The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1893-10-14

softly drOned the
minor strains of a stately minuet. ~
''No Jean, my friend, III returned the
marquise sadly, discretion is not, as
you say, silence only: True discretion
is renunciation ofself, self-sacrifice in
every emergency, no matter how ter.
rible, that carries it even, always I'M
suspected, to the point of heroism.
Which is why assert that really dis
Greet men do not live in this fin de-
steele. Listen. I've story to tell
you; profit by it if you can.
You have heard people talk of
Colonel Robert de Gedres; of his tall
form, his handsome face, his indomi-
table bravery and answering loyal
ty-"
"And between whom and yourself,
if mistake not, marquise,'' Jean in
terrupted there was talk of mar
riage till that unfortunate duel be-
tween your brother and your cousin
Rocheverte created an impossible
barrier between the families?'
Nine. de Logerolles hesitated.
You know that, then?" said she.
"Eh bien, it does not matter: The
story, continue it. 1t was summer,
near Rouen, where Robert de Gedres,
then comnandant of one of the regi-
ments of the garde, was i'm garrison,
and when the better portion Of the
city's inhabitants, flying from the
heat of the town, sought relief and
freshness in the many superb villas
and mansions Astounding In the en-
virons.
Zone Of the handsomest of these
properties belonged to household
that I shall designate, for the con-,
venience of recital, M. and Nine: de
Lucenay. They were not Rouenais
people, but Parisians,. only M. de-
Lncenay was a rabid sportsman and
the vicinity of Rouens at that time
gorged with game of every description,
had seemed to him the place of all
others to install himself each wear
from July to November.
eff it pleased NJ. de L,tcenay to run
the woods with his keepers and dogs
and watch over his bears, rabbits and
goats, it did not give the same pleas
ure to the lady who bore his name.
She cared but little for ragouts and
solitude, an ennui shared by the better
part of her neighbors, who, forced to
depend upon each other for company,
ended by becoming almost as one COM
munity. All day long united in one
or another of the many houses, they
killed time together and spent their
evenings in precisely the same way in
all the traditional amuseme nts of the
country.
Toward dinner-time the husbands
arrived from. Rouen, bringing with
them always number Of guests.
whose strongest contingent was drawn
from the circle of Rouen officers,
among whom the most brilliant and
popular was incontestably Robert de
Gedres.
Gone evening, after little impromp-
tn ball where he, the colonel, had
danced a great deal with Nine de
Lucenay, and she, after bidding her
guests adieu, had returned to her
chamber to prepare for bed, she was
astonished and startled both when the
door brusquely opened and her hus-
band hurriedly entered, clad in shoot
ing garb and CATERS, and with shot,
gun swung over his shoulder.
1.-Two wolves. my DEAR he said.
two wolves just reported that ali
summer long have been eating up nv
lambs and goats, and for which i and
Renard here have tonight laid and
baited a trap. Sleep we'll; don't WORRY
or look for me before morning. I'm
late as it is, you know .
"And with q hasty kiss upon his
wife's brow and a call to the garde
arrayed like his master and hat in hand
awaiting his pleasure, the door banged
to again and M. de Lucenay, all haste
and excitement, was off on his hunt
1.-The heat was sitting. Nine. de
Lucenay threw off her ball dress.
slipped into loose white gown and
passed to the balcony to look at the
night and breathe the air awhile be-
fore going to bed. No breath of
breeze, however, stirred the leaves.
motlonless and sad, and no. sound rose
from the plain and wood below but
the dull, droning hum of nocturnal
insects.
''Still heated and excited from the
exertion of the evening and disinclined
to sleep it occurred to Mime. de Luce
nay presently that walk in the gar
den, in the midst of the flowers and in
the clear light of the moon would per-
| haps refresh and soothe her over
strained nerves. .....
''To reach the garden you traversed
~ ~ wv NotAoSASuIo1y Opcu1lS ulrCCUlV
into the sale a Manager, itself sepa-
/ ratea from the salon by a wide arch
draped with a heavy portiere and so
arranged that when space demanded
it, as on this ? evening, the three
chambers could be thrown into one. "
'Peste! What precision of detail!
You know the house, then, marquise?"
Jean again interrupted with a slightly
significant Smi1a = - -.
Certainly calmly returned Nine.
de Logerolles, 81 have; been there
often and recall it perfectly. But in
terr,lpt me no more, please, mon ami;
you mbroil my memories 3 i Il y. ,5..
And the marquise resumed herstory
Nine. de- Lucenay,'' said she,
"opened the heavy iron bound door Of
the greenhouse and passed into the
shadow Of a broad alley Of chestnu t
trees that led. around the house and
skirted the terrace in front of it. ,s@
She had scarcely taken a dozen
steps, however, when she stopped,
trembling convulsiyely. A low, SUP
plicating voice had called her name
She turned; Robert de Gedres stood
before her.
8. You!' cried she, stupefed, and at