Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-05-06
7 !, THE HOUSE y
W OF THE WOLF.
EnX StXsal I. 4 = =
SSDSED BY STANLEY J. WEYfaAN.
BY STANLEY J. WEYMAN.
CHAPTER X.-CoNTINUED.

"Croisette!" I muttcred-he was the
rearmost-"stoop down. He may not
have seen you. Stoop down, lad!"
But ST. CroiX was obstinate and would
not stoop. Nay, when one of the mount
ed men came, and roughly ordered US
into the open, it was Croisette who
pushing past US, stepped out first with
a lordly air. /, following him, saw
that his lips were firmly compressed,
and that there was an eager light in
his eyes. AS we emerged, the crowd
in our. wake broke the line, and tried
to pursue us; either hostilely or
through eagerness to see what 1T
meant. But a dozen blows of the long
pixies drove them back, bowling and
cur9ing to their places.
expected to be taken to Beers; and
what would follow | could not tell. But
he did always it seemed what we least
expected, for he ouly scowled at US now.
a grim mockery on his lip, and cried:
.'See that they do not escape again!
But do them no harm, sirrah. until 1
have the batch of them!"
He turned one way and another, my
heart swelling with rage. Would he
dare to harm us? Would even the vi
dame dare to murder Caylus' nephew
openly and in cold blood? I did not
think so. And yet-and yet
Croisette interrupted the train of my
thoughts. I found that he was not fol-
lowing me. He had sprung away. and
in a dozen strides reached the vidane's
stirrup. and was clasping his knee when
I turned. / could not hear at the dis
lance at which stood what he said, and
the horseman to whom Beers had COM
mitted us spurred between us. But l
heard the vidame's answer.
No! no! mol" he cried, with ring of
restrained fury in his voice. LET my
plans alone! What do you know of
them? And if you speak TO me again.
NJ. ST. CroiX-I think that is your name.
bov-I will-no. L will not kill you.
That mig ut please you, you are stub
born. can see. But | will have you
stripped and dashed like the meanest OF
my scullions! Now go, and take care!"
Impatience. hate and wild passion
famed in his face for the moment
transforming it. Croisette came back
TO us slowly. white-lipped and quiet.
Never mind" l said. bitterly. The
third time may bring luck"
Not that felt much Indignation at
the vidame's insult. or any anger with
the lad for mourning it; as I had felt
on that other OCCASION. Life and death
seemed to be everything on this morn
ing. Words had ceased to please and
annoy. for what are are words to the
sheep in the shambles? One mans life
and one woman's happiness-outside
ourselves we thought only of these now
And some day. I reflected. Croisette
might remember even with pleasure
that he had. as drowning man clutch
ing at straws. stopped to last prayeI
for them.
We were placed in the middle of q
knot of troopers who closed the line to
the. right. And presently Marie touched
me. He was gazing intentIy at the
sentry on the roof of the third house
from us: the farthest but one. The
mans back was to the parapet. and be
was gesticuiating wildly.
He sees him." Marie muttered.
/ nodded almost in apathy But this
passed away. and started invoiuntari
Nv and shuddered. as a savage roar
breaking the silence. rang along tn,
front of the mob like a rolling volley
of firearms What is it? A man posted
at window on the upper gallery has
dropped his pixies point. and was level
ling il at some one inside: we could SCI
no more.
But those in front of the windoS
could: they saw too much for thu
vidame-s precautions as momen
showed. He had not laid his aceoun
with the frenzy of rabble, the passion