The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1894-07-19
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xCOm uESt page
enough, and you're all winners; you
ought to be content"
One man muttered about giving him
q chance, but De Restaud shook his
head impatiently, and they all went
away.
IL was ugly to the little girl last
night" De Restaud said, half aloud.
''What did do? Odd can't remem-
Der. l wish she would keep away
from me when I'm not myself. She
has no more sense about some things
than child. I'll 60 see her."
He tried her door; no sound, not even
the angry bark of her inscparable COM
panion.
II wonder if killed the dog when I
kicked it, Wish bad; but she'd never
forgive me. She riding down the road
to see that fellow-thinks of him all
the time. know in my heart she's as
innocent as child about it, just out of
school when married her, but he will
think she's like other women and take
her nonsense in earnest. A man of
the world, evidently. He had better
keep out of my way. Those boorish
smith,"
He went muttering down the cor
ridor to his own room. and flung him
self. still dressed, on his bed. The house
was silent for hours. Annette in the
Invent softly about her work, monsieur
was so dreadful if awakened. Louis
currying the horses in the corral
scarce spoke above whisper. but tao
iturnity had become q habit with him.
The poultry, however, clucked merrily
in the back yard; the gobbler gave his
views, and the hens, women-Iike, cack-
led about it, while the ducks enjoyed
the bonanza of deep mud and pools
after the rain. The cows, loath to go
upon the hills, huddled near the barns.
Annette, round-faced, beady-eyed, neat
as pin, stood in the door, her hands
on her hips. She looked with pride on
her fowls-how we'll the plump darlings
repaid her care-then she glanced
across at her husband, ten years her
junior-the beautiful man who had
spent her dowry and told her so charm
ingly he married her for that money,
and who had brought her to this wild
country. She smiled to herself in sat-
isfaction; in this wilderness no girl
could take him away. Those Paris
girls were such wretches, brazen
things. The ranchers' daughters here,
however, were well behaved; no matter
what eyes Louis made, they would
have none of him. The young girls of
the mountains were brave and good.
How they must suffer, though! for
Louis was so fascinating.
Louis" she called, softly, stepping
out on the plank walk, madame is
not yet awake, nor the little dog. It
is a strange silence for them who are
usually out so early. You climb up on
the roof of the corral and look in her
window. She never would open her
door to u.s."
The man hurriedly obeyed. He had
been thinking all the morning some
thing was wrong. If she were dead
monsieur was wilder than common last
night, and SO hasty; he had been
gambling and losing all day. The dog
must be dead; he hated Louis, and
generally made his appearance at the
window early to bark at him. Louis
climbed up one of the posts of the roof,
crossed and looked in the open window.
Annette watched him, shading her eyes
with her hand.
''She is there. Louis?'
He shock his head and dropped to
the ground at her feet. "No; she is
gone. The bed hasn't been slept in"
Heavens cried Annette, wringing
her hands. Monsieur will be ter
rible"
''He ought to kill her, the little cat.
You need not pity her; she makes
game of you always because you cam
not comprehend, her English tongue.
must wake monsieur
Followed by Annette, who prayed in
whisper, he knocked at monsieurs
door. No answer. Then he went in
and shook the sleeper gently.
Monsieur" he said, TREMENDOUSLY, as
De Restaud sat up dazed and haggard-
eyed, 81 hate to tell you, but 1 must;
madame is gone"
''Liar" cried the other. leaping to
his feet. "She would not dare. Get
my coat. Gone! Where? Who would
take her in? All, l know. I was not
far wrong all the time. 1t is madden
ing. Break in her door, Louis; I have
no strength"
The man burst the door open with
one powerful thrust, and they en-
tered. The pillow was tumbled, an
impress of head, and there was a
crumpled handkerchief, still damp
from tears. A little round depression
at the foot of the bed showed where
the dog had lain. De Restaud looked
in her wardrobe. He knew she wore
that yellow silk; she persisted in that
since the stranger had been there.
Her very small shoes were all in a row
an untidy one at that. She had
worn her little bronze slippers. And
here, Annette vouched for this, were
all her hats and wraps. She had no
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