Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-12-23

IL had anything to do with his hesita-
ton that NJ that moment the cathedral
bell in the town below us began to
ring slowly for vespers. Yes. he hest
tated. He-a Caylus. Turning to him
again. l repeated my question impa-
tiently: (Which shall it be? A mo.
ment and we shall be moving on and
it Will be to late
He laid his hand hurridly on nv
bride and began a rambling answer.
Rambling as it was gathered his mean
ing. 1t was enough for me! / cut him
short with one word of fiery indigna-
ton and turned to Marie and spoke
quickly.
''Will you, then?" l said
But Marie shook his head in perplexi-
ty. and answering little, said the same
So it happened the second time.
Strange! Yet strange as it seemed.
l was not greatly surprised. Under
other circumstances / should have
been beside myself with anger at the
detection. Now felt as if l had half
expected it, and without further words
of reproach dropped my head and gave
it up. | passed again into the stupor
of endurance. The vidame was too
strong for me. II was useless to fight
against him. We were under the spell.
When the troop moved forward, I went
with them, silent and apatheGc.
We passed through the gate of Ca
hors, and no doubt the scene was
worthy of note; but had only listless
eye for it-much such an eve as man
about to be broken on the wheel must
have for that curious instruments sup
posing him never to have seen it be-
fore. The whole population had come
out to line the streets through which
we rode, and stood gazing, with scarce
ly yelled looks of apprehension, at the
procession of troopers ana the stern
face of the new governor.
We dismounted passively in the court
yard of the castle. and were for going in
together, when Bure interviewed. M.
de Pavannes," he said, pushing rather
rudely between us. will sup alone to-
night. For you, gentlemen, this way,
if you please"
went without remonstrance What
was the use? / was conscious that the
vidame from the top of the stairs lead
ing to the grand entrance was watching
us with a wolfish glare in his eyes. |
went quietly. But l heard Croisette
urging something with passionate en-
ergy.
We were led through low doorway
to room on the ground floor; n place
very like cell. Here we took our
meal in silence. When it was over |
| flung myself on one of the beds pre-
| pared for us, shrinking from my COM
panions rather in misery than in re-
sentiment
No explanation had passed between
us. Still | knew that the other two
from time to time eyed me doubtfully.
| ! feigned therefore to be asleep. but
| heard Bure enter to bid us good night
and see that we had not escaped And
| was conscious. too. of the question
CTosette put to him: Does NJ de Pa
| Sarnes lie alone tonight, Bure?"
'Not entirely" the captain answered.
with gloomy meaning. Indeed, he
seemed in bad spirits himself or tired.
| THE yidame is anxious for his souls
| welfare, and sends priest to him."
They spr1ng 70 their feet at that.
| But the light and its bearer. who so far
| recovered himself as 10 chucl<le at his
masters pious thought had disap-
| pcared. They were left to pace the
room. and reproach themselves and
| curse the vida-ne in an agony of late re-
| pcntance. Not even Marie could find
d loophole of escape from here. The
door was double-locked the windows
so barred that n eat could scarcely pass
through them; the walls were of solid
masonry.
| Meanwhile lay and feigned TO sleep.
and lay feigning through long, long
| hours; though my heart like theirs
| throbbed III response TO the duh ham
mering that presently began without.
and not far from us. and lasted until
| daybreak. From our windows, set low
and facing a wall. we could see nothing.
| But we could guess what the noise
meant. the dull, earthly thuds when
posts were set in the ground. the brisk.
wooden gathering when one plank was
| laid TO another. We could not see the
| progress of the work, or hear the
voices of the workmen, or catch the
glare of their lights But we knew
what they were doing. They were
raising the scaffold.