Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-02-15

take his My Godr
And then he tore the paper from
my hand, and almost hurled me out
of the room; and there, as his sister
and stood in the passage, we could
hear him raging within like a furious
beast.
Mademoiselle Pauline put her hand
on the balustrades, and crept down
stairs; and then, as | followed her,
she drew me into her own little room.
Good kind Antoiner she said, with
her cheeks looking hot and red, and
her eyes wild; 'what shall we do? |
believe be spoke truly; it must and
will be his life or Paul's. They hate
each other like wicked fends. instead
of loving each other as brothers.
What shall we do?
If Monsieur Louis would leave
France" began.
He will never do that; he will
stay and fight it out she answered.
why, Antoine, you have known Louis
all his life, and can You remember
single instance Of his giving away
shook my head.
Or Of Paul being true?' she went
on. No, no, Antoine; the De Gaules
have been sinful race from the be-
'faning, and in the end it will be the
same. What shall we do, Antoine? :?
Meanwhile overhead we could hear
the furious tread of NJ. Louis. 1t
startled the poor young lady several
times, and each time she exclaimed,
What shall we do?'
And then Mademoiselle Clotilde
called her, and she was obliged to 60
away. There were so few servants
in the chateau, the young ladies were
obliged ia do great deal aud some
how it always seemed that Mademoi-
Selle Pauline had the heaviest share
of household work.
As she went away, she whispered,
Don't tell any one, Antoine; and
alter dinner come in the great saloon;
| want to speak to you
| never shall forget the dinner. !
waited behind MademoiSelle Marie's
chair, for NJ. Louis still remained in
his room and it was dreadful to watch
the face of Mademoiselle Pauline op-
posite. But she bore up bravely, ate
and drank, and talked to her sisters
as if her heart was the happiest in the
world. Only once or twice, as she
caught my eyes, she gave little
start, when NJ. Louis's footstep over
head frightened her.
Then | went to her in the great
saloon; but mademoiselle Clotilde
came too, aad so could get no more
talk with her that night.
As for NJ. Louis, he went out as
soon as the dusk had fallen, and did
not return till dawn; and then to
judge by the sweat his horse was in,
he must have ridden far and hard.
He looked frightfully haggard and
his eyes were fierce and bloodshot
but as | opened the great door to him,
he said to me so gently, Get to bed,
Antoine, that | took courage to re-
ply,
81 was in hopes, Monsieur, that
you'd gone for good"
"No, Antoine; I'll fight it out with
him." he answered, bnt in less fero-
cious tone than | had ever heard him
use for long time when speaking OF
his brother.
CHAPTER IV.-THE STRATAGEM.
How we watched the next day -
Monsieur Louis from his window,
from mine, and little Ma amselle Pau.
) line from the fiat root of part of the
chateau, to which she had ascended
!, through a small window in the roof
, How we watched How we listened
to the slightest sound on the road !
But the time rolled on; noon, after.
noon, evening came, but there was no
sign of soldiers near. The old chat.
eau still stood peacefully among the
unbroken stiffness of the pine woods.
NJ. Louis had been gloomier than
ever all day; but to me and Pauline
he spoke once or twice in an almost
kind manner. He took nothing from
dawn to dusk except crust of bread
and a large glass of brandy; and ]
observed that he scarcely ever moved
from his standing position at the win.
} dow. | had often seen him stern and
unsociable, but never in such a mood
before.
When it was quite dusk he reused
himself little, and then, precisely at
nine o'clock. he put on large cloak
and, calling me to follow him, set off
at rapid pace through the widest
aud most secluded part of the grounds
We walked very fast, but it was dark
when we reached the confines; and
there, under a tree, [ could dimly see
the figures of two men, with some dark
object lying at their feet.
Ny master walked on, and spoke
for some minutes to these men anG
7 then they went away, leaving the darl
| object on the ground.
Monsieur waited till they were ou
of sight, and then he called to me, and
pointing to the thing, said,
Antoine, | want you to help mt
. carry this
!, 1t was large black coffin.
u as it heavy?" | asked, rather hor
:, rifed, and raising mp one end.
i "Not so heavy as it soon will be,
my master replied in his fierce voice
/ :" Now then, move on!'
! While he spoke he had lifted up th'
p other end, and there we both stood il
e the dark night, with that hideous thin,
Il on our shoulders.
As we walked home, more slowl,
: than we had come on account of ou
o burden, fearful thoughts filled m
e mind. What could monsieur want
: coffin for? Was there an occnpan
d ready for it. or did he mean to CON
NIT suicide ? The last surmise scenes
1t scarcely probable; suicides seldom
| trouble themselves with funeral al
8 rangements. When we reached tn
8 chateau, who should meet US, creepin
70 out of the great salon, but Pauline
She carried a candle in her hand, an
e l shall never forget her white scare
t. face as she held it up and let its ligt