howl broke from th: crowd which filled the Rue de Rivoli fr the Louvre to the Place de L corde. an officer of the for a moment on Orangerie and back! Go back!” shouted the mob. “Down | with the empire! Long live the republic! ‘The empress has betrayed Paris! Shame! | Shame!” Semebody in the crush raised a } glided wooden eagle on a fragment of a broken flagstaff and shook it derisively at | the palace. “Burn it!” cried mob. “We want no eagles now! \ In a moment the gilded eagle was on fire. | A drummer of the National Guard reversed | bis drum and beat the charge: a young gir! marched beside him, also beating a drum, her thin, white face set with a hard smile, her eves flashing under the knit brows. | A compact mass of people hurled them- selves against the garden grille. the iron eagle and the imperial N were torn from the gilt gates amid a tempest of cheers, the railing crashed in, the mob was loo At that moment. through the alley of trees, a detachment of the Garde Imperiale marched silently up and mas: fore the great gates of the Tu tng there. solid, motionless, with rifles at parade rest. The mob came to a sudden halt. “Down with the Imperial tor the National Guaré! with the blazing eagle. < flaming emblem of emptr Imperial Gu the terrace attempted to 1 appe bove speak. | the | the shouted the man pd he swung the tii it cracke and showered the afr with sparks and burning flakes of tinse The girl with the sitting beside the parapet of the Orangerie, beat th: Tapp2l and laughe: Guard. Are down at the Imperial you afraid?” she called in a clear, bantering voice. Hl give you a shot at my drum—you, there, with the Crimea medal." A young ruffian from outer bor vards climbed to the t beside he ‘Stlence!" shouted the crowd. “Listen to the Mouse The M ie, however. contented himeelf with thrusting out his tonguc frightful grimaces at th while his two comp and “Btb! la Gouite y laughe and proffered me 7 an officer | advanced a little way along the alley of trees, summoning the crowd to fall back. The second time a young fellow in the uni- form of the National Guard dragged him- self from the crowd and nimbly mounted the parapet. “You tell us to disperse.” he shouted in reply. “and I tell vou that we'll go as soon as that flag comes down from the Tuile- | and makin Imperial Gu s, “Mon Oncle’ ries." Then he turned to the mob with Violent gestures. “Do you know why that flag is flying? It fil in the Tuile- et empress i: Is she to stay the: no! Down with the empress! To lace, to the palace!” howled the mob. The Mouse, who had climbed down inside the gardens, began to yell for pillace, but ® drummer of the Imperial Guard kicked him headlong through the gate and burst eut laughing. The crowd surged forw only to fall back again before the leveled rifles of the troops. ‘Get off the wall grtly, “you gamin, Go back or we fire. The gir! with the drum regarded them fronically and clicked her drumsticks. ‘Th: young officer of the National Guard besic her cursed the troops and shouted: “Te your empress to go. Who is she to sit in the Tuileries? Who sent the army to Se- dan? Who betrayed the nation to the Prussians? Tell your empress to go while she car. Do you think the people are blind and deaf? Do you think the people for- get? Tell her to take herself and her fam- ily out of the land ske sold to Bismarck ’ eried the officers, an- there, with your drum. Then ‘et her remember the city she betray- the ed people who watch 1 wait for hells cowering in the cellars of 2 homes—here in the city she ¥ shouted hoars nd pressed to the gate again. The young orator’s flerce eves shone wit a hate so intense that the troops thought him m And s to y to ity 1 die under the merci- aber of Thiers’ gendarme tain Flourens,’ fan offic d. “if » not € their blood will be on ame on you. You disgrace form.” b, y your uni- ptain De Sellier, fiercely, “tomorrow, halts before Paris. it, for the honor of ne face {t for the empire. Sh for the woman who sold F for a rotten dynasty tottering to ruin dynasty that seeks pull down the n erland with it to the abyss of corru: cowardice and treachery. » here! Let them ¢ replied Flourens if the Prussian arm I will be the first to f: But I will not P: Down with the empir He ceased and stepped back. The girl be- side him swung her drum to her hip, epreng up and facing the troops, began to sing: “Ca tra! Ca fra!" A thunder of cheering answered her; the stecl stanchions of gate and grille were wrenched out; the mob was armed. The Imperial Guard hesitated, then feli back slowly, as old Gen. Mellinet galloped up, glittering with orders, sashed and spur- red, his face crimson with anger. “It 1s well,” he shouted, shaking his clenched fist at the crowd; “it is weli for | | bruised and | he crept ard! Hurrah | s | doubled itself as if by magic: you that her gracious «majesty commands that not one drop of blocd shall be spilled to protect this palace! Cowards, go back to your kenne!s! The empress is leaving the palac He walked -his splendid bay mare streight up to the shattered gate; a straw in the balance would decide his fate, and he knew ft. “You, gentlemen,” he said, violently. “are here on a vile er:and. Are you not blush- ing for your uniform, Capt. Flourens? And you, M. Victorien Sardou, with your cla: mask of # face, and you, Armand Gou- zien—" For a second rage choked him. “What do you want of me, gentlemen?” he said, controlling nis passion with an ef- fort. “{ have made a promise, and you will find that I will keep it. If Gen. ‘Trochue has deserted the empress, make the most of it. Let God deal with him. For me, 1 %m here to st Say so to your mob.” At this moment a roar arose from tae crowd outside. “The empress is gone! The empress is gone! To the palace! To the palace! The empress is gone! The crowd started forward. soldiers silently charge, the peopie feli back, crushing and trampling in their hurry to regain the pavement.” ‘ “Look out, Bourke,” said a young man in English, dragging ‘his companion away from the gate; “there'll be a panic if the troops fire. Come on; let's xet out of this.” “Look,” said his comrade eagerly, “look, they've lowered the flag on the cupola. Do you see Jim? The empress has left the ‘Tuilerie: ‘The crowd sw ii too, and a tumult arose, answered by sociferous cheering from the packed masses in the Rue de Rivoli. “Vive la republique! Down with the em- pir Then, as the “Hurrah for the republi shouted Bourke, laughing and waving his hat. “Harewood, why the devil don't you cheer Malet and Shannon, two fellow war cor- respondents. passed and called out to them in English, “Hellow, you fellows. It’s all over. The empress has gone.” “Walt for u: motioned Bourke. But already the ¢ rs were lost in the crowd, fs now Logan to pour along the face of the park apets toward the river. Bourke, lis arm linked in Harewood's, a while to keep his course to the Rue Royale, but the pressure and shout- ing and torrents of Gust confused him, and = let Rimscif “Confound it a siam strugglec fo he gasped, Keep your f his is almost Jim, if you want.to live to get out. I hope the em- pPress:is safe.” “Whe re our horses?” asked Hare- wood. struggiing to keep with his comrade. “In tie arcade of the Continental. Good heavens. Jim, ‘hie crush is frightful,” he said, seizinz a bar of the railing behind them. “Climb up and over. It is the only hoot you from the palace,”cried dozen vice: “Id rather be shot plied Bourke, cls gilded railing. In 2 moment Harewood sprang turf beside him, panting and perspiring. w.”” motioned Bourke, and they glid- ed ueross the terrace of the orsngerie and let themselves down into the street, dirty, reathless, At the end of the street toward the Place de la Concorde a mob, flourishing clubs and than squashed.” re- mbering up and over the the to knives, was vainly trying to scale the para- pets of the gardens, shouting. “Death! Death to the empress!” but a squad of mounted police held the parapets and ham- mered the more venturesome of the people with the flats of their swords. Severai line soldiers and Mobile officers joined the po- lice; on the other hand the mob increased every moment, and their angry shouts swelled to a solid re Death to the em- press! Remember jedan! Among 2 group of frightened pedestrians who had been blocked on the quay between an! both mobs were two ladies. Bourke caught a glimpse of their light summer gowns as long by the quay wall. One of the ladies carried a covered basket, which - held close to her breast. Both were in jess consternation, daring neither to proceed nor to return to the quay alone, where «lready the mob had seized the Bat. teau Mouche. crying, “On to St. Cloud!” See those girls,” cried Bourke. ‘Yhey'll get into that in a moment. Jim, they'll be trampl Harewood started across the street Just as the young lady who carried the basket turned and hastened toward the Louvre, where a cab stood close to the gutter. Her running ahead in her h sing to move. As Harewood came up, the girl who car- ried the basket shrank back, looking at him with startled eyes, but he raised his hat the cabman. “We want he said sharply. “Tam engaged. I trian : impuc Metternich?” you must take these ladfe old to wait for said the driver, excel- re you his police said the cabby arcastically, s that mob with m: place St. the horse, bit. Before the cabman could protest, Hare- wood flung open the door, saying. ‘“Mes- dames, there is time to lose!” while Bourke scowled Kk at the driver and shook ius fist. “Pig of a cabman,” he whispered, “drive slowly or I'll push you into the river.” Harewood was alighting as he closed the cab door and sprarg to the other side of the horse. e Bourke,” he said, lead hand on the he laid on ‘0 touch up your Jeh Bourke uttered another awful threat and sigraled the cabby. The iatter obeyed with a despairing grimace, and the horse moved off along the quay, the two young fellows walking on either side of the horse's head. In a moment they were in the crowd that surrounded the gaie of the Carrousel, but the crowd was not very compact, and they threaded their way slowly, amid cheering and singing and sxvage yells, “Death, death to the empress “Poor thing!’ sald Harewood. “Hang these ragamuttin cutthroats! Go slow Bourke. Hello! what's up now?" From the stairway on the south colon- nade of the Louvre a group of ladies and gentlemen were tssutng. Hurriedly they traversed the court to the street gate, where a mob of | ers siood, staring up at the gray fac a lady one of the party, crepe, stepped out heavily v to the sidewalk, a gamin clin; to the red up shritly: the empre antly one of the gentlemen In at- tendarce seized the urchin by one ear and bexed the other © undly, “Th texch you to shout ‘Vive la Pru For a moment the knot of tdlers lauzh- 2 ed. Then some one in the crowd said dis- i “All the same, that {s the em- A silence followed, broken by a_ single voice, low, but perfectly distinct: ‘Death to the empress!” ‘There was a restless movement, a quick | pressing forward of wicked faces, a shuffle the crowd voices rose, Somebody struck the steel-banded club. of heavy shoes In a second harsh and ominous. iron railing with a Bourke, standing elose to the gutter by the cab, felt the docr pushed outward, and he turned alarmed as both young girls sprang out. One of them ran to the em- press and motioned toward the cab. “Hasten, madame,” she sald, “here is a esb.” Before the crowd comprehended what was being done, the empress had passed them, followed by another lady and two gentlemen. 4 “Good heavens!" muttered Harewood to Bourke. “it ts the empress and Mme. Le Breton. ‘The empress tafd one hand on the cab win- dow, then Grew back and said: “I would not wish to take your cab if you are also in danger. With one foot on the carriage step, she THE EVENING STAR BY ROBT W-CHAMBERS brought their rifles to aj; looked back at the young: girls, appearing utterly oblivious of the risk she herself ran “Hasten, madame,” they cried. “We are in no danger! Ah, hasten, madame!” Both of the gentlemen in waiting urged the empress to enter, but she refused, and looked steadily at the crowd, which was now closing round the little group. Then she quietly stooped and kissed the girls. “Thank you,” she said. “I accept, children.” Bourke and Harewood had recognized her two escorts as the Italian minister and the Austrian ambassador. And while the em- press and her lady in waiting entered the cab, Bourke said, in English: “Go quickly, ‘gentlemen; these young ladies are sefe with us. God knows why the mob does not attack you!” Monsieur de Metternich turned, cool and collected, and bowed to Bourke. The em- press leaned from the cab window and looked at the young girls standing together, white and frightened. “Will you tell me your name?” ‘They seemed not to understand, and Harewood said: “Qnick, the empress asks your names!” “I_f—am Yolette Chalais-and this is Hilde, my sister," stammered one of the girls. As she spoke, in her embarrassment, the basket dropped from her hands, the lid flew open, and three white pigeons whirled out, fiuttering through the crowd, that scattered for a moment trying. to see what had happened. “Now!” cried Bourke, as the two dipl:- mats jumped into the cab and slammed the door. The cabman seized his reins and lashed savagely at his horse, the crowd stumbled back shrieking, and before they understood, the cab dashed away in a tor- rent of dust ani flying pebbles. In his excitement Bourke laughed aloud, crying: “Jim! Jim! What a fool of a mob! Well, of all the bloodless revolutions I ever my THE RAILING CRUMBLED IN he did not know how to use. For the senti- nel was a Nationat!Guardsman, and they had taken away tip gras ride and given him a chassepot, ang'set him to guard emp- ty barracks in a street inhabited princi- Paiiy by sparrows. 2 At this morfent, however, the Rue d Ypres, which, with {ts single row of weath- er-battere@ horses, faced the fortifications of the Point-da-Jour secteur, was not en- tirely deserted, Besides the sentinel and the sparrows ‘some one else was moving aimlessly about in the sunshine, with his hands thrust ipte the pockets of a steined jacket. 2 As he passed: the barrack grille he raised his hard face and fixed a pair of narrow, uncertain eyes'on the sentinel. One of his eyes was very bright—almost . luminous, like the eyes of small animals at night. The other eye wasusightless and seared. There is something ominous in the up- ward gaze of a startled animal. There was something more sinister in the glance of “The Mouse” as it fel! before the frowning, suspicious face of th» sentinel. “Passes au large!” growled the sentinel, straightening up. ; “C'est. ca; et ta soeur,” retorted the Mouse, with a -frightful leer. Then he Passed on, his mouth distorted in a smile, for he was thinking of the future and of destiny, and of the market valu@ of pe- troleum. He was a philosopher at all times, occasionally, perhaps, a prophet. The Mouse enjoyed the hot September sunshine. As he slouched past the passage de rOmbre end across the Rue d’¥pres, he yawned with semi-torpid satisfaction, and shuffied his worn shoes luxuriously through the taller grass below the glacis. Exertion disagreed with the Mouse; ‘unnecessary ef- fort was abhorrent to him. Under hig in- Solent eyelids his shifty eyes searched for talus of the fortifications, for a grassy, sun-warmed nook, created by providence and the imperial engineers for such as he. Across the street the afternoon sun blazed on the shabby houses. The iron gateway of the Prince Murat barracks was closed. the National Guard sentinel now leaned in the shadow of his box, drowsy and mo- tonless. Not a soul was stirring in the street. There was no sound, no movement except when a dusty sparrow raised its head from the hot grass, beak open, as though parched. The Mouse contemplated the sparrow with his solitary eye. He, too, was thirsty. He clacked his tongue twice, spat on the grass, scratched one large ear and yawned. Presently he drew a pipe from some recess beneath his jacket, filled it. rammed one dirty finger into the bowl, and gazed trust- fully toward heaven for a match. Neither matches nor manna were falling that year in Paris. There were to be cther showers from the autumn skies. With one finger in the bowl of his pipe, and the dingy stem in his mouth, he gazed heavenward until the sun made him blink. Then he shifted his glance along the glacis AND THE MO WAS LOOSE. 7 heard of! Look! Here come some troops, too. The thing {fs over.” ‘The thing was nearly over. Even the 8 Germain omnibuses were running now, halting as usual for passengers in front of the beautiful church opposite, and to one of these omnibuses Bourke and Harewood two young ladies who had their cab to the Empress of France. Nobody interfered with them, no- body seemed to notice them except a pasty visag2d young man, with pale pig-like eyes, who nodded hastily to Bourke and walked away. “That was Speyer, ent for that said Boyrke to Harewood. he was in Pari Harewood frowned and said nothing un- til their disconcerted but grateful charges were safely seated in the omnibus. Then Bourke said several civil things in well- intentioned French. . Both young men offered to act as further were timidly thanked, but unmis- takably discouraged, and finally stood back, raising thelr hats as the omnibus sterted. ‘Thank you again for all you have done,” said Hilde. Yolette inclined her head with pretty reticence, the driver cracked his whip, and the three horses moved off at a trot. Harewood stared after the vehicle until it disappeared. Bourke lighted a cigarette, smiled quistly, and said, “Come on, Jim. conducted the up, | given the war correspond- German-American sheet,” “I didn’t know As they turned into the Rue de Rivoli Harewood began: “Hilde Chalais—that’s cne of them—I_ don't know which. Pretty, isn’t she. I mean the one with the dark eyes. Wonder whether we'll sec them again. Sorry they lost their pigeons. Nice girls—don’t you think so? They live out on the Rue d'Ypres. We'll pass the house next week when we go to St. Cloud by the Porte Rouge.” Harewood laughed easily and walked on in silence. Life was very pleasant at times—even delightful when lighted by @ pair of deep hazel eyes. “I wonder—I wonder’——he muttered. What?’ asked Bourke. ‘Nothing—only that one with the brown eyes—plucky little thing to give up her cab ‘Well, if we go to St. Cloud we'll go by way of the Rue d’Ypres. “And there you'll stay?’ asked Bourke scornfully. “What? I? What for?” “Bourke yawned in his face and said wearils Because, Jim, I never Knew you to miss making an ass of yourself when the devil sent the opportunity.” CHAPTER Il. “The Mouse.” In the heated silence of the afternoon the tap, tap, tap of a drum came up from the southwest, now indistinct and smoth- ered, now louder, as the sound approached the Porte Rouge awaking soft echoes along the sodded fortifications. A dozing sentry in front of the Prince Murat barracks sauntered out to the gut- ter, shading his face with one tanned hand. At the end of the Rue d'Ypres sunlight sparkled on the brass of a drum, bayonets twinkled through the dust haze, a single bugle blew loag and faintly. When the red trousers of the gate patrol had passed and the dull rumble of the drum had softened to a vibration in the dazzling stillness, the sentinel strolled back to loaf, blinking, in his shadowy sentry box, leaning on the chassepot rifle which of the fortifications. Across the Rue q@'Ypres, where there were houses, a caged canary bird twittered, trilled and ceased as suddenly as it had begun. Without turning his head, the Mouse's eye searched the other side of the street until it rested on a sig ————o CHALAIS, Dealer in Birds. o. ——0 Under this hung another sign: APARTMENT TO LET. Inquire Within. © —_—_——__—_—__o After a minute's restless contemplation of the signs and the open door, the Mouse sauntered over to the bird store, slouched up to the window and pressed his insignifi- cant nose against it. Little by little the dim interior of the bird store became visi- ble. He leisurely surveyed the rows of wire-and wicker cages, drumming on the window glass with grimy fingers. A gray and scarlet parrot, dozing on a perch, woke up and turned a penetrating look on him. ‘The Mouse flattened his face against the window ard thrust his tongue out at the parrot. At first the bird patd little attention to this insult, but as the Mouse persevered, the parrot eyed him with increasing an!- mosity. “Coco! Coco! Salaud! Tiens pour tol, vieux cretin!” sneered the Mouse, tapping on the window, with his pipestem and dis- terting his mouth in derision until the par- rot flapped its’ wings and screamed, the feathers on itshead erect with excitement and irritation. One by one the other birds, new also greatly agitated, joined in; the jackdaw crodked and ‘chattered, the finches, thrushes and canaries chorused a shrill trebie. 4’ young monkey in a corner set up an eampiercing shriek and a red aauierel rushegmadly around in his wire wheel. i ‘The Mouse wis Amused. With sneers and gibes and jeerfng gestures he excited tha Pirrot; he made awful faces at the mon- key until the sittle creature clung to tho cage wires, siiivering and screaming; he frightened the’#maller birds by waving his dirty fingers tG,and fro before the window frames. Presently, however, he tired of the sport; his restless eye roamed about the interlor of the:shop; he pressed his pitted tace closer to the glass, with now and then a rapid sidelong glance peculiar to the chevalier of industry the world over. There was nobody in the outer ship, that was clear. There seemed to be nothing to steal there, elther. The Mouse did not ccnsider birds worth stealing. Still, nobody seemed to be about, and it was the instinct of the Mouse to rummage. He withdrew from the windew, assured himself that the street was deserted, then slouched silently arcund to the open door and entered. As he set his worn shoe upen the thresh- old the feathers on the parrot's neck flat- tened in alarm, the monkey crouched trem. bling in a corner of his cage, every ttle bird became mute and motionless. For a minute the Mouse peered about the shop. The squirrel still scrambled madly in his wheel, and the narrow eye of the Mouse followed tig whirling spokes. There was a closed decor at the further end of the room; the Mouse fixed his eye upon it and stepped softly across the oor, one hand outstretched toward the knob. When he had it in his hand he paused. un- decided, then turned the handle in silence. Instantly something moved on the other side—someihing heavy and soft—the door was pushed open with a steady, resistless pressure that forced the Mouse back flat ageinst the wall. It was then that the Mouse, peeping over his shoulder, felt his blood freeze and his shabby knees give way. For staring up into his face stood a full-grown lioness with her brilliant eyes fixed on his. He would have shrieked if he could, but terror paralyzed him. He felt that he was going to swoom. Suddenly there came the sound of voices, a distant door opened, steps echoed across a tiled hallway. and two girls entered the shop from the further room. The lioness turned her head at the sound, hesitated. glanced back at the Mouse, and finaily slunk hastily away, only to be seized and held by one of the girls. while the other alternately slapped, cuffed and kissed her. “Scheherazade ought to be slapped in- stead of kissed,” cried the taller girl, shov- ing the anxiovs but docile lioness toward the doorway. “‘Reaily, Yolette, you spoil her; some.day she'll run out into the street and then they'll shoot her, “Poor darling.” said Yolette, “she didn’t mean to be naughty. Somebody must have left the door open—Scheherazade can’t turn the knob, you know.”’ As she spoke, she one hand on the neck of the lioness. “Come, naughty cne,” she said, and urged the great creature toward the innér room. calling back to her sister, “Hilde, dear, skut the door.” 4 “T’'ve a mind to shut it on Scheherazade’s tail,” said Hilde; “she’s frightened the birds and animais nearly to death. Our squirrel is going mad, I believe.” ‘The parrot clamored on its perch, and she went over to quiet it, talking all the while. “Poor little Mehemet Ali, did the big Hon frighten him? There! There!:And poor little Rocco, too!’ turning toward the shiv- ering monkey. “It’s a perfect shame—it is, indeed!” “Hilde! Do shut the doo! called Yo- lette from the inner room. “I'm going to give Sheherazade her ball to play with, and then I'll come out.” z Hilde gave one last pat to the parrot’s head and went toward the door. As she laid her hand on the knob her eyes encoun- tered a pair of dusty, flat shoes, portrud- ing beneath the sill. The shoes covered the feet of the Mouse,and as she threw back the door with a startled exclamation, the Mouse himself stood revealed, terribly hag- gard from the effects of his recent fright, but now sufliciently recovered to bound with much agility into the street. “What are you doing here?’ stammered 2?" said the Mouse, recovering his com- posure a little and crossing one foot before the other. “I, mademoiselle, am for the public defen “If you are soliciting subscriptions, why did you not ring the door bell or knock?" asked Hilde, as Yolette entered and stood er side. Why. to tell the truth,” sald the Mouse, bowing impudently, “] only intended to ask for a match. I knocked politely, as 1 was taught to do In my youth, but—’ “If you please, will you go away?” rupted Yoleste quick “I have the honor, mc authorized agent inter- “said the Mouse, re- ‘ing his greasy, peaked cap with a flour- ish and smoothing the lovelocks plastered over each ear, “I have the honor to obey. Always at the service of ladies—alway: devotec he flourished his pipe with ‘although I h f a match. whispcred Yolette, “he wilk go . yu give him a match.” Hilde stepped to the counter, found a card of matches, and returned to the door. The small eye followed every ex- n on the two girlish He took aiches with condi sinirked and continued impudent adies, in the unfortunate condition of public , in the face of a revolution which, within a week, has changed the govern- ment of France from an empire to a re- public, in the face of the impending ad- ance of the Prussian armies and the ulti- ate investment of the city of Paris, may I venture te solicit a small contribution for the purpose of adding to the patriotic fund, destined to arm the fortification yonder with new and improved breech- loading cannon?” He glanced from Hilde wary eye narrow! : “I don’t believe he’s an a ed Hille; Yolette a small gown and looked at the Mouse with sin- cere eyes. drew you really give it to the public de- tense?” she asked. “Or—if you are hungry and need {t for yourself— “Don't do it,” murmured Hilde: not hones! The Mouse's eyes filled with tears, his Ups Guivered. “Honesty is cften clothed in rags.” he sniveHed, drawing himself up. “I thank you for your courtesy. I will go.” He mov. brushing a tear from his cheek. Yolette stepped aci the threshold and touched his ragged elbow impulsively. He turned with a dramatic start, accepted the small silver coin, then stalked acicss the street, his head on his breast, his arms folded. Presently the stalk relapsed into a walk, then into a shuffle, then into a slouch. “The suashine lay warm on the grass-grown _fortific tions; where it lay warmest the Mouse sat him down and crossed his leg. When Fe had lighted his pipe he stretched out at full length, both arms behind his head, cap tilted to shade his single eye Under the peak of the cap he could see pipe smoke curl. He could also see the long, yellow road, stretching way into the country from the Porte Rouge somewhere—perhaps very far, per! near—the Prussian armies ‘were moving France toward The thought amuscd the Mouse. He scratched one | ear and speculated. With the Prussts would come bombardment, with bombard- ment would come panic, with panie might come anarchy, and with anarchy would come pillage. The Mouse s stem. He reflected that the revolution, complished five days previous, had br with it no plunder so far as he w cerned. It had been a stupid revolut shouting, jostling the bourgeo' the Tuilleries, a whack over the head from a rifle stock, but no pillage. In vain had he, the Mouse, in company with two am- bitious companions, Bibi la Goutte and Mon Oncle, descended from the shady nooks of Montparnasse with the frank intention of rummaging the Tuilleries—and perhaps some houses of the stupid citizens. In vain had Bibi la Goutte bawled anarchy and treason, in vain nad Mon Oncle demanded “he is acked his lips over the pipe Terror Paralyzed Him. to be led to the sack of palaces. The brutal guards had thumped Mon Oncle with their rifle butts, the imperial police had mauled Bibi la Goutte, and as for the Mctse, he had gained nothing but an abrasion of the scalp~from contract with an officer’: sword hilt. But now the Mouse truly héped that, with the advent of the victorious Prussian armies before the walls of Paris, things might be different. Whe2 the big shells began to sail over the Seine and knock houses and churches into kindling wood the Mouse intended to do a little exploring on his private account, and he acknow ecged with enthusiasm that it would be a degenerate knight of leisure who should fail to amass a pretty competency. So tne Mouse lay musing and king in the warm September sun, one half closed, but still fixed on the yellow road which crawled across the plain at his feet He was absolutely contented; he had tobac- | co, sunshine—and fifty centimes in silver in his pocket, to spend on food or drink, as he chose. Once he thought of the lion and shuddered at the thought. Some day when he had time he would find a wey to poison the creature, he hoped, and incidentally to rob the bird store. As he lay diverted by these pleasant thoughts he beeame aware of a cloud of dust on the roud below. He watched it: it came nearer and nearer; he could distin- guish the red trousers of French infantr: a gun boomed from some distant bastion; signal. The Mouse sat up. He could see that the dust cloud enveloped heavy mov- ing colunins of troops moving slowly to- ward the walls of Paris. At the Porte Rouge drums were beating. The Mouse rose, stretched, yawned and iouched off down the embankment to the street. As he passed the bird store Yolette and Hilde came to the door gazing anxious- ly_toward the fortifications. The Mouse leered at them, removed his cap. laying’a dirty hand on his heart. “Al- ways the ladies’ slave,” he called across the street, and shuffled on toward the Porte Rouge. At the gate he shoved and elbowed his way through the increasing throng until he reach=d the pont-levis. The line sentinels drove him back again, but he managed to crawl up to the grille znd hang on to the steel bars. Here he found himself in com- pany with two bosom friends, Bibi la Goutte and Mon Oncle. “Mince!” obeerved Bibi, as a column of dusty hussars galloped up to the draw- bridge and drew bridle, “they've seen un- comfortable things out yonder, those hus- sars. It's Vinoy’s 13th Corps back from Badinguete’s fete champetre.”” Mon Oncle sneered and mimicked the of- ficer’s commands as a close column of in- fantry came plodding through the gate, haggard, ghastly, beneath their coat of tan and dust “Bigre!” observed Bibi, under his breath, but the Mouse climbed up on the grille and hurled insults at the exhausted troops. “Malheur, si ca fait pas gueler! On dirait des chaouchs de Biribi! Ah, mince, on prend des airs deja! Mort aux cretins! On n'est pus su’ l'pave de Badniguet, tas de sersots ‘Then he spat upon the ground, shook his fist at the sky, shrugged and slouched out of the crowd, followed closely by Bibi la Goutte and Mon Oncle. The latter was somewhat puzzled at the Mouse’s sudden outburst and looked doubt- fully at Bibi. ‘The Mouse is caprictous, he observed. 0,” said Bibi, scornfully. “The Mouse doesn't care, except that there’s another army corps in Paris now, and when the hour comes to do a little pillaging these im- becile soldiers may annoy us.” The Mouse remained mute, but as he trudged over the glacis he cast a glance of horrible malignity at the battered, sun- scorched soldiers toiling across the draw- bridge below. Then with a gesture he turned his back, closed his sightless eye, and sat down on the grass. Bibi regarded him in breathless admiration, his lean jaws working with emotion. “What a general he would make,” he whispered to Mon Oncle. “Or what an sin!” replied Mon Oncle aloud, mopping his fat face. The Mouse felt the compliment, but said nothing. The drums beat continuously down by the gate, the dull cries of the offi- cers came up to them from below, mingled with the murmur of the throng at the pent-levis, Bibi, sitting on the gra sily in the hot sunshine. stretched his short, bandy legs out under an acacia bush and presently fell asleep. The Mouse, too, appeared to slumber, ex- cept when a breeze moved the brim of his nodded drow- Mon Oncle cap and a siray spot of sunlight glim- mered on the iris of his sightiess eye. (To tinued.) =e a ART AND ARTISTS. Mr. Franklin Simmons, the sculptor of the Logan monument which ts to adorn Iowa Circle, reached Washington about ten days ago and has been superintending the erection of the bronze pedestal that 1s to support the yet unfinished equestrian figure. Mr. Simmons worked in Washing- ton for a time at the close of the civil war and has revisited the city oc slonally since then, but though there are two examples of his handiwork in Statuary Hall at the Cap- ftol and a couple of busts by him in the Senate chamber, his art is not as widely known here as it deserves to be. This is partly on account of his long residence on foreign soil, his studio having been located lis the fi city to be made entirely its design and proportions The entablature, which is fluted pilast architectural o: beautified b mentation, and is turt adorned by eagles pi at th ners. On the sides cf the pede Weil-crranged groups in high relief, whict represent the civil and the military phases j of General Lo life. In one he 1s shown dressed in the uniform of a major general, conferring with the officers of his command, among whom cne may easily recognize Generals Hazen, Slocum, Dod, Leggett, Blair and Mower. On the oy site face of the pedestal General Logan 1s represented taking the oath of a senator of the United States, and is surrounded by personal friends. In this relief the sculp- tor has introduced likenesses of Vice Presi- dent Arthur and Senators Voorhces of In- diana, Thurman of Ohio, Miller of Califor- nia, Morton of Indizna, Cullom of 1 nois and Conkling and Evarts of New York. At either end of the pedestal {s an allegori- cal figure, one representing w or the de- ferse of the Union, the other typifying peace, or the preservation of the Union. Both figures are rather classic in their nes. That personifying war is clad in a modification of the anctent Greek cuirass, bearing a band of thirteen tiny shields. The pedestal is large and imposing, being 18 feet 11 inches long, 9 feet 11 inches wide and 17 feet 4 inches high, and {ts high ar- Ustic merit leads one to expect a compieted work of great artistic merit. * * x If no extension of the time is made, the annual exhibition of the Society of Wash- ington Artists, now in progress at 1020 Con- necticut avenue, will close with the d of next we In spite of the many rival in- terests that have been claiming the atten- tion of the public during April the attend- ance has been moderatsly good, though the exhibition has hardly received the patro: age which such a thoroughly good col Uoh deserves. However, several sales indi- cate ihat som2 substantial interést is being taken in the display, and there is probably less reason to complain of dullness here than in New York, where, according to all reports, the imminence of war has caused semething very clos3 to absoluie stagnation in the picture mart. * * * At a meeting of the S. W. A. held on Tuesday evening three members were clect- ed—Mr. R. L2 Grand Johnston, Mr. Emil Meyer and Prince Trovbetzkoy. The artists are planning to have a banquct similar to those which have proved so enjoyable in the last two years. The baaquet, which is to be a “stag” affair, will be givan about the time that the exhibition closes, and the pleasure with which the previous occasions are remembered augurs well for the suc- cess of this third annual dinner of the so- ciety. : * x * Several new pictures which have b2en loaned for ex#fibition have been placed in the Corcoran Art Gallery within the past few weeks. Henry Bacon's large figure composition entitled “The Boston Boys,” a picture loared by Columbian University, portrays the famous interview of the boys of that city wiih Gen. Gage. As the stcry arcther, still more distant, answered the- in Rome ‘tor a great many years. Both at home and abroad a high place among sculptors has been conceded to him, and re cently the merit of his w ted King | Humbert to decorate him, an honor never | previously conferred on any American sculptor. It was in his studio in Italy that Mr. Simn J the pedestal which j is now being ace, and he will short- ly return to Rome to comp runs, their play had been interfered with by British soldiers, and, marc ight to the general's headquarters, the manly little fellows made that the commandin ment, half in admii frm further molestat traits are now on ch a vigor officer, haif ation, n. xhib rt. Hinck! portrait of Glover, ns ike e Justice Mill i the str Miss Hite ength portrait of which Mrs, Barney has painted with c? acteristic dash and vigor The wide circle of friends and ac ances interested in Miss Clara ifili'« y ress in her rt study in Paris ail! be to hear of her recent success in the mode!- ing class at th» Julian school. In this class she was awarded the annual medal eiven for the most meritorious work done during the year. Miss Hill will prob bly remain in Paris for at le: stone more year. *~_* Pe As the time for the annual meds! com= petition draws near it becomes’ a topic of More absorbing interest to the students of the Corcoran School of Art, and specula- tion as to the fortunate winners of t goll and bronze medais is rife. The award is tc be made on Wednesday, May 25, and the annual exhibition of the school will ba on view during the remainder of that werk This year one distinct innovation is pro posed, and that is @ jury composed entire- ly ot women. All of the members of the jvry have not been definitely fixed upon. but it is probable that it will be composed of Miss Cectlia Beaux, Mrs. Rhoda Holmes Nicholls and Miss Mary A. Vinton, supe>- irterdent of the art department of Cooper Institut> in New York. * ~_* Miss Helen Nicolay has rot been very busy with her brush during the past wii- ter, though she has found time to take hold of some of her out-door sketches and cerry them @ good deal further. She has manifestly a fondness for working in the open air, and will settle down to painting in real earnest when she goes north for the summer. She expects to spend the warm months again in New Hampshire, where she has found so many interesting Motives. One of the attfactive subjects which that region has furnished her shows a marshy bit of ground, dotted with the purple flag blossoms, which lift their heads above the tangle of sword-shaped leaves, Another charming study, one of the truest things she has ever done, gives us a glimpse of the interior of a mall grove of pines. The color of the thick carpet of reddish pine needles and the bluish-grees of the living foliage are both rendered wilt great fidelity, and the little vista of sunny distance seen through an opening in the branches is painted with undeniable skill * ** A meeting of the Art Students’ League was held on Tuesday, and the annu tion took place, the following officers be- ing elected: Mr. Parker Mann, president Mr. Thomas Nelson Page, first vice pres- ident; Mr. W. B. Chilton, second ¥ ident; Miss Aline Solomons, retary; Miss Louisa Wainwright sponding secretary, and Miss Jackson, treasurer. The board of control is com posed of the officers previously mentioned and Miss Julict Thompson, Mr and Mr. A. G. Randall. A committer ‘been appointed to make arran keeping the Art League open Seme of the classes will, of closed, but it is thou land portrait clas gcod advan: probably be b pe pres- ling e¢ corre- Allende h 26 id in the aft to accommodate those stuc not free until after four o'clock arships in the Ii will doubtless be of this month, and the is to be awarded by cc will also before very long. a = & Miss Lillian Cook has just completed the second of the tapestries she is painting t a convent in Wilmington, Del. The compo- sition repres: Christ at, the hou Lazarus, while Mary sits at his feet, and Martha shows her housewifely zeal in m istering to his physical needs. Miss Coox has, of course, painted the figuces in t same light key that she employed in tt st subject, and the color scheme has 4 y delicate beauty. There are some es ally attractive pussages of different pieces of drapery, an out t's picture the h re transparent. Miss Cook has preity well mastered the many technical difficulties which are to be « antered in tion of tapestry effect, and just comple advan * The lo: old Coreorsn Gallery 2 ja numb by striking posters jfrom Mrs, Barney's clever brush, i | iways has a dire that at on [arrests the eye, and on this account her rapidly painted heads were well i on, the primary 2 * piece of mod > whick w tr s nm the last a al head of re downc which smile | mere by atu introsp! t the mere getfulness of Seif, w music miy bring, and the expre absorption makes it seem zs though th of Joy and of sorrow were we the i ward eye. Another Mr. Pari- ridge has model: is a Strong re- lief of the late Col ick Mailery. of es The small collection of oil paintings by Arthur B. Davies now on view at Fischer's will prove of exceptional interest to thos» who place a high valuation on the elem of purely personal style which eve puts into his work. Certainly one would look long before finding another artist whose work is more distinctly individual, though his paintings rarely display dering criginality. Harmony seems to be the key note of his art, and he has a rich beauty of color and tone. His pictures suggest have been mellowed for ye: of time, and, as in the old mast Ss, we find “the lights controlled, the darks inspired.” . * * The collection of marines by Carlton T. Chapman, which has been on view at Veer- hoff's for two weeks will give place next week to an exhibitfon of p:stels by Wells Chantney. a “*% Miss Anne 8. Hobbes has not plished very much doring her Washington, on acccent of an ilim which the is new entirely recovered Were many who wert unable to sce her miniatures when they were shown at Veer- hoff’s, and Miss Hobbes has sent out cards for a reception on next Tuesday afternoon, thus aliowing another opportunity for those who have not yet seen her work. * Mr. Dunbar left tor lew York on Thurs- day, in company with Mr. Partridge, and he will probably rem In the metropolis until after the opening of the tional Sculpture Society exhibit, on April 30, Mr. accon stay Dunbar has practically finished the bust which he has been modeling of Prof. Alex- ander Graham Bell, and the liker is remarkably good. Mr. Dunbar intends to give a little more time to the hair and beard, and the additional study on those parts will doubtless heighten the already strong effect of the head. thud ss Something Just From Harlem Lite, Gooa. Customer — “Have you any scouring send?” Grocer—“No: we're entirely out of It.” Customer—“Well, give me a half pound of your sugar; my tins have to be scoured to- Gay, no matter what It costs.”