Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-05-21
ABILENE WEEKLY REFLECTOR ABILENE KANSAS MAY 2 w-TwEW PAGES

| eppareuuy ,vunu II satisfactory. Az
any rate we saw nothing Of her. Nine.
Claude was busy boiling simples, and
tending the messengers hurts. And
it seemed natural that should take
command.
There could be no doubt-at any
rate we had none-that the assault
on the courier had taken place at the
vidame's instance. The only wonder
was that be had not simply cut his
throat and taken the letter. But look
ing back now 1t seems to me that grown
men mingled some childishness with
their cruelty In those days-days when
the religious wars had aroused our
worst passions. It was not enough 10
kill an enemy. 1t pleased people to
make-I speak literally-s football Of
his head, to throw his heart to the dogs.
And no doubt 1t had fallen In with the
vidame's grim humor that the bearer
Of Pavannes' first love letter should
enter bis mistress presence, bleeding
and plastered with mud. And that the
iffraff about our own gates should
have part in the insult
Beers wrath would be little abated
by the issue Of the affair, or the justice
| had done on one of his mel. So we
looked well to bolts and bars and win
dows, although the castle Is well-nigh
impregnable, the smooth rock falling
20 feet at least on every side from the
base of the walls. The gatehouse,
Pavannes had shown US, might be
blown up with gunpowder, indeed,
but we prepared to close the iron graf
ing which barred the way halfway up
the ramp This done, even II the enc
my should succeed In forcing on
entrance he would only find himself
caught In a trap-in steep, narrow
way exposed to q fire from the top Of
the Aanking walls, as well as from the
front. We had couple Of culverines,
which the vicomte had got 20 years be-
fore, ct the time Of the battle Of St,
Quentin. We fixed one Of these OF the
head of the ramp, and placed the other
on the terrace. where by moving 1t
few PAGES forward we could train 1t on
Beers house, which thus lay at our
mercy
Not that we really expected an at
tack. But we did not know what 10
expect or what to fear. We had not ten
servants, the vicomte having taken u
score Of the sturdiest lackeys and keep
ers to attend him at Bayonne. And We
felt immensely responsible. Our main
hope was that the vidame would Ct
oncego to Paris and postpone his vengo.
once. So again and again we cast long.
ing chances at the House Of the Wolf,
hoping that each symptom Of hustle
heralded his departure.
Consequently 1t was o shock to me,
and greet downfall Of hopes, when
Gil, with grave face, came to me on
the terrace and announced that NJ. 10
vidame was at the gate, asking TO see
mademotselle.
1T Is out Of tho question that be
should see her" the old servant added,
scratching his head In grave perplexity.
"Most certainly. l will see him In
stead" answered, stoutly. do you
leave Francis and another OF the gate,
Gil. Marie, keep within sight lad. And
let Croisette stay with me-"
These preparations made-and they
took up scarcely moment-I met the
vidame at the head Of the ramp. "Mlle.
de Caylus,' l said, bowling, lis, regret
TO say, indlsposed to-day, vidame."
"She will not see me?" he asked, eye
ing me very unpleasantly.
"TIer indisposition deprives her Of the
pleasure" answered, with On effort.
He was certainly o wonderful man, for
VI sight Of him three-fourths Of my
courage, and oil my Importance, oozed
out at the heels Of my boots.
"She will not see me. Very WELL" he
replied, as If had notspoken. And the
simple words sounded like o sentence