The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1896-12-23
TLiE HOUSE y
OF TIE WOLF.
y Il u y ~
BY STANLEY J. WEYMAa.
CT.lPTER X.-CoNTIHUED.

w.
"Croisette!" | muttcred-hc was the
rearmost-"stoop down. He may not
; have seen you. Stoop down. lad!"
But ST. CroX was obstinate and would
not stoop Nay, when one OF he mount
ed mon came, and roughly ordered us
into the open, it was Croisette who
pushing past us. stepped out first with
q lordly air. l, following him, saw
that his lips were firmly compressed,
and that there was an eager light in
his eyes. AS we emerged, the crowd
in our wake broke the line, and tried
to pursue us; either hostilely or
through eagerness to see what it
meant. But dozen blows of the long
pixies drove them back, bowling and
cursing to their places.
Iexpected to be taken to Beers; and
what would follow could not tell. But
he did always it seemed what we least
expected. for he ouly scowled at us now,
q grim mockery on his lip, and cried:
-See that they do not escape again!
But do them no harm, sirrah, until /
have the batch Of them!"
He turned one way and Ianother, my
heart swelling with rage. Would he
dare to harm us? Would even the vi
dame dare to murder Caylus' nephew
openly and in cold blood? I did not
think SO. And yet-and yet
Croisette interrupted the train of my
thoughts. | found that he was not fol-
lowing me. He had sprung away, and
in dozen strides reached the vidame's
stirrup, and was clasping his knee when
] turned. / could not hear at the dis
tance at which stood what he said, and
the horseman to whom Beers had COM
mitted MS spurred between us. But l
heard the vidame's answer.
NO! no! mol" he cried, with a ring Of
restrained fury in his voice. "Let my
plans alone! What do you know Of
, them? And if you speak TO me again.
N. St. Croix--I think that is your name.
boy-I will--no, / will not kill you.
That might please you, you are stub
born. can see, But will have you
stripped and lashed like the meanest Of
my scullions! Now go, and take care!"
Impatience, hate and wild passion
famed in his face for the moment
transfguring it. Croisette came back
10 us slowly, white-lipped and quiet.
-Never mind" said. bitterly. "The
third time may bring luck"
Not that l felt much Indignation at
the vidame's insult, or any anger with
the lad for incurring it; as / had felt.
on that other occasion. Life and death
seemed to be everything on this morn
i.s. Words had ceased to please and
Snnoy, for what are are words TO the
sheep in the shambles? One mans life
and one woman's happiness-outside
ourselves we thought only of these now.
J And some day, ] reflected. Croisette
might remember even with pleasure
that he had, as drowning man clutch
ing at straws, stopped to last prayer
for them.
We were placed in the middle of
knot of troopers who closed the line to
the right. And presently Marie touched
me. he was gazing intently at the
sentry on the roof of the third house
from us; the farthest but one. The
Ean's back was to the parapet. and he
cas- gesticulating wildly.
"He sees himl" Marie muttered,
y ! nodded almost in apathy. But this
passed away, and started involuntari-
~ and shuddered, as savage roar,
breaking the silence, rang along the
front OF the mob like a rolling volley
Of firearms. What is It? A man posted
1t window on the upper gallery had
dropped his pixies point, and was level
ling II at some one inside we could see
no more.
But those in front Of the window
could; they saw too much for the
vidame's precautions, as moment
showed. He had not laid his account
with the frenzy Of a rabble. the passions