The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Dark Star, by Robert W. Chambers

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Title: The Dark Star

Author: Robert W. Chambers

Illustrator: W. D. Stevens

Release Date: March 29, 2009 [EBook #28440]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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THE DARK STAR

[Illustration: "My darling Rue--my little Rue Carew----"]

THE DARK STAR

By ROBERT W. CHAMBERS

Author of "The Girl Philippa," "Who Goes There,"
"The Hidden Children," Etc.

[Illustration]

WITH FRONTISPIECE

By W. D. STEVENS

A. L. BURT COMPANY

Publishers--New York

Published by Arrangement with D. Appleton & Company

Copyright, 1917, by

ROBERT W. CHAMBERS

Copyright, 1916, 1917, by the International Magazine Company

Printed in the United States of America

TO MY FRIEND
EDGAR SISSON

Dans c'metier-la, faut
rien chercher a comprendre.
RENE BENJAMIN

ALAK'S SONG

Where are you going,
Naia?
Through the still noon--
Where are you going?

To hear the thunder of the sea
And the wind blowing!--
To find a stormy moon to comfort me
Across the dune!

----

Why are you weeping,
Naia?
Through the still noon--
Why are you weeping?

Because I found no wind, no sea,
No white surf leaping,
Nor any flying moon to comfort me
Upon the dune.

----

What did you see there,
Naia?
In the still noon--
What did you see there?

Only the parched world drowsed in drought,
And a fat bee, there,
Prying and probing at a poppy's mouth
That drooped a-swoon.

----

What did you hear there,
Naia?
In the still noon--
What did you hear there?

Only a kestrel's lonely cry
From the wood near there--
A rustle in the wheat as I passed by--
A cricket's rune.

----

Who led you homeward,
Naia?
Through the still noon--
Who led you homeward?

My soul within me sought the sea,
Leading me foam-ward:
Bu