Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-10-07

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of the crowd.
While / was gazing at them, some
movement of the throng droN. back
Bure's horse against mine, Bure him
self uttered a savage oath; uncalled
for so far as I could see But my at
tention was arrested the next moment
by Croisette. who tapped my arm with
his riding whip. Look" he cried in
some excitement, ''is not that hep"
l followed the direction of the lads
finger-as well as could for the plung-
ing of my horse, which Bure's had
frightened-and sc-utinized the last
pair of the troop. They were crossing
the street in which we stood. and had
only side view of them; or rather of
the nearer rider. He was a singularly
handsome man, in age about % or %,
with long lovelocks falling on his lace
collar and cloak of orange silk. His
face was sweet and kindly and gra-
cious to a marvel. But he was stran-
ger to me.
81 could have sworn" exclaimed
Croisette, that that was Louis himself
M. de Pavannes!"
/
move again, the crowd melting before
us. ''Oh. dear. mol"
mol no! The farther mani" he
explained.
But 1 had not been able 70 get good
look at the farther of the two. We
turned in our saddles and peered after
him. His back in the dusk certainly re-
minded me of Louis. Bure, however.
who said he knew NJ. de Pavannes by
sight, laughed at the idea. Your
friend" he said, sis wider man than
that!" And l thought he was right
there-but then it might be the cut of
the clothes. "They have been at the
Louvre playing paume, I'll be sworn!"
he went on. $50 the admiral must be
! better. The one next us was NJ. de Tel
| igny, the admirals son-in-law. And
| the other, whom you mean, was Comte
de Ia Rochefoucault."
| We turned as he spoke into a narrow
street near the river, and could see not
far from us mass of dark buildings
which Bure told us was the Louvre
the kings residence. Out of this street
we turned into short one; and here
Burc drew rein and raped loudly at
some heavy gates, 1t was so dark that
when, these being opened, he led the
way into n courtyard, we could see little
more than a tall, sharp-gabled house,
| projecting over us against a pale sky;
and a group of men and horses in one
corner. Bure spoke to one of the men,
and begging us TO dismount, said the
footman would show us to NJ. de Pa
yannes.
The thought that we were ut the end
of our long journey, and in time to
warn Louis of his danger, made us for
get all Our exertions, our fatigue and
stiffness. Gladly throwing the brides
to Jean we ran up the steps after the
servant. The thing was done. Hur-
rahl the thing was donel
! The house-as we passed through
long passage and ~ some steps
seemed full of people. We heard voices
and the ring of arms more than once.
But our guide, without pausing, led
us To q small room lighted by hang
ing lamp. 81 will inform NJ. de Pa
yannes of your arrival" he said, respect
fully, and passed behind n curtain,
which seemed to hide the door of an
inner apartments As he did so, tho
| clink of glasses and the hum OF con-
versation reached us
'He has company supping with him."
l said, nervously. tried TO Zip some
of the dust from my boots with my
whip. l remembered that this was
Paris.
HE will be surprised to see U.S.
quoth Croisette, laughing--a little
shyly, too, ! think. And SO we stood
waiting.
| began TO wonder as minutes passed
blythe gay company we had seen put
ting it in my mind. suppose-whether
Nj. de Pavannes, Of Paris. might not
turn out TO he very different person
from Louis de Pavannes, of Caylus;
whether the kings courtier would be
as friendly as Kit lover. And | was
still thinking Of this without having
settled the point to my satisfaction
when the curtain was thrust aside
again. A very tall man, wearing a.
splendid suit of black and silver and
stiff. trencher-like ruff, came quickly
in and stood smiling at MS, little dog
in his arms. The little dog sat up and
snarled; and Croisette gasped. 1t was
not our OLD friend Louis, certainly! 1t
was not Louis de Pavannes at all. It
was no old friend Mt all. Il was
Vidame de Beers.
WELCOME, gentlemen" he said. s1nil-
ing at us-and never had the cast been
so apparent in his eyes. WELCOME to
Paris, NJ. Anne!"
TO BE CONTINUED.