River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1872-11-01
alt is WE'LL" said nj de Merret cold.

g 1t is we'll" said M de Merret cold
ly, and then, after a moments silence:
"You have pretty crucifix there,
which I have not SEEM" he said, as he
examined it.
1t was of ebony, inlaid with silver,
and the work showed great artistic mer-
1t.
ct picked it up at Duvivier's he
bought it of Spanish monk, when the
prisoners passed through Vendome last
year."
ooh !" said M. de Merret, hanging
up the crucifix again upon it's nail.
He rang the bell. Rosalie did not
keep him waiting. He went hastily to
meet her, took her into the embrasure
of the window which looked out upon
the garden, and said to her IN low
voice:
81 know that Gorenfot wants to
marry you, and it is only poverty that
prevents you from settling down you
have told him that you would not be
his wife until he has made himself mas
ter mason. Well, go and find him, and
tell him to come here with his trowel,
and the rest of his tools. Take care
not to awaken any body else in his house
his fortune shall be more than you
can wish. Whatever you do, keep your
tongue quiet as you go out. otherwise
He knit his brow Rosalie was going
off, but he called her back.
"StCp," he said, stake my key. p
The count went to the door which OPEN
ed on the corridor, and called loudly,
"Jean."
Jean, who was his coachman and his
confidential servant. left his game of
brisque.
You must all of you go to bed. I"
said his master, at the same time max
ing sign to him to come nearer.
And then he added in low voice.
"When they are all asleep-asleep,
you understand-come down stairs and
let me know"
| M. de Merret, who had never lost
sight of his wife while he gave his or
ders, returned quietly to her as she sat
before the fire, and began to tell her
about the game of billiards and the dis
cussion at the club and when Rosalie
came back she found the two couvers
ing together very amicably. M. de
Merret had lately had the ceilings
throughout the reception rooms on the
ground floor repaired. Plaster is a rare
commodity at Vendome, and it's price
is considerably increased by the neces-
sity of conveying it from distance :;
he had accordingly got in large stock,
knowing that he would always find
plenty of purchasers for what remain
ed. This circumstance suggested the
pan which he now put into execution
'Gorenfot is here, monsieur" said
Rosalie, in low voice.
Tell him to come IN, nswered the
count in his natural tone.
A slight pallor came over Madame de
Merret's face when she saw the mason.
Gorenfot, said the husband, Ego
and fetch some bricks from the coach
house-enough to build up the door of
the closet. You can use the rest c' - /,
plaster | had to coat over the WALL,
Then drawing Rosalie and the work.
man aside:
Listen. Gorenfot," he said, in a
low voice, ''you will sleep here to-
night. Tomorrow morning you shall
have passport, with which you can go
to foreign country. to town that Ill
direct you to. ! will give you six thou
sand francs for the journey. You will
stay there ten years. If you don't like
the town choose, you can change it for
another, but it must be IN the same
country. You will pass through Paris,
| Uhnro mott Cor II vii
meet YOU there and execute a deed by
which six thousand will be secured to
you on your return to France, suppos-
Ingyou have fulfilled on your part the
conditions of our bargain. Tn return
for this you must preserve profound Sc.
crecy with regard to all that You have
to do to night. As for you, Rosalie, 1
will give you ten thousand francs, to be
paid to you on Your wedding day, pro-
vlded that you marry Gorenfot but if
you wish to marry you must be silent,
otherwise 20 portion"
Rosalie," said Madame de Merret,
come and dress my hair"
Her husband walked calmly up and
down, Watching the door, the mason,
aud his wife, without, however, Insult
ing her by any sign of suspicion. Cor
enfot conld not felp making noise,
aud Madame de Merret took advantage
OF the moment when Gorenfot threw
down his load of bricks, and her hus
band was at the other end of the room,
to say to Rosalie
A." A thousand francs year if you can
manage to tell Gorenfot to leave ere.
vice at the bottom"
Then she said aloud, without betray-
ing any emotion
go and help him "
M and Madame de Merret remained
silent during the whole time Gorenflot
was walling up the doorway. The 81