St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-06-27
WHAT CAME OF A WALK.

i he mdTQulSe ut DtduHiiuoiS hau
mourned sufficiently for goury ard un-
reasonably jealous husband; she had
recently laid aside her weeds and began
neuvaine, when an order from the
king enjoined her to lodge captain
and his squadron. which had been sent
to clear the country of an audacious
band of brigands.
The young widow submitted with
good grace. While the dragons had
free access to the pantry she did the
honors of her table for their chief, the
Due de Merval. Dom Maroutiot, the
chaplain of the chateau. acted as chap
eron.
One evening the duke was talking
and drinking In the large wainscOted
room, where he was playing chess with
Dom Marouflot. The marquise. who
wore an exceptionally elegant toilet, was
asking herself, for the thousandeth
time that week: "Do really love him%'
and, though she reflected seriously, her
question remained nnans Wered.
THAT GillOu is clever banditp'
growled the captain. between two
games; ''for two weeks we have secured
the country, and still he slips through
our fingers. | have decided to search
for him tomorrow with the whole
squadron.
"Gillou is not an ordinary brigand,"
continued the duke; '.they say he IS
educated. courteous and even gallant
upon OCCASION"
AS the marquise drew her chair nearer
the table where the two men were sit
ting the captain began 10 tease her.
"What serious countenance, madame
/ fear my stories about brigands have
so frightened you that you will not dare
to venture two steps in the park this
evening""
Dom Marouflot looked at the clock
and said: at is the hour for your neu-
vaine, madnne; l will ring for the SER
wants to escort you"
mo. no: it is neediessv' replied the
marquise, piqued at the dukes sarcasm.
81 shall 20 to the chapel alone. wish
to prove to Capt. Merval that women
are not such towards as lie believes"
The old chapel was at the further end
of the park. Once out of the house the
marquise began to regret her bravado.
Nine Beauminois's mind was filled with
the stories she had heard concerning
Gillou-..the man in the mask" as the
old women of the country called him.
Under her fine satin cOrsage her heart
beat so loudly she could almost hear it.
At last she reached the chapel, and.
entering, kneeled aud said her prayers
little more quickly than usual. Then
she rose and went toward the door.
Suddenly she stopped and caught her
breath. A masked man was standing
near the holy water vessel. As she saw
that he remained moti0nless and in a
respectful attitude she took courage
and advanced.
The man dipped his fingers in the
holy water aud held them out to her.
She did not dare to refuse the strangers
offer, and thanks to a ray of moonlight
that filtered through a stained glass
window, she remarked that he mad a
very beautiful hand.
A little treasured, she made sign of
the cross and left the chapel.
She had scarcely taken ten steps be-
fore the unknown man rejoined her, and
she started at hearing voice which she
thought she recognized, although 1t was
singularly softened.
..Will you allow me to offer you my
arm, madame? Some accident might
befall YOU, alone in this great park at
such an hour"
He had such courtly bearing that
the marQuise felt perfectly safe.
AS they crossed an opening bathed in
moonlight, she examined her compan-
ion more closely. His mask left the
lower part of his face uncovered. Not
only did she believe that 1t was not the
first time she had heard this voice, but
it seemed to her that it was the same
blonde muStache which had lightly
touched her hand each evening in a dis
Greet kiss. The masked man had, there
fore, almost the same voice, mustache
and figure of the duke.
He had disguised himself to frighten
her. This discovery gave her great
desire to laugh, and she leaned upon
his arm with more confidence. Finding
the adventure pleasant one she re-
solved to play her part of the courage
Gus woman SO long as 1t should please
the duke to remain brigand.
Besides, what fine occasion to learn,
under cover of popularity, the dukes
real sentiments!
"Do you often go out alone like this,
my pretty devotee"
"fes, NJ. Mask, all alone, just like
this.''
''Do you not know that Gillou and
try?o
Yes, know it."
'.Are you not afraid of brigands2"
"That depends upon the brigand."
myself, for example,"
.Are you real brigand?"
ALIAS! Yes, fair lady," ne said in
melancholy tone.
Indeed" replied the marquise. 81
am sorry for you, but you do not brighten
me biz. Quite the contrary
The stranger had such grateful,
tender and eloquent look that the young
woman was touched; she would never
have believed that the dukes eyes
could express so much as that.
"Would it be indiscreet, beautiful
princess, to ask why you went to the old
chapel?"
81 want to finish my neuvaine."
IA Ieuvaine. And for what reason 2"
''GueSs."
Are you married, my queen9"
II have been. but"
"Ah! | understand. You were offer
ing up vows for the end of your widow
hood'
perhaps that is it."
Without another word, he began to
press series of kisses upon the mar
chioness taper fingers.
Her hesitation increased the enemy's
b0ldness. and when she thought of
drawing away her hand, he had already
abandoned it for skirmish where the
kisses closed her eyes.
Suddenly she escaped from her i'm
prisonment and noticed that his eyes
were fixed upon the brilliant diamond
she wore upon her little finger.
''Do you want pledge of pardon for
your boldness?" she said. ''Here it is"
And putting her whole soul into last,