The morning times., 1897-02-28

from the gloomy house now, and he could
hear the voices Of the boatmen rising up
from the rivers bank. Behind him lay
Paris; Rights beginning 70 shine brightly
as in Joy of the newly come night; before
him the road slOped gently toward the
Seine, meeting it at last at point where
the Marine flows into the greater stream.
He could see his brothers chateau, which
had the shape OF an old time fortress,
standing up black and threatening almost
at the waters edge. In the distance it ap-
peared to be the stronghold OF the han-
let which lay in its shadow; hamlet
Of tumbling cottages with an old Nor
man church, red rooted, squat, yet withal
picturesque. But when you rode into the
one street of this village, you observed
that q meadow lay between the great house
and its humber children, and that the
former was girdcd about with wood Of
poplars. Indeed, it was very lonely
house, and all the villagers summed 1t,
as they Stunned its melancholy, silent,
solitude loving master, Count Charles OF
Brives.
These villagers were all going to their
beds when the young captain OF Condos
legion role at canter through their hamlet.
He, on his part, took little notice OF them
or of their dwellings, so entirely did appre-
beusion OF the peril to come play upon
his mind Twice already had heperusedthe
slip of parchment which old Antonio had
iutrusted to him with so solemn warn
ing; but now at the mouth of the village
he drew rein for the third time, and hold
ing tie paper so that the light from the
lantern of the inn fell upon 1t he read
every word of it again and again; and,
having read it, he repeated it twenty times
aloud to be sure that his memory had 1t.
There were but three lines OF writing In
all, done clearly in great, bold characters,
and Eugene soon knew them so well that
he could say them backward or forward
as he pleased.
BEWARE OF THE PURPLE GLASS.
THE HALF OF THAT WITHIN 1T is
LIFE.
THE WHOLE Is DEATH.
"Babi" said he, tearing the paper into
shreds aud letting the night wind scatter
it. ''Tbey tell n tale to frighten children,
not men. What an injustice to believe this
of nv brother until have something he
yopd an old mans cackle to go upon!
How should he know of q purple glass,
and how can there be both life and death
within it? / will listen TO no such slander
but sup with the count, as brother should y
This was all very well in promise. but
| the performance was different matter
| Though Sabatier kept telling himself that
| he hadnothing TO fear. his heart beat wildly
| when ultimately he stood at the gate of the
| chateau and heard the great bell booming
| in the tower above him. WHAT he asked, II
| that gate. which now shut behind him with
| such an ominouS claug. should never open
| to his knuc,> again, How if the morn should
find his body tapped upon by the waters
| wonder; sedge grass hiding his face and
| the reed. trying vainiy TO clOtie him witt
| warmth. He could not suppress a Shuddel
| when n voice whispered in his ear. '-All
| this is possible" Nor did the croaking wei
| come of the eyil-eyed. STOPPING, lank ole
| servant. Armand, reassJre him.
THE count. my master, awaits yOuin the
| salon, monsieur" said he. ''I pray you be
| careful of the steps; they are, like all else
| here, little grown in age. Shall Germain
| bed YOUR horse. or do you ride away To-
| night?''
"Ay, surely, Armand-I leave Paris to
morrow, and must be in my own bed before
midnight is struck answered Eugene
merrily, though his heart sank lower an'
lower at the gloomy aspect of all he saw
about him. Let the horse have mouth
fill of sweet hay and a loosened girth," Ia
added, presently. who knows that m.
hand will be steady enough to saddle hin
when / have done supping with the count?'
The old servant, who had thrown TIA
reins to the lad, Germain, looked up quicd,
at this remark, his toothless mouth open
ing in a horrid smile.
''Who knows, monsieur" he said; 'ther
was never one of your race that refused
flask of Armagnac yet And there Is nom
better in France than the wine in my mas
ter's cellars. 1 pray you follow me, les
the supper be al eady cold"
With this lie took up his lantern an'