The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1886-07-11


no doubt heavily oppressed and captive,
Graoiosa, held in durauce vile hy the wicked
art OF the Duchess Of urogncna.
II was some time before lac recovered from
the shock produced by the bright vision
which had thus suddenly burst upon his
sight, and there ia 10 knowing how much
longer he might have remained entrauced
had Il not been that the maiden, on finding
the sunbeams beginning to pierce the
branches Of the acacia trees beneath which
she stood, attempted 10 lead her charge to-
ward the thicker shade Of the cedar which
stood At some little distance.
She started on perceiving the shadow
which lay on the path in the grass before
her, and then, looking mp and beholding the
young cavalier, gave such bound OF sur
prise that the rope by which the COW was
held slipped from her grasp, the distafT
dropped from her hand, and she remained
gazing as II thundsrstruck at the stranger,
whose head and shoulders were visible above
the wall, as, supported by the stirrups, he
stood above his tall steed, while, unable to
bear that dazzling gass, he began to STAN.
mer ont some excuse for intruding thus upon
her privacy.
Honore de Bsllegarde was. for the first time
in his life, attacked with timidity, and would
have turned away on the instant had MOTHS
hand just at that moment unconsciously
come In contact with the little silver drink
ing horn which was carried at every hunts
mans belt In that day. His brain suddenly
cleared, and he framed an impromptu de.
mand TO give colorinR to the apparent Inn
pertinence Of which he had been guilty.
"Fair dansel, have been out ever since
the dawn and have lost my way. Can you
spare me drop Of milk TO assuage my
thirst p
The perfect self-possession and innate
good breeding of the maiden caused him even
more surprise than aught which had gone
before. Without the smallest embarrass-
ment shs answered sweetly-one single word
II Ia true, but spoken auiiblv and with the
most enchanting smile. "volontisrs, Mon
sisur." Jumping upon a stone, she raised
her arm TO take the drinking horn, AND,
without more ado, ran to the corner OF the
orchard, where stood the pail wherein she
MIXED the COW short while before, but
| which old Hubert, the sole domestic of the
chateau, would never suffer her 10 raise.
Having filled the dainty little vessel, abe ran
back again and handed IL TO the stranger, look
ing on IN wonder while he drank, little
dreaming that Whatever had remained Of
common sense or presence Of mind had been
completely obliterated by the gracs Of her
movement. The young man was fain to pro
long the draueht In order to regain sufficient
mastery over himself TO make the attempt he
had meditated from the arat, to solve the mys
terry of this strange existence behind the
walls Of the Chateau de- Talvere, which he
had passed scores Of times on his hunting
expeditions. and had always deemed min
liabitei. But when he came TO make the
| trial he felt that the task wOuld have been
| impossible had ls not been aided hy the
maiden herself, who, without undue bold
ness, and yet without the smallest reticence
or disgnise, told him every circumstance Of
her history, while he remained completely
dumfOunded with astonishment. She was
wondering all the while at the interest whiul,
conld make him TINS listen with such pa
thence to the story Of one who was to him a
perfect stranger. E
the royal hunt that day, bnt returned 10
I.unevills at slow and thoughtful
pace. He returned wiser man in
the new sensations Inspired in his
bosom by the love which had sprung mp
thus without warning or preamble. His
mind was tossed to and fro In complete
tempest Of enoiion. Ills instinct told him
at once that this was no common adventure,
no passing sentiment to ba thrown aside and
soon forgotten. lie knew that the fair girl
had spoken the truth, that she was indeed Of
noble blood and lofty lineage IN spite of her
rustic surroundings, AMI he resolved tn re-
turn next day TO the Chateau do Talvere
with view of getting mp a petition to the
King for restoration OF this prop.rty of this
Talveres to the remaining members of the
family.
Bat "lhomms propose, ct Dieu dispose"
On arriving at the palace he found, to his
dismay, that the King had issued orders for
the removal of the Court to Nancy, accord
ing to tho policy he had adopted of dividing
ths benefits conferred by the residence of a
Court by an alternate sojourn in the two
great cities of his kingdom, Nancy and
Luneville possessing a royal palace in each,
and chanIab,g the seat of government at cor.
tain intervals.
Everybody noticed the alteration by THE
temper Of lIonors de Bsllsgnrde. From tn.
merriest youth about the Conrt, hs had
grown taciturn aud reserved, flying the com
pany Of those 10 whom he had been most at.
tached, and seeking the solitude liz had
formerly so much dstested. The courli4rs
rallied him on the change, aail declared that
he had been ratiling the dics-box with dis
astrons effect at Lnnevills; bnt King S,anis
lag, although the wisest philosopher of his
day, had himself felt the attacks Of the blind
goi too often not TO recognize his wonnd in
another. aud so he said 10 himself. "Ths boy
is in love; II hs con6ie in me, will help
him In his trouble"
The hours seemed weeks 10 Honore d.
Bsllegards during tho sol urn at Nancy,
and yet when thu order for rstnrn was Ia
sned the poor yonth was asssird by every
kind OF pain. WOuld the beautiful maiden
Of Talvers still bs found at the chateau
Was II not all a dreamf Might not the
whole affair 10 nothing moro than freak Of
some one of the madcap ladies' OF I,unevilla,
who had chosen 10 seek retirement and dis
gniss in order TO escape the pursuit Of some
unfortunate lovsri There was no supposi
tinn, however foolish or impossibla. that did
not pass through his f.vsrsd brain dnring the
night Of his return TO his old quarters in the
Palace at Innsvills, until at length, as the
dawn drew nigh, unable any longer To baal
the state Of irritation and impatiencs into
which he had worked himself, ls once more
mounted his stsed aud SGT of alone to the
Chateau do Talvare.
The morning was heavenly, the grsan
glades through which he passed were all
glistsning with dew, the birds were lust
awakening In the branches, and the pnisr
wood was just beginning to be stirred by tn.
wild game with which the forest ab0unds
His heart beat violently IS Ia drew near Il
the chateau. The >Oid gray tnrrets seemed
mora sad and joyless than ever amid thu
tue gibeInt AWAKENING Of nature. mol
sound was heard within tbs orchard, no joy
Gus aarAlling grsetsd the ears Of the youtl
} a. ha listsnsd with eager expectation. ],
vain hs stretched himself to ihs utmost, al
hs stood upright In the stirrups aud looked
ont from the back Of his tall stsed thr0ugl
/ the breach in the ruined wall, as lls had
, done once before. lie bsheld no lovely girl
i. no fairy princess. The lime blossoms I'll
no more In q shower upon the ground, th
> daisies and the bnttsrcups had disappeared
cl"ksi by the long grass which had heal
suffered To grow rank aud wild beneath tll'
r trees.
For moment did Monsieur do Bsllegard
stand thus listless and inaplmste, strsinin
0 his sight and stretching his neck To gaze int
the inclosura. The long, rambling build
Ing lay In one mass OF peaks and points an
bows aud bnttrsssss, surrounded with wealth
: arcocks innumerabls, as ID the custom witt
these ancient chatsans, but not soul wa
I visible. He looked up at each window l
!, turn; not hnman form appeared at any q
Q the latiicsd panes; bnt with lover instint
. he could tell at once which was the chambe