Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-01-28

O.<A Eek now. 1: can shut
NYTSymsZN my eyes and see
E98WVWNF again, after all
MNWNI YIN these years, what
~ XEN, w Il saw then-1ust
the blue summer sky, and one gray
angle of the keep, from which a
feecy cloud was trailing like the
smoke from chimney. could see no
nAorc because L was lying on my back,
my head resting on my hands. Marie
and Croisette, my brothers, were lying
by me in exactly the same posture, and
a few yards away on the terrace, Cath
crime was sitting on q stool Gil had
brought out for her. twas the second
Thursday in August, and hot. Even the
jaekdaws were silent. I had almost
fallen asleep, watching my cloud grow
longer and longer, and thinner and thin
ner, when Croisette, who cared for
heat no more than a lizard, spoke up
sharply: ''Mademoiselle," he said
'swhy are you watching the Cahors
road ?''
i had not noticed that she was doing
SO. But something in the keenness of
Croisette's tone, taken perhaps with
the fact that Catherine did not at once
answer him, aroused me; and I turned
to her. And 10! she was blushing i'll
the most heavenly way, and her eyes
were full of tears, and she locked at us
adorably. And we all three sat up on
cur elbows, like three puppy dogs, and
looked at her. And there was a long
silence And then she said quite sim
ply to us: Boys, I am going to be
married to NJ. de Pavannes.''
I fell fat on my back and spread out
my arms. ooh, ,nadempiseHe!'' cried
proaehfully.
ooh. mademoiselle!, cried Marie.
And he fell fiat on his back, and spread
out his arms and moaned.- He was
good brother, was Marie, and obedient
And Croisette cried: ooh, made
moiselle!" too. But he was always
ridiculous in his ways. He fell fiat on
his back, and Topped his arms and
squealed like q pig.
Yet he was sharp. It was he who
first remembered our duty, and went
to Catherine, cap in hand, where she
sat half angry and half confused, and
ssaid, with fine redness in his cheeks:
mile. de Caylus, our cousin, we give
you joy, and wish you long life; and
are your servants and the good friends
:and aiders of NJ. de Pavannes in all
equarrels, as"
But I could not stand that. Not so
fast, St. CroiX de Caylus," said, push
ing him aside-he was ever getting be-
fore me in those days-and taking his
place. Then, with my best bow, be-
gan: ''Mademoiselle, we give you joy
and long life, and are your servants and
the good friends and aiders of M. de
Pavanncs in all quarrels, as-as-"
"As becomes the cadets of your
house." suggested Croisette, softly.
LAS becomes the cadets of your
house." l repeated. And then Cathe-
rine stood up and made me a low bow,
and we all kissed her hand in turn, be-
ginning with me ard ending with Croi-
settle. as was becoming. Afterwards
Catherine threw her handkerchief
over her face-she was crying-and we
three sat down, Turkish fashion, just
where we were, and said: "Oh, Kit! -
very softly
But presently Croisette had some
thing to add. What will the Wolf
say?" he whispered to me.
''Ah. To tie sure!" l exclaimed,
aloud. l had been thinking of myself
before; but this opened quite another
window. What will the Vidame say,
Kit?"
She dropped her handkerchief from
her face, and turned so pale that l was
sorry 1 had spolSen-apart from the
kick Cro;sette gave me. rs NJ. de
Beers at his house" she asked, anX-
iously.
Yes" Croisette answered. He came
In last night from ST. Antonin with very
small attendance"
The news seemed to set her fears al
rest instead of augmenting them, as
, should have expected. 1 suppose they
were rather for Louis de Pavannes thar
for herself. Not unnaturally, too. FOL
even the Wolf could scarcely have found
it in his heart to hurt our cousin. Hel
slight, willowy figure. her pale, ova
face and gentle brown eyes. her pleas
ant voice, her kindness, seemed to u:
bows, and in those days, to sum up al
that was womanly. We could not re