Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-04-22
CHAPTER XXIV.-lCoNT1NuEp J

OHb yes my young lduy'7 II Cell
you all about 1t; and indeed, 1t warns
up the old mans heart to see that
pleasant smile of yours again-sO much
that can tell 1t briskly, You remem-
Der the terrible night-there, there,
won't talk of it! l won't say a 'word
more than can help, it makes me
shiver myself. We servants were half
frightened to death, such of us as were
not in that wretch of an M. Pierre's
plot, and we huddled together, not
knowing what to do, for they wouldn't
let us fly away from the chateau. We
guessed what terrible thing was hap
pening, but couldn't get near you to
see, until the new band came, the
masked men, which drove M. Pierre's
folks away. Then, while they were
fighting outside, l crept into the chapel.
My old blood quite froze in my veins
at the sight l saw; I thought you were
all killed. l was going to try to bring
little life to those who showed no
wounds; but heard some one coming
through the broken window, and | ran
away as fast as / could; thought
should be killed for being there, so l
ran and hid away till everything was
quiet. When came out I found most
OF the servants gone; but there lay
poor Victories body right in the cor
ridor.
1.-THE masked men were most OF them
outside, keeping guard, thought ana
some were getting together blankets
and food, and piling them into bas-
kets; l crept back softly and looked IN
to the chapel. A tall man in mask
was there giving directions ABOUT
burying the bodies. He seemed to feel
dreadfully about the murder, and the
curse he uttered against that Villain
GUS Pierre made me feel sure he was
friendly to your family. I couldn't see
anything of my young mistress ana
this man kept asking where she was
One of his men said that they must
have carried her off, and then he start
ed and went out as fast as he could go,
The men followed him, and so l hurried
In and took my last look, as l expect
ed, of my dear mistress. Whlle was
bending over her, l saw little nutter-
ing beating at her throat. l put my
ear hastily to her heart; 1t was min
ute before | could make sure, then l
knew she was not dead. / stood a mo-
ment wringing my hands, not knowing
what to do; then some good saint put
It into my head to think OF Victorle
lying there dead. / tore out into the
corridor and brought the body in
changed the ornaments and NANTES,
and put the long training silk skirt
Of the countess on the dead girl, ana
the peasant cloak wrapped around
my mistress.
"The masked people came and car
ried the poor Victcrie to the grave In
stead of her mistress. They seemed
expecting M. Pierre every moment, and
maid no attention to the rear door.
Taking my mistress in my arms, l ran
Of through the darkness, on that side,
and got safely to my cottage. l could
not trust a soul, but telling my daugh-
ter it was Victorie, laid her on bed,
and gave her the best cordial / could
ind. She laid so all the next day, just
breathing q little, enough to show she
was not dead, but never opening her
eyes.
81 went over the spot where the
chateau had stood the next day. 1t
was a terrible sight, that smoking ring
Of charred ground; but my heart was
too full of the fear Of the knowledge
Of what had done getting to M. Pierre
To feel so badly as should have done
any other time.
II found out from the other servants
that It was NJ. Pierre who struck VIC
torie, because she begged the mistress
life. but none of 'em seemed to know
she was dead. Perhaps some OF his
men gave the last blows which made
the face so none could have told who
It was.
"He came up to me, and asked me
If I knew what had become OF the
Young mistress. l could answer inno-
cent enough there, and ! pointed to
the grave.
ono. no, said he; there are two
bodies missing. The old woman is
dead fast enough, but the other has
escaped and with a terrible oath he
warned me not to harbor her.
81 shook like leaf with fear, and
asked meekly enough if he cared about
my keeping Victorie, that she was at
my cottage sick.
keep her as long as you like said
he. but mind you, keep clear Of any
other
81 went home, trembling you may be-
lieve, but the saints seemed to help me.
NV lady never came to herself for
three long, dreary weeks, so as to know
anything, l mean, and l managed to
keep everybody out, and my daughter
and | took all the care of her. They |
were such wild times folks had enough |
to do to manage for themselves, with
out meddling with their nelghbors' az
fairs. NJ. Pierre came to the cottage |
once, but he only glanced into the
room where he supposed Vlctorie was
sick. He kept a guard around my
nIona t,oou, % M ona ahould come to /