Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1897-11-27

upon al that occurs around as. For
urgent and sufficient reasons. he wishes
you 10 prevent any Of our people leaE-
ing the village. and especially charges
You TO keep away all strangers from
meddling with them"
Humph, / might as well try 70
empty the basin Of the Mediterranean. /"
said N. Pierre. in q qnerulous tone. Il
should ike 70 see the letter. my lady.
The cheek Of the countess flushed.
have given You his message. NJ.
Pierre, word for word; there Is no more
IN the letter which concerns you"
just as your ladyship pleases. sup
pose: but il the count were here. /
should know what has led 10 such sin
gular eOmmands-yOu are quite wei
aware OF that"
The words themselves were not 50 ir-
ritating as the mans manner: the
countess seemed 10 change into an icy
statue
i am not aware that the correct full
hlment Of your masters commands re-
quires any further enlightenment. n.
Pierre: al al events. you Eill receive
none from me-"
At least you will refrain from ned
ding with me-" said the man. With
suppressed anger. Il cannot manage
the obstinate brutes Il they are al
loved 10 run 10 yon for redress every
half hour"
Il shall not hinder the execution o.
the counts wishes 1 shall certainly
refuse 10 ALLOW you 10 use unnecessary
harshnsss with our good people" an
swered she. With icy calmness.
thought the question 81 your in
reference was ssttled the last time the
count was away. said 81 Pierre, With
= malicious glance OF triumph.
A little gloE burned a moment on her
pale cheek. and then died out, leaving
il Ehiter still she had not yet forgot
ten the humiliating scene when her IN
feeling. tyrannicaI husband had al
loved this brutal wretch 10 trzm2le up
on her rights. She had lnterfersd be-
tween his angry violence and one of
the most faithful Of the peasants. and
the count had reprsmanded her in the
very presence Of her unworthy oppOn-
net. when the latter had carried 20 him
his audaeiOug complaints.
Felieie. with flaming eyes. sprang %
her feet. but her mothers restraining
hand held her back.
NJ. Pierre" said the countess. il
that severe. icy tone. my husband has
peculiar ideas concerning the authority
Of an oyerseer over the peasants: I
have ye: 10 learn that be will sanction
insolenee. from that oyerseer, 70 the
Countess Languedoc"
" Pierre cast down his eyes. and
( tEirled his hat In silence.
Il wish 70 ask you concerning these
/ rumors about strange man With a
spade. seen In the Little Forest. Taken
! IN connection with these instructions
from the count. il grows significant.
and desire 70 have IL investigated. .
u. Pierre's sallox countenance took
q still dingier hue.
AN old wOman's story, got up By
that old driYeiler, Jeannotg' exclaimed
he. testify.
Then you have heard about it?"
Il could not keep my ears open, your
ladyship. and not hear. Some one or
/ other Is chattering about il continual
II" was his hasty reply.
Il conclude that you give the story
little credence. BY your tome"
Certainly not; II Is all manufactured
by the supers;itious fools"
You do not think that such a man
has been seen?"
No one In their senses would believe
it. No one Of them has ever seen such
a man al ALL was the decisive but oyer
vehement reply.
The countess kept her calm eyes on
his face.
"Jeannot is not given 10 idle gtorieg.
| wish. VI. Pierre, you would look into
the matter, and sift it out thorough
1 ~"
But, my lady. assure you there has
been no such man seen by any one"
VI. Pierre. Lady Fellcie saw him
with her own eyes this very night"
N. Pierre with difficulty repressed an
oath; his face was fairly conyulsed
with his efforts to hide his chagrin and
| confusion.
II am overwhelmed with astoDigh-
ment," stammered he; "of course I
cannot doubt Lady FeIicie's word. but
when one is frightened, Imagination
can go great way"
Lady Fellcie's red lips curled. and she
could scarcely hold her quiyering voice
to calmness as she interposed:
Though / were ever 80 terrified. NJ.
Pierre, 1t would not be likely that my
companion and myself should have
seen precisely the same apparition."
You had companion
Il did. We both saw a dark figure
with spade on his shoulder passing
along the forest path"
He sat moment in silence; then
crossing himself with a ganctimonious
air, exclaimed:
'Jeannot must be right, then; 1t Is
ghost or lie dlabIe himself"
Il think you will find the ghost a
substantial one; at all events, / wish
| you To inVpaffOafa the xaattor ona q