The Saint Paul globe., 1897-08-08

could not catch, nor was I curious as to
the point of discussion; but It struck
me that as we had to wait here two
hours, 1t would be well to inquire If I
ccuid get some refreshments for our
selves, and feed for the beasts. For
answer to my question, I got a gruff
90 and ask my daughter" from the
smith, who turned as he spoke and be-
gan to tumble with his tools. I felt
my temper rising hotly, but stayed nv
arm, and bidding Jacques keep an eye
on the horses stepped toward the door
of the inn. AS 1 put my hand on il
to press 1T open, some one from within
made an effort to keep 1t shut; but I
was In no mood to be trif1ed with fur
ther, and pushing back the door with
out further ceremony, stepped in. In
doing so 1 thrust some one back a ward
or so, and found that 1T was the girl,
who was trying to bar me out. Asham-
ed of the violence / had shown I began
to apologize, whilst she stood before
me rubbing her elbow, and her face
flushed and red. The room was bare
and drear beyond description There
were a couple Of rough tables, chair
or so, an iron pot simmering over a
fire of green wood, whose pungent odor
filled the chamber In a corner a man
lay, apparently asleep, a tattered cloak
draWn over his features, so as to en-
t1rely conceal them. 1 felt in a moment
that this was the stranger who had
fled on our approach and that he was
paying fox. Guessing there was moro
behind this than appeared, but not
showing my suspicious in the least,
addressed the girl
L am truly sorry, and hope you are
not hurt; had L known it was you
should have been gentler. 1 have but
ourselves and food for the horses"
1T is nothing" she stammered. "'I
am not nurt. There is but a little soup
here, and for the horses-the grass that
grows outside"
There is some wine there at any
rate, and L rested my eye on a horn
cup, down whose side a red drop was
trickling, and then let it fall on the
sun hgure in the corner Of the room.
There is no fear l continued you
will be paid. do not look like a gem
tleman Of the road, trust?"
She shrank back at my words, and It
appeared as if hand moved suddenly
under the cloak Of the man who lay
feigntng sleep in the room, and the
quick movement was as if he had
clutched the haft of a dagger. I was
never brawler or blusterer, and least
of all did I wish to worry these poor
people, but the times were such that a
mans safety lay chiefly in himself for
the writ Of the king ran weak in the
outlying districts. The whole business,
too was so strange, that 1 was deter
mined to fathom it, and unbuckling my
sword, 1 placed it on table so as to
be ready on the instant, and then seat
ing myself on a stool beside it, said
somewhat sharply:
Enough, my girl; get me some wine,
and take out some to my servant. This
will pay for it," and I rang a fat crown
piece on the table. Hurry your father
if you can, and I will begone the mo-
ment my horse is shod.''
My tone was one not to be denied,
and taking up the money, she turned to
a cupboard, and with shaking fingers
drew a bottle therefrom and placed it
before me. Filling a cup l asked her
to bear 1t out to Jacques, and then
leaning back against the wall took a
pull at my own goblet, and judge of
my surprise when I found was tasting
nothing short of d'Arbois Of the '92 vim
tagei
AS 1 slipped my wine, and speculated
how it came there the girl came back,
and seeing that matters were as be-
fore, began to attend to her cooking
Whatever she had said to the smith
apparently had the effect of rousing
him to greater activity, for through the
open door I heard the putting Of his
bellows, and very soon came the clang,
clang of his hammer as he beat out
shoe.
1t was getting dark now within the
room, over which the flames of the fire
occasionally blazed up. and cast a fitful
and uncertain light. Outside, however,
there was a moon, and in a few min
utes at the most my horse would be
shod, and 1 would have to continue my
journey, without having discovered
what this little mystery meant.
could not help being little amused
at the manner in which my bashful
friend whose fare was we'll covered
up, kept himself prisoner in his cor
ner, but at this moment the girls cook
ing was finished, and the savory odor
of it was apparently more than he could
endure, for he suddenly sprang to his
feet. eXclaimirg:
''Nom du diable! I am sick of this
and hungry as a wolf. Give me my
supper, Marie-and if he wants TO take
me-let him do so if he can-he VIII
have to fight an old soldier first
AS he spoke I distinctly saw his hand
Indicate me, and with an alarmed
cry the girl sprang between US. 1t
flashed upon me that my gentleman
was, after all, only some one who was
wanted, and that he regarded me with
as much apprehension as 1 had re-
garded him with caution.
''Tush|' | said, you good people
make a great fuss over nothing. 1 Ger
tainlY do not want to take you, my
man, and neither you nor your little
sweetheart here need be in the least
alarmed"
I had hardly finished speaking when
he rushed forward. 1T is the cheval-
ier 1T is Monsieur d'Auriac idiot.
turkey, pig that 1 am to have kept my
eyes shut, and not recognize you. Mon
sieur, do you not know me-Nicholas,
your sergeant, whom you saved from
the rope?"
Where you appear likely to go
in Ni0hniaS. h,,t who
sl<ulking about here for?' The wood
in the fire place blazed up as 1 spoke,
look at the girl, who had moved to his
side, and stood with her hands hold
ing onto his cloak
This place was my home once, mon
sieur," he said bitterly. land 1 have
come back to it,
Il see you have, sergeant-but why
in this way?'
Monsieur, 1 was driven to straits
and did a thing. Then they hunted
me from Dreux to Rouvres, from RouY-
res to Anet-"
Where you appear to have made
free with the dukes cellar. eh?''
1T is not so, monsieur" burst in the
girl, neither he nor we have done that
the wine you have drunk was a gift
from madame, the Duchess
There was truth in every line of her
features, in the fierce little gestures
fense of her lover. 1 was sorry I let
my tongue bite so hard and said so,
and went on with my inquiries.
"And from Anet you came here?"
'It is but a tone-throw," Nicholas
answered, land [ had q business in