Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1897-11-27
CHAPTER Iv.-fCoxrrxuxD J


such place and that il carried shovel
and strange flames danced along is
pathway. / laughed AT his erednlity,
till suddenly he turned and dared me 70
accompany him. 10 have proof given
me by my own eyes
Dared you. Felieie? Could old
Jeannot have been so insolent and i'm
PRUDENT"
.'Oh. he was perfectly respectful; and
remember. had stung him 10 retort
By my railery and unbelief He called
70 me at sunset, as ! was on the ter
race, that the apparition had passed.
and / might see il return II ] would
hasten 10 the forest. So ] vent. nam
ma"
The countess looked startled
1t was fortunate the count was abb
seat; what would he have saidZ
"Ah, but / knew he was not here. and
trusted 10 obtain your forgiveness
Yes. mamma. / went with Jeannot. and
saw the ghost"
You are jesting. Felieiet"
Not at all: / certainly saw the dark
figure. with the spade over ais should
ers. and a weird circle Of blue light
followed him, or, rather. surrounded
hira. Don't let Jeannot dream Of il.
bat / was truly frightened II l.
really very strange. especially II, as
Jeannot asserts, there is no trace Of
human working in the forest, for we
heard the blows distinctly"
This Is extremely singular; il must
be investigated al once. ! did not tell
y5a the rest that your father wrote.
He said all Paris was in terment Of
secret agitation. The Assembly are AZ
their wits end how 70 remedy the disas-
trous condition Of the whole country;
the lower classes are sullen. and have
been detected in a vast organization
for some unknown purpose. He bade
me charge u. Pierre 10 keep Jealous
watch over our peasantry. and forbid
their leaving the place. or receiving
strangers. Eho might spread among
them the incendiary disaffection Of the
larger towns. / vas in hopes there was
no need Of the caution, but this story Of
Jeannot's alarms me; OF courze ! reject
the supernatural part Of it. but that a
stranger is lurking around here cannot
be doubted, II you have seen him with
your own eyes. Ring the bell. my love;
/ vii speak to u. Pierre az once"
Il wonder my father did not write 70
n Pierre his instructions; he knows
how disagreabIe the man il 10 you"
observed Felicie, as she obeyed.
The countess did not answer; she
was gazing thoughtfuily upon the
hoor.
Il will send for Jeannot. too. after
u. Pierre Is gone" she said at length;
I've must neglect no possible pTecau-
ton"
What do you fear, mamma? am
sure We have no one on the estate but
would willingly risk his own life TO
save yours. or mine, either, for that
matter"
Il was not thinking Of myself. Fe-
Iicie, but OF your father: fear he is
mot liked by any Of our people. He
does not understand their trials. and
fear they call him harsh master"
II am sure / cannot blame them;
often and often have / blushed in
shame for him, and glowed with indig-
nation for tho !" answered the candid
daughter.
The crimson tide swept over the
countess face, as though It were her
own sinfulness Felicie had alluded 70.
She waved her hand deprecatingly,
and Felicie knew that insinuations
against her father would not be liz
tened 10.
Here comes the adorable VI. Pierre
Il hear that mincing footstep Of his.
Put on your statliest dignity, mamma.
IIf the peagantry bear malice against
others, I am certain they could tear
him limb from limb. / am sure 1t Ia
like a snow-blast whenever he comes
near me. Ugh, one must endure Ioath-
come things now and then / sup
pose"
Hush, FeIicie. NJ. Pierre is your
fathers confidential agent"
But you despise him-you know you
do, mamma. Why may not one speak
the things they cannot help thinking?'
There was no opportunity for answer
ling. The door was noiselessly un-
closed, and middle aged man, dressed
In tightly fitting suit Of SNUFF colored
broadcloth. with silk stockings Of the
same color, and shining steel knee
buckles, came forward, bowling with a
singular mixture Of seryiIity and auda-
city.
The low obeisance said plainly-I re-
spect your rank; you are my lady. the
countess. But the bold eye and super
cilious smile added-you detest me. but
4 do not care. I am above any harm
from you. Let me do or say what |
will, you are powerless to send me
away.
you sent for me, my lady-you wish
to speak to me-" said he, in smooth,
oily voice, bowling once more.
! You are right wish for few mo-
ments' conversation. Be seated"
One who had lately seen her gentle
and affectionate department in the pre-
yious conversation with her daughter