The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1896-12-16
CHAPTER ".
HAU, HAU, HUGUENoTsl


His late majesty, Henry the Fourth,
l remember-than whom no Drawer
man wore sword. who loved danger, in
deed, for its own sake. and courted it as
mistress, could never sleep on the
night before an action. 1 have heard
him say himself that it was so before
the fight of Argues. Croisette partook
OF this nature, too, being high-strung
and apt to be easily over-wrought, but
never until the necessity for exertion
had passed away; while Marie and |.
though not a whit stouter at pinch,
were slower to feel and less easy to
move-more Germanic, in fact.
l name this here partly lest it should
be thought after what 1 have Just told
OF Croisette that there was anything
OF the woman about him-saye the ten
derness; and partly to show that we
acted at this crisis each after his man
ner. While Croisette turned pale and
trembled, and hid his eyes, l stood
dazed, looking from the desolate house
to the face stiffenirg in the sunshine,
and back again; wondering, though
had seen scores of dead faces since day.
break, and q plenitude of suffering in
all dreadful shapes, how Providence
could let this happen to us. To us! In
hrs instincts man is as selfish as any
animal that lives.
l saw nothing indeed of the dead face
and dead house after the first convinc-
ing glance. saw instead with hot, hot
eyes the old castle at home, the green
fields about the brook, and the gray
hills rising from them; and the terrace,
and Kit coming to meet us, Kit with
face and parted lips and avid eyes that
questioned usl And we with no com
fort to give her, no love to bring back to
her!
A faint noise behind as of sign
creaking in the wind, reused me from
this most painful reverie. 1 tarned
round, not quickly or in surprise or
fear. Rather in the same dull wonder.
The upper part of the booksellers door
was ajar. 1t was that had heard
opened. An old woman was peerdng out
at us.
AS our eyes met, she made q sight
movement to close the door again. But
l did not stir, and seeming to be reas-
surred by second glance, she nodded
to me in stealthy fashion. I drew q
step nearer, listlessly. "Pst! Pst!"
she whispered. Her wrinkled old face,
which was like Normandy apple long
kept, was soft with pity as she locked ut
Croisette. "Pstl"
'WeAl" l said, mechanically.
"Is he t0lten?" she muttered.
"Who taken ?" asked stupidity.
She nodded towards the forsakea
house, and answered: "1he young lord
who lodged there? All! sirs," she con-
tinued, "he looked gay and handsome,
If you'll believe me, as he came FROM 4bs
kings court yester even! As bopny q
sight in his satin coat, and his Ribbons,
as my eyes ever saw! And 10 think thai
they should be hunting him liko a rot
to-day!"
The woman's words were few and
simple. But what a change they made
in my worldl 'How my heart awoke
from it's stupor, and leapt up with a
new Joy and newborn hopel did
he get away% I cried eagerly. did
he escape, mother, thenP'
"Ay, that he did!" she replied, quick
ly. ''Fhat poor fellow, yonder-he lies
quiet enough now, God forgive him his
heresy, say I!--lSept the door manful-
ly while the gentlemaRgot on the roof
and ran right down the street on the
tops of the houses. with them airing and
hooting at him; for all the world as
if he had been n squirrel and they
pack of boys with stonesl'
Sand I've eseapeaT
"Escaped!" sheTnswerede nerSSIow-
~, shaking her old head in 6Aubt. 81
do not knSw about thata feaE they
have got Fin by now, gentlemen. I
llsve been shivsring aStd shaking up
stairs with my husband-he is in bed,
good man; and the safest place for him
-the saints have mercy upon usl But
l heard them go with their shouting
and gunpowder right along to the river,
and doubt they will take him between
this and the chateletl I doubt they
will"
"How hong ago was 1t, dame? p | cried.
"0hl maybe half an hour. Perhaps
you are friends of his9" she added,
questioningly.
But did not stay to answer her. /
shook Croisette, who had not heard
word Of this, by the shoulder. There
is chance that he has escaped" l
cried in his eur. Escaped. do you
hear?r And ] told him hastily what
she had said.
1t was fine, indeed, and a sight to see
tears dry in his eyes. and energy and
the blood rush to his cheeks, and the
md muscle of his face. .'Then there
is hopel" he cried. grasping my arm.
Hope, Anne! Comel Comei Do not
let MS lose another instant. II he be
alive let us Join him."