The Portland daily press., 1881-05-07
THE PRESS.
A Last-Century Romance.
Fun OF Monks and Duels, Hapless Lovers,
Weclock and Opal Rings.
.[Arthur I. Park, in the Argonaut.l

too. flew so quickly on the wings of pleasure |
that il was the fashion to carry two or more |
watches about the person, SO as to measure |
il quite accurately. AS to religion, it was |
nearly every day being almost 'pinked" to |
death by an epigram over pinch of snuff. |
Sill. for all that, the world seemed to wag
on very much as usual. His Most Christian |
Majesty, Louis XIV, was getting a little |
stouter in person; the Bastile was becoming
somewhat fuller of prisoners; the mobiles |
were spending their money as mobiles should,
in fcastng and gaming, and the peasants
were starving off by thousands every year,
in most assertive and offe sive manner.
However, know not whether any such
thoughts as these were passing through the
head of gentleman who was placidly smok
iiis a ripe of Virginia by the kitchen fire of
tie Golden Bear. he had been staying
there only few days, yet he was already
great favorite. Mine host liked him because
ii he lived modestly, he never grumbled
about anything. The daughter of the house
liked him because he stood five feet eleven
in his high boots, had manly figure, dark
eyes, sunburnt face, and dark mustache. AS
10 Jacques, he liked him because he was
gallant captain, who had just returned
from Pondcherry, and had fought in the
CaIadas against the English and the In
dams.
II think | shall take a stroll out from
this good city of Paris, tonight, jacques"
said he, one evening; so fetch me ,ny sword.
] shall return at 10 or H. he added "Do
one is likely to call on me; have not a
friend here Il nor at court either, for
the matter of that, or should have got my
promised colonelcy." But these last words
he spoke to himself as he turned into the
81. iIonore. Outside the old Louvre, he
passed and then found himrelf on the Pont
nj laauino aOlipst the and lpnL--
Ing istlessly at the Seine as it gil! ed be-
n.:s H. siyered by the moonlight. He
crossed the bridge, threaded the narrow
STREETS and found himself out ON the high
ROAD, fanked with trees. On the road not
sound was to be heard; the farmers carts
had not loug been housed, and the peasants
haG gone home. After some two or three
miles the road cut into a thickish wood, and
from one of the openings the Cantain could
see gaily lighted chateau, and gardens
hung with lamps. 1t was, evidently, a .1ete
cduiRpetre, aGd the sound of the minuet
music came floating from the garden walks
and over the yew hedges"
If walk up this byway, might hear it
more plainly" thought he; so he turned into
Il narrow path, which, however, grew dark
CT and darker as he strolled on, for the over
hanging trees shut out the moonlight. Sud-
denly, however, the strains of the minuet
could hear the scuffle of feet upon the dry
gravel, joined to the clash of steel. He
hurried on, and at The end of the path, came
upon group of three men. They were all
masked, and one of them, clad in white
satin costume, was attempting to defend
himself against the swords of the other two.
Directly he came upon them one of the
men faced around and NADIA swift pass at
the new conner. The Captain was not to be
ha had OH 1u I,
on, so the two pieces of steel only slid sharp
ly one against the other. The swords were
still for few seconds, but the sliding,
scraping sound close by, told that the 9TH
ers were hotly engaged. The eyes of the
mask glared at the Captain, and then the
fence began. The man pressed iercely up
on the soldier, so fercely that, iron as was
his wrist. and cool his nerve, he felt that he
had met no better match in all his years of
service. Still fortune favored him the man
suddenly slipped on small piece of stone.
L. had the effect of turning fierce lunge
and spelling it for an afterguard. In
s,antly the Captains sword was through his
body, and he fell heavily to the ground
dead! The moon played upon the mask of
of the dead man and seemed to give it
hideous life; and the light nreeze stirred the
white folds of his lace cravat; the hands
were drawn up as if clutching the graveled
walk.
The sound of the minuet came through
the trees. The noise of the swords had
stopped. There was light hand placed on
liie Captains shoulder; he looked round,
and the mask in white satin stood beside
;.im. His assailant lay dead upon the
ound.
Monsieur" said he, holding ont his
nand, "you have done me the great or i'll
s.rvice of saving my life"
1T is no more than ought to have DONE,
answered the Captain.
'Ah, STRIP was the answer, "be not unbe-
comingly modest. You have done me
great service, and wish that it. were in my
power to repay you properly"
Il have asked for no payment" replied
The soldier.
'Pshaw! be not too dignified; and now
will you have the goodness to do me few
little favors? You promise me- monsieur?''
Willingly" was the answer.
"Then, first, monsieur, do not speak to
any one OF what has occurred tonight as re-
CARDS these carbon and he kicked one of
the bodies with gesture of contempt.
And do not ask my name, nor yet seek to
find it out. l beg you to accept this ring.
Ii is poor thing-an opal set in diamonds.
l have another like it, as you see, on nv left
hand. Finally, if ever you are in imminent
trouble and danger, but only then, open the
lAebS Aao az Viz bdSh VI tuC IlIS. dUQ YOU VIII
find my name and crest. Send to me, and l
pray that may help you as you have helped
me. At present, Capt Mochrivart (you see
l. know your name), my good name is more
likely to do you harm at court than good"
.'But-" said the captain.
There are no butts to be spoken Of" an
ssered the other. it's time for us to part.
Farewell, sir. You must leave me here in
this silent company that you have quoted SO
effectively"
Farewell"
The Captain held out his hand and it was
shaken heartily. As the path turned, the
Captain looked back for the last time. The
mask in white satin was coolly cleaning his
sword by running it through the hat of one
of the dead men. He stopped, lifted his hat,
and politely bowed.
"a strange adventure" said the soldier to
himself, as he got into the highroad. "tThis
is strange ring too. | wish it were not
covered with blood"
Il X n
The great farm of Haigniere stood near
the wood which gave it its NAME The farm
house itself vas a fine old building of flint
stone and red brick. In fact, it was mix
ture OF chateau and farm. A girl was stand
ing in one of the great windows, watching
the sunset as it lit up the distant woods and
turned the silvery bark of the small birch
uees 10 prlgnI copper color.
Within sat the young Captain whom we
have already met. He was looking at her
with an air of melancholy. She seemed to
feel it, and, turning, said:
Il wish, Jean, you would not be so
gloomy"
'But l do not feel SO happy, Henriette,
my once dear little playfellow," and be
took one of the SMALL white hands between
his brown ones. ''What is the use of nv
pretending TO be what am not? You are
to be married to Lalange in two months,
and well, l do not know what l shall
do" and he rose and paced YEARLY up and
down the room. 81 wish-I wish that 1
had never seen these woods of Haigniere
again, nor yet had come to this house,
"But what can l do for you, Jean?' cried
the girl, and she looked at him with plead
ing eyes. "Why do you try to pain me like
this? 1t is cruel-too cruelr' and she sst
down by the large table and hid her face in
her hands.
"Ah, Henriette," he answered, ''if am
cruel, fate is more cruel still to me. After
five faithful years to find you promised to
de Lalange, common trucker in the crew
at Versailles. Well! it is the reign of his
Christian Majesty Louis XVI
JEAN" said the girl, rising again, ''you
know not what you say. Oh!if you were to
49, l. T