Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-02-18
aYou do not understand? % the stran-


| paper back in his pouch.
NO. / answered, shaking my head.
We had all risen out of respect to him,
and were standing in a little group
| about him.
"Just so; it is all right. them" he an
swered, looking at us as it seemed to
me with grave good nature. 1T is
nothing. Go your way. Butt have a
son yonder not much younger than you,
young gentlemen. And if you had I'M
| derstood I should have said to you:
''Do not go! There are enough sheep
| for the shearer!"
He was turning away with this orac-
ular saying when Croisette touched his
sleeve. 'tPray can you tell us if it be
true" the lad said, eagerly. that Ad-
miral de Coligny was wounded yester-
day?"
at is true,' the other answered, turn
ing his grave eyes on his questioner,
while for a moment his stern look
failed him. .'It is true. my boy" he
added, with an air of strange solem-
nifty. "Whom the Lord loveth, He
chasteneth And, God forgive me for
saying it, whom He would destroy, He
first mal1eth mad.''
Croisette's girlish face, 1 thought;
Marie and were dark and ugly by the
side of the boy. But he turned from
him now with queer, excited gesture,
humping his gold-headed cane on the
floor. He called his servants in loud,
rasping voice, and left the room in seem
ing anger, driving them before him,
the one carrying his dag. and the other
two candles.
When I came down early next morn
ing, the first person I met was Blaise
Isure. He looked rather fiercer and
more shabby by daylight than candle
light. But he saluted me respectfully;
and this, since it was clear that he did
not respect many people, inclined me to
regard him with favor. 1t is always so,
the more savage the dog, the more high
ly we prize it's attentions. L asked him
who the Huguenot noble was who had
supped with us. For Huguenot we
knew he must be.
'Baron de Rosny," he answered;
adding with a sneer: HE is a careful
man! II they were all like him. with
eyes on both sides of his head and a
dag by his candle-welI, my lord, there
would be one more king in France-or
one less! But they are a blind lot; as
blind as BATS He muttered some
thing farther in which 1 caught the
word Tonight" But did not hear
III all; or understand any of it.
'Your lordships are going to PARISH
he resumed in a different tone. When
I said that we were, he looked at me in
4 shamefaced way, half-timid, half-ar-
rogant. 81 have a small favor to ask
OF you them" he said. II am going to
Paris myself. I am not afraid of odds,
as you have seen. But the roads will
be in 4 queer state if there be anything
on foot in the city, and-well, would
rather ride with you gentlemen than
alone"
t'You are welcome to join u.s. said.
''But we start in half an hour. Do you
know Paris well?''
''As well as my sword hilt;" he replied
briskly, relieved 1 thought by my ac-
quiescence. and I have known that
from my breeding. If you want
game at paume, or a pretty girl TO kiss,
I can put you in the way for the one or
tic other"
The half-rustic shrinking from the
great city which felt. suggested to me
that our swash-buckling friend might
help us if he would. do you know NJ.
de Pavannes?' 1 asked. impulsively.
where he lives in Paris, 1 mean?"
IN. Louis de Pavannes q" quoth he.
eyes"
81 know" he replied slowly, rub
bling his chin and looking at the ground
in thought, where he had his lodg-
Jugs in town awhile ago, before All!
] do know! I remember" he added,
slapping his thigh, when 1 was in
Paris fortnight ago was told that
his steward had taken lodgings for him
in the Rue ST. Antoine
'Good!" answered, overjoyed. ''Then
we want to dismount there, if you can
guide us straight to the house,
81 can," he replied simply. And you
will not be the worse for my company.
Paris is a queer place when there is
trouble to the fore, but your Iordships
have got the right man to pilot you
through it,
I did not ask him what trouble he
meant. but ran indoors to buckle on
my sword, and tell Marie and Croisette
of the ally I had secured. They were
much pleased, as was natural; so that
we took the road in excellent spirits
intending to reach the city in the after
noon. But Marie's horse cast a shoe,
and it was some time before we collId