Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-05-13

passed to the vaults of St Denis; and a
greater king, the first of all French
men, alive or dead, the bravest, gayest-
wisest of the land, succeeded him; yet
even he had to fall by the knife, in a
moment most unhappy for his country.
before France, horror-stricken, put
away the treachery and evil from her.
Talking with Louis as we rode, it was
not i1nnatural-nay, it was the natural
result of the situation-that I should
avoid one subject. Yet that subject
was the uppermost in my thoughts.
What were the vidame's intentionso
What was the meaning of this strange
Journey? What was to be Louis fate?
s.hrank with good reason from asking
him these questions. There could be
so little room for hope, even after that
smile which / had seen Beers smile.
that I dared not dwell upon them. :
should but torture him and myself.
So it was he who first spoke about it.
Not at that time, but after sunset,
when the dusk had fallen upon us, and
found us still plodding southwark with
| tired horses; link outwardly like other
links in the long chain of riders, toll
ing EDWARDS. Then he said suddenly
do you know whittier we are going,
Anne?''
1 started, and found myself strug-
Cling with a strange confusion before
l coald reply. Home" suggested at
random.
Home? No. And yet nearly home.
| To Cahors," he answered with an odd
quietude. "Your home, my boy, shall
never see again, nor Kit! Nor my own
| Xiii" 1t was the first time had heard
him call her by the fond name we used
ourselves. And the pathos in his tone
as of the past, not the present, as of
pure memory was very thankful
that could not in the dusk see his face
shook my self-control. wept. NAY.
my lad," he went on, speaking softly
and leaning from his saddle so that he
could lay his hand on my shoulder, 1--WE
are all men together. We must be
brave. Tears cannot help us, so we
should leave them to the-women."
I cried more passionately at that
Indeed his own voice quavered over the
last word. But in a moment he was
talking to me coolly and quietly.
had m-uttered something to the effect
that the vidame would not dare-ft
would DC too public.
''There is no question of daring in
it," he replied. and the more public
it is, the better he Will like it. They
have dared to take thousands of lives
since yesterday. There is no one tC
call him to account since the king
our king forsooth!-has declared every
Huguenot an outlaw to be killed wher
ever he be met with. No, wheI
Beers disarmed me yonder," he point
ed as he spoke to his wound, ST looked
of course for instant death. Anne
I saw blood in his eyes! But he die
not strike
"Why not?' I asked, in suspense.
81 can only guess" Louis answered
with a sigh. HE told me that my
life was in his hands, but that he shoult
fake it at his own time. Further, tina
if I would not give my word to go will
him without trying to escape, he would
throw me to those bowling dogs out
: side. L gave my word. We are OF
the road together. And, oh, Anne
yesterday, only yesterday at this time
I was riding home with Telig1y from
the Louvre, where we had been playin.
at paume with the king. And the worl,
tho world was very fair
81 saw you, or rather Crnisette did,
, 7 muttered as his sorrows--not 70
himself, but for his friends-force'
him to stop. "Yet how, Louis, do yo1
know that we are going to Cahors?"
/, ''He told me as we passed through tn
gates, that he was appointed Iieuten
III ant governor of Quercy to carry out tn
edicU against religion. Do you not see
| Anne? my companion added bitterly
ito kill me at once were too small
| revenge for him! He must torture IN
Y or rather, he would if he could
I by the pains of anticipation, besides
l my execution would so finely ope
\ his bed of justice. BAH" and Pavan
| mes raised his head proudly, Il fea
| him notl I fear him not a joti''
| For a moment he forgot Kit, the los
| of his friends, his own doom. FL
| snapped his fingers in derision of hi
l foe.
I But my heart sank miserably. TIL
| vidame's rage, / remembered, had bee
| directed rather against my cousin tina
| her lover; and now by the light of hi
| threats I read Beers purpose NOR
| clearly than Louis could. His aim wa
| to punish the woman who had playe
| with him. To do so he was bringin
her lover from Paris that he might e2
ecute him-after giving her notice
t That was it; after giving her NOTES
e it might be in her very presence! b
!. would lure her to Cahors, and then
e 1 shuddered.' I well might feel tina
e a precipice was opening at my fee
l There was something in the plan S
devilish, yet so accordant with thos
: stories I had heard of the wolf, tha
! / felt no doubt of my insight. L rea
i his evil mind, and saw in a momer
Y why he had troubled himself with u
He hoped to draw mademoiselle t