The Red Cloud chief., 1881-04-28
THE FAITHFUL o

Some years ago. when /. Jack Hill
ward, waS a school boy, | became great
friends with 4 young French fellow
named Henri Dumas, who had been
sent to England to learn English. He
more than once spent his holidays at
Il house, for his gentlemanly manner
and warm, honest heart made my par
ent3 as fond of him as | was, and they
always made him welcome; and not
only himself, but 4 large, beautiful
spaniel, that he had brought from
France a a puppy and kept in stables
near the school all the time he was in
England. .Eanchette." rs he had
named her. was his constant compan-
ion out of school hours. and the love
between her and her master was so
great that when Henri came TO stay
with Us Fanchette wa always included
in the invitation.
But school-dayS, like other days, pass
away. and Henri returned TO France.
and | went TO Oxford with the intention
of STUDYING for the law. Henri and |
exchanged letters for a while, but we
both hated letter-writing, and gradual
" we gave up II correspondence-not.
however. from any f~orgetfulness of
each other. but simply because We were
law with our pens. / left Oxford in
due time, and it was arranged that L
should spend a few months in travelling
on the Continent. | went to Italy and
Egypt, and on returning through
France | remembered my old chum.
Henri Dumas. and the promise l had
always made to him. that If | went
abroad would pay him 4 visit at his
parents abode. 81 q place called Amer
Vile. not far from Toulouse. Thither,
then, | turned my steps. hoping that |
might be fortunate enough TO find him
at home, and feeling very secure, if So.
OF a welcome from him and his parents.
who had been warm in their acknowl-
edgments 10 mine of any attention
shown by them TO their son while in
England.
Railways were then unknown in those
parts. except on great highways, so L
too. a numbering sort of vehicle at
Toulouse and drove for about four
miles. when my driver pointed out the
house 10 which we were going, at the
same time informing me that it had
been haunted of late. and that one or
two servants had left in consequence.
He said he had been told by one of
them from her own lips that sheer ter
ror had driven them away. | had heard
that there was a good deal of supersti-
ton in this part of the country. and re-
membered various amusing tales Henri
used to tell me when a school-boy
about ghosts and spirits lowering about
some ruins in their neighborhood-
tales which used & make me always
rather clad TO keep close to my school,
fellow at night after he had been story
telling.
As we approached the building. I
saw it was an old chateau. part of which
seemed TO have been taken down and
was in process of rebuilding.
We drove through a straight line of
trees UP 10 the front door, and l sent in
nv card by the old man-servant, who
looked as ancient as the house.
In A few minutes / was Ushered into
n large sitting-room. and received the
most cordial of welcomes from both
Monsieur and Madame Dumas and their
daughters. But what of my old friend
Henri? l scarcely dared to say his
mare. for | saw tears falling from his
mothers eyes, and they were all in deep
mourning.
Alas, il was soon explained. Henri
had net with an accident about six
months before. A considerable part of
the house was being rebuilt, and he
had mounted on n high scaffolding to
spesk TO a workman. His foot slipped,
and he fell to the ground, and was
taken ND senselesS. The head was so
injured that recovery was hopeless. He
fingered a week and then died. without
having recovered consciousness.
need not say how this news grieved
me. and how truly / sympathized with
the sorrowing parents and sisters
Feelings of delicacy made me propose
to leave very soon. but they insisted on
INV remaining at least that night
I'VE have but poor accommodations
to offer you,- said NJ. Dumas, flor the
greater part of the house is uninhabitable
at present, and we are driven into a
few rooms in the east wing; but If
vou will take us as we are, We shall
nrize YOUR company for the sake OF u
moor Henri, who often spoke OF you.
and of the kindness shown him by your
parents"
became the guest OF Monsieur and
Madame Dumas, though with a heart
so sad that nothing but the fear of
wounding their feelings could have in
duced me to remain
"And now" said NJ. Dumas, Il mus
tell you that l have only the choice OF
two s~leeping-rooms to offer you, neither