Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-01-28
cHAPTER v.-lcoNrrrurp.l

Summon up your fortitude, my love,
beseech you, for I am deeply inter
ested in the accomplishment of our
purpose, have an uneasy conscious
ness of brewing tempest, and II it be
possible l wish to ascertain in what
quarter to mistrust treachery."
IF you remain undaunted shall be
Jure to keep my courage"
go then, my love, to prepare a warm
mantle, and we will take our dinner
upstairs, and the moment the tray Is
removed we will slip away unperceived
into the garden, from which 1t Will be
easy to steal across the lawn, since
none Of the servants venture out after
sunset"
AS they had arranged, the countess
and her daughter slipped through an
unfreuuented corridor and reached the
balcony, from which long flight OF
steps descended to the garden, and
while the whole household believed
them sitting quietly in the little bou-
doir, as was their custom after dinner,
/. they were speeding along across the
park, holding each other by the hand,
while the evening shadows gathered
quickly around their pathway.
Mamma" whispered Lady Felicie'
as soon as she found breath, m. Pierre
may have seen us as we crossed the
terrace"
mo, my love-" answered the coun-
tess triumphantly. From my retreat
In the rear saw him emerge from that
long unused door under the portico; he
locked it carefully behind him, and
stole along through the shrubbery like
a guilty creature. He had something
under his arm, too; he has half an hour
at least the advantage over us, but l
hope to discover something concerning
his movements before we return"
"And you are not afraid?" queried
Lady Felicie in trembling voice.
"Ah, my child, does not love for her
young make the tigress fight desperate
ly against fearful odds? Will not the
gentlest and most timid Of the brute
creation dare anything to protect their
offspring from menacing danger? l
have an instructive fear that peril is at
hand; for myself l should be little
alarmed; for your sake, my Felicle,
am ready to brave anything"
Lady Felicie pressed her hand warm
". but she still trembled.
IT am not sure that am more afraid
of M. Pierre if he discovers us than
of the ghostliest ghost that was ever
SEEN"
"He Is the more dangerous person
certainly; but we will not be seen. You
said Jeannot put you into a place COM
pletely screened with vines. Can you
find 1t again?"
"Oh, yes; keep hold Of my hand
mamma, and will lead you thither."
- They passed on the rest of the way
Yin silence, walked very swiftly till they
reached the low underbrush, and keep
ing as much as possible in the shade Of
the trees.
Felicie drew her breath more culver
ingly as they gained the woods, but
went on steadily to the same retreat In
to which Jeannot had introduced her.
They were scarcely settled there be-
fore the cracking boughs announced
an approach.
The two watchers held their breath
and peered forward.
The same dark figure with the
shovel, the slow pace and weird accom-
panying light-this time it was passing
into the wood.
The countess, holding her daughters
hand firmly, stepped out from her hid
ing place as soon as it had passed a
short distance beyond them.
Lady Felicie hung back a moment,
obeying the somewhat impatient COM
mand of the countess, who whispered
cautiously:
do not spoil all, Felicie; come with
me, or shall follow alone"
ooh, mamma, suppose it turns
around and sees us?" returned Felicie,
III inc same SuppASSoOu FOACO'
81 cannot help it; will know who
and what it is; but the shade on this
side will prevent our detection if we
step cautiously"
And the heroic countess trod lightly
on the messy bank, taking care to
avoid the drier and more rustling path
way, and left her daughter to follow
behind her.
The luminous circle in which the
dark figure walked was their guide, for
as they advanced the gloomy darkness
deepened. 1t paused at length and was
stationary for few seconds.
The countess, holding her pistol with
desperate firmness, passed on to the
utter horror of Lady Felicie, who dared
not. however, remain behind.
Nearer and nearer to the mysterious
figure advanced the two ladies. Lady
Felicie's heart beat suffocatingly, but
the countess compelled herself to be
sternly calm, when just as they seemed
to reach ito! light, figure and all had
vanished.
There was a brad rift in the
dark canopy Of leaves above
them, where a mighty monarch
of the wood had been stricken
Ia.