The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-08-22
CHAPTER VI

O1AEI LIN v 1.
One day Jacques was wandering in
the swamp, with gun ON his shoulder.
darkly busying himself with those
thoughts of vengeance which lately had
occupied the whole of his mind. Sud-
denly, in some obscure way, he became
aware that he was being followed
stealthily by some light footed, wary
being. He turned about, but saw no
one. Again and again this happened.
jacques was man of strong nerves,
and, although he could not help think
ing of the legend Of Loup-garou, he felt
quito sure that no spirit, but being OF
flesh and blood, was. DIGGING his foot
steps. He tried many shrewd turns to
ontwit and discover his pursuor, all to
no avail. q-s.s
1t was in the midst Of this curious
experience that the eyes Of Jacques
Coupcourt fell upon 9oulmo de Blieu
little way off in the swamp. Instantly
the devil Of murder took full possession
Of Jacques heart and he forgot every
thing in the desire to slay his enemy.
He deliberately raised his gun, but be-
fore he could fire Toulno had disap-
peared. Keen as hound, Jacques glided
forward in noiseless, eager pursuit.
Again and again he caught glimpse of
his enemy through chance riffs in tho
dense foliage. But even during this ex-
citing hunt he was all the time con-
scious of footsteps behind him. Perhaps
this sense of being pursued by an invis-
ible person urged him ON more rapidly
and fercely. Bo this as it may, he
sprang along through the swamp with
burning eyes and fercely kissing
breath. r.
At last the opportunity came and his
gun was leveled. Toulme was all un-
conscious Of his danger, standing with
his back to the assassin and but rod
or two distant.
Then came great hoarse cry that
went believing through the swamp, ac-
companied by the sound Of q crushing
blow.
Toulme turned just in time to see
Jacques Coupcourt fall headlong, while
dark, skulking figure glided away
into the densegt cover Of brake. The
sight was so unexpected and SO strange
that some time passed before Toulme
could collect himself and hasten to the
stricken man who lay limp and still
upon the ground. He stood and gazed
into the face Of his enemy. It was
white and calm. Something in those
finely cut features reminded him of
Anais and there came a rush of emotion.
1t was rather big load, but Toulme
de Blieu lifted the heavy form Of
Jacques and, bearing it out Of the
swamp, laid it in the Coupcourt man.
sion. Then, overcome by the exertion,
he reeled and fell to the floor, insensible.
OF course no one in the house knew
the details Of what had happened in the
swamp, but it was thought that there
had been added another link to the dark
chain Of the family feud.
1t would have been curious and in
teresting study for some realist to have
watched the slowly developed outcome
Of this strange drama. There for weeks
and months the two young men lay in
the same room, painfully and by IN
finitesimal degrees conyalescing.. Toul-
me suffered from nervous fever
brought on by excitement and exhaus-
ton, while Jacques had conclusion Of
the brain from heavy blow on the back
of the head.
Anais was the nurse to both, and it is
not for this story to detail how she art
fully and sweetly worked a reconcilia-
tion between them. TWAS loves golden
opportunity, and love was equal to the
occasion. Toulnes mother was sent for
at the beginning, aud it did not take
long for the women to become friends.
This was half the battle; tact did the
rest. .s4s 49, Fl
Loup- garou; that monster of the
swamp, calae in fer q full share of thus
happily closing the great feud. But
Toulme in the deepest recesses of his
heart kept the secret Of his better knowl-
edge, for he knew that the hand Of old
Tete-chauve and not that Of Loup-
garou had welded that pine knot on
that ever memorable day.
THE END. .-----