The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1896-09-16
] 1A5A s THE HOUSE y
WEP OF THE WOLF.
LgIJ {l33T - u X n
SEstcc'SD BY STANLEY J. yIEYMAN.
CHAPTER I.-CoNTISuED.


Kit, crying softly, went into the
house; her innocent coquetry more
than sufficiently punished already. And
we three looked at one another with
blank faces. 1t was clear that we had
made dangerous enemy, and an enemy
at our own gates. AS the vidame had
said, these were troublous times when
things were done to men-ay, and to
women and children-which we scarce
dare to speak of now. II wish the vi
comte were here" Croisette said, un-
easily, after we had discussed several
unpleasant contingencies.
"Or even Malines, the steward" !
suggested.
HE would not be much good" re-
piled Croisette. "And he is at st. An
tonin, and will not be back this week.
Father Pierre, too, is at Albi."
"You do not think" said Marie,
'that he will attack us?"
Certainly not!" Croisette retorted,
with contempt. Even the vidalne
would not dare to do that in time of
peace. Besides, he has not half score
ofmen here" continued the lad, shrewd-
ly, "and counting old Gil and ourselves
we have as many. And Pavannes always
said that three men could hold the gate
at the bottom of the ramp against
score. Oh, he will not try that!"
Certainly not" agreed. And sowe
crushed Marie. "But for Louis de Pa
yannes-"
Catherine interrupted me. She came
out quickly, looking a different person;
her face flushed with anger, her tears
dried.
"Anne!" she cried, imperiously,
what is the matter down below-will
you see?"
had no difficulty in doing that. All
the sounds of town life came up to us
on the terrace. Lounging there we
could hear the chaffering over the
wheat measures in the cloisters of the
market square, the yell of q dog, the
voice of scold, the church bell, the
watchman's cry. had only to step
to the wall to overlook it all. On this
\ summer afternoon the town had been
for the most part very quiet If we had
not been engaged in our own affairs
! we should have taken the alarm before,
remarking in the silence the first be-
lginnings of what was now very re-
spectacle tumult. 1t swelled louder
Ieven rs we stepped to the wall.
We could see-a bend in the street
laying it open-part of the vidame's
house; the gloomy square hold which
had come to him from his mother. His
own chateau of Beers lay far away
lin Franche Comte, but of late he had
Ishown preference-Catherine could
Sbest account for it, perhaps-for this
mean house in Caylus. 1t was the only
siouse in the town which did not be-
Yong to us. 1t was known as the House
lof the Wolf, and was grim stone
building surrounding courtyard.
lows of wolves heads carved in stone
thanked the windows, whence their bare
ifangs grinned day and night at the
Church porch opposite.
\ The noise drew our eyes in this di-
lection; and there, lolling in a window
byer the door, looking out on the
treet with laughing eye, was Beers
himself. The cause of his merriment
1--WE had not far to look for it-was
ia horseman who was riding up the
( street under difficulties. He was rein
ing in his steed-no easy task on that
steep, greasy pavement-so as to pre-
sent some front to a score or so of
ragged knaves who were following
close at his heels, hooting and throw
ing mud and pebbles at him. The man
had drawn his sword, and his oaths
came up to us, mingled with shrill cries
of "Vive la messed" and half-drowned
by the Gathering of the horses hoofs.
We saw stone strike him in the face,
and draw blood, and heard him swear
louder than before.
"Ohl" cried Catherine, clasping her
hands with q sudden shrek of indig-
nation, my letter! They will get my
letter."
"Deathp exclaimed Croisette. "She
Is right! 1t is M. de Pavannes' couuer!
This must be stoppedl We cannot
stand thfs, Annel"
"They shall pay dearly for it, by our
LADY," l cried, swearing myself. "And
in peace time, too-the villainsl Gill
Francisl" lshouted. Where are you"