The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1896-09-23
CIIAPTgR u.--GoNrINUED.


Only for moment, however. The
man was gone; or was going gGtany rate.
We stood silent and lnotionlcss, all
watching, until after what sct med
tlol.@ interval, the LITTLE party OF seven
became visible on the white road far
below us--to the northward, and mov-
ing in that direction. Still we watched
them, muttering word to one an
other, now and again, until presently
the riders slacliened tlScir pace, and
began to ascend the winding track that
led to the hills and Cahors; and to
Paris also, if one went far enough.
Then at length with loud "Whoop!"
we dashed across the terrace, Croisette
leading, and so through the courtyard
to the parlor; where we arrived breath
less. HE is Off" Croisette cried, shril-
ly. HE has started for Paris! And bad
luck go with him!" And we all threw
up our caps and shouted.
But no answer, such as we c--pected,
came from the women folk. When we
picked up our caps, and looked at Cath
ierine, feeling rather foolish, she was
staring at us with white face and
great scornful eyes. "Fools!" she
said. "Fools!"
And that was all. But it was enough
to take me aback. had looked to see
her face tighten ut our news; instead it
wore an expression had never seen on
it before. Catherine, so kind and SO
gentle, calling us foolsl And without
cause 1 did not understand it.
turned confusedly to Croisette. He
was looking at her, and / saw that he
was frightened. AS for Nine. Claude,
she was crying in the corner. A pre-
sentiment Of evil made my heart sink
like lead. What had happened?
"Fools!" my cousin repeated, with ex-
ceeding bitterness, her foot tapping the
parquet increasingly. do you think
he would have stopped to avenge him.
self on you? On you! Or that he
could hurt me 10Oth part as much here
as-as-" She broke of stammering.
Her scorn faltered for ON instant
exclaimed, superbly, her chin in the
air; but you are boys. You do net un'
derstand!"
looked amazedly at this angry WON
an. / had difficulty in associatine
her with my cousin. AS for Croisette
he stepped forward abruptly, and
picked up q white object which wa'
lying at her feet.
"Yes, read It'll" she cried. read I'll
iAh!" and she clenched her little hand
and in her passion struck the oak table
beside her, so that q stain of BLOOD
sprang out of her knuckles. why die
you not kill him? Why did you not dc
Iitwhile you had the chance? You wer'
three to one!" she hissed. "You hat
him in your power! You could hav'
killed him, and you did not! Now hi
will kill mel"
Nine. Claude muttered something
tearfully; something about Pavanne
and the saints. I looked over Crois
ette's shoulder, and read the letter
1t began abruptly without any term o
address, and ran thus: II have mis-
sion in Paris, mademoiselle, which ad
mits of no delay, your mission, aswel
las my own-to see Pavannes. You hav
won his heart, 1t is yours, and vii
bring it TO you, or his right hand, in to
iken that he has yielded up his claim t
yours. And to this / pledge myself"
The thing bore no signature. 1t wa
written in some red fuid-blood pei
haps-a mean and sorry trick! On tn
outside was scrawled direction t
Mile. de Caylus. And the packet wa
sealed with the vidame's crest, wolf
head. sE8s4 t&ts
sThe coward! The miserable Gov
lardl" Croisette cried. He was tn
first to read the meaning OF the thint
And his eyes were fall Of tears-teal
OF rage.
For me, I ives angry exceedingly
aEy veins seemed full Of fire, az con
pretended the mean cruelty whic
could thus torture girl.
"Who delivered this?" thundere'
.sWho gave it to maAemoiselle? Ho
did it reach her hands? Speak, son
Ionel"
A maid. whimpering In the bacI
ground, said that Francis had given
70 her to hand to mademoiselle.
ground my teeth together, viii
Marie, unbidden, left the room to se'
Francis--and stirrup leather. II
vidame had brought the note in b
pocket, no doubt, rightly expectiI
that be would not get an audience
my cousin. Returning to the ga
ulone he had seen his opportunity al
RiwD the note to Fraucis, proeab