Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-05-21

bidding; the Catholic cry: "yivc
Coligny!" l was SO completely taken
aback that l found no words TO answer
him, and 1t was Croisette who said.
smartly: Then how about his enthu-
siasm for the true faith, NJ. lie vidameo"
1.-THE true faith" he answered-"for
my servants is my faith" Then a
thought seemed to strike him. what
Is MORE" he continued, slowly, that it
Is the true and only faith for all, thou
sands will learn before the world Is ten
days older. Bear my words in mind,
boy! They will come back TO you. And
now hear me- he went on in bis usual
tone, Il ON anxious to accommodate q
neighbor. It goes without saying that
] would not think Of putting you, M.
Anne, TO any trouble for the sake Of that
rascal Of mine. But my people will en-
pect something. Let the plaguy fellow
who caused all this disturbance be given
up to Inc, that I may hang him, and let
us cry quits"
"That is impossible" answered.
coolly. had no need to ask what he
meant Give up Pavannes' messenger,
indeed! Never!
He regarded me-unmoved by my re-
fusal-with a smile under which I
chafed, while was impotent to resent
1t. "Do not build too much on single
blow, young gentleman" be said, shak-
ing his head, waggishly. Thad fought
o dozen times when l was your age.
However, I understand that you refuse
10 give me satisfaction?
"1n the mode you mention, certainly
1rcplled. "But-'
"Bah!" he exclaimed, with o sneer,
"business first and pleasure afterwards!
Beers will obtain satisfaction In bis
own way, promise you that! And at
bis own time. And 1t will not be on un-
fedged bantllngs like you. But what is
this for?" And he rudely kicked the
culverin, which apparently be had not
noticed before. $50! so understand"
he continued. casting a sharp glance OF
one and another of us. "You looked to
be besleged! Why, you BOBBY, there is
the shoot Of your kitchen hidden, 20
feet above the roof of old Fretis store!
And open, | will be sworn! Do you
think that should have come this way
while there was O ladder in Caylus?
Did you take the wolf for sheep%
With that be turned on his heel. swag-
gering away in the full enjoyment OF
his triumph. For triumph 1t was
We stood stunned; ashamed to look one
another in the face. Of course the shoot
was open. We remembered now that II
was. and we were SO sorely mortified by
his knowledge of our folly, that I failed
In my courtesy, and did not see him to
the gate, as l should have done. We
paid for that later.
"He Is the devil in personl" I ex.
claimed, angrily, shaking my fist at the
House Of the Wolf, as ! strobe up and
down impatiently. Il hate him worse!"
80 do II" said Croisette, mildly.
"But that he hates us Is matter OF
more Importance. At any rate we will
close the shoot"
"Wait moment" l replied, as, after
another volley of complaints directed
OF our visitor, the lad was moving off
to see to it "IVhat is going on down
there?"
upon my word, believe he Is leav-
ing us!" Croisette rejoined sharply.
For there was o noise of hoofs below
us, Gathering on the pavement Half.
a-dozen horsemen were issuing from the
House Of the Wolf, the ring of their
brides and the sound Of their careless
voices came up to us through the clear
morning air. Beers valet, whom we
knew by sight, was the last of them. He
had pair of great saddle-bags before
him, and at sight Of these we uttered @
glad exclamation. "He Is going!" l
murmured, hardly able to believe my
eyes. "He is going after oil"
"Waitl" Croisette answered dryly.
But he was right. We had not to
wait long. He was going. In another
moment he came out himself, riding a
strong iron-gray horse; and we could
see that he had holsters to his saddle.
His steward was running beside him,
to take, l suppose, his last orders. A
cripple, whom the hustle had attracted
from his usual haunt the church porch,
held up his hand for aims. The vidamc
as he passed, cut him savagely across
the face with his whip, and cursed him
audibly.
"May the devil take him!" exclaimed
Croisette in just rage. But said moth
Ing, remembering that the cripple was
particular pet Of GATHERINGS. !
thought instead of an occasion,not so
very long ago, when the vicomte being
at home, we had had great hawking
party. Beers and Catherine had rid
den up the street together, and Cath
crime giving the cripple q piece OF
money, Beers had flung to him all his
share Of the game. And my heart sank.
Only for a moment, however. The
man was gone; or was going atany rate.
We stood silent and motionless, oil
watching, until after what seemed q
long interval, the little party OF seven
became visible on the white road far
below us-to the northward, and NOV
ino In TINT, direction. Still we watched