Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-10-21

] have been here since. sUspccting
know not what. but fearing every
thing
THAT is ended, madame, answered.
my hand ON my breast, my soul IN arms
for her. Here, unless l was ms taken,
was one more unhappy and more deep
4 II wronged even than Kit: one too who
owed her misery 70 the same villain
/ Were there nine glovers on the stairs. =
/ I declared roundly, we would take
YOU ont and take you home! Where are
your husbands apartments? ."
4 IN the Rue de Saint Merri, close to
the church. We have a house there"
M. de Pavannes," l suggested, cum
ningly, is doubtless distracted by your
disappearance"
''Oh, surely" she answered, with ear
nest simplicity, while the tears sprang
to her eyes. Her innocence-she had
not the germ of suspicion-made me
grind my teeth with wrath. Oh, the
base wretch! The miserable rascal!
What did the women see. I wondered
what had we all seen in this man, this
Iavannes. that won for him our hearts,
when he had only a stone to give in re-
turn?
l drew Croisette and Marie aside APP
parently to consider how we might
force the door. What is the meaning
of this?" said, softly. glancing at the
unfortunate lady. What do you think.
Croisette?"
knew well what the answer would
be.
Think" he cried, with fiery impa-
thence. what can anyone think ex-
Cept that that villain Pavannes has him
self planned his wife's abduction? Of
course it is so! His wife out of the
way, he is free TO follow up his in
t1igues at Caylus. He may then marry
Kit Or Curse him."
NO" / said, sternly, "cursing is no
good. we must do something more.
And yet we have promised Kit, you
see, that we would save him-we must
keep our word. We must save him
from Beers, at least"
Marie groaned.
But Croisette took up the thought
with ardor. From Beers ?" he cried,
his face aglow. Gay, true! So we
must! But then we will draw lots, who
shall fight him and kill him."
extinguished him by look. eve
shall fight him in turn l said, until
one of us kill him. There you are
right. But your turn comes last. Lots
indeed! We have no need of lots to
learn which is the eldest"
was turning from him-having
very properly crushed him-to look for
something which we could use to force
the door, when he held up his hand to
arrest my attention. We listened,
looking at one another. Through the
window came unmistakable sounds of
voices. "They have discovered our
fight" I said, my heart sinking.
Luckily we had the forethought to
draw the curtain across the easement.
Refers people could, therefore, from
their windows, see no more than ours,
dimly lighted and indistinct Yet
they would, no doubt, guess the way
we had escaped, and hasten TO cut off
our retreat below. For a moment
looked at the door of our room, half
minded to attack it, and fight our way
out, taking the chance of reaching the
street before Beers folk should have
recovered from their surprise and gone
down But then l looked at madame.
How could we insure her safety in the
struggle? While l hesitated the choice
was taken from US We heard
voices in the house below. and heavy
feet ON the stairs.
glanced irresolutely round the bare
garnet, with its sloping roof, searching
for a better weapon. l had only my
dagger. But in vain. saw nothing
that would serve. what will YOU
do?" Nine. de Pavannes mur1nured,
standing pale and trembling by the
hearth, and looking from one to an
other. Croisette plucked my sleeve
before could answer, and pointed to
the box bed with its scanty curtains.
IF they see us in the rpom," he urged,
softly, while they are half IN and half
ont, they will give the alarm. Let us
hide ourselves yonder. When they are
inside-you understand ?''
He laid his hand ON his digger. The
muscles of the lads face grew tense.
did understand him. Madame"
said quickly, you will not betray us or
She shook her head. The color re-
turned to her cheek and the brightness
TO her eyes, She was true woman.
The sense that she was protecting
Others deprived her of fear for herself.
The footsteps were on the topmost
stair now, and key was thrust with
rasping sound into the lock- But be
fore it could be turned-it fortunate
~ fitted ill-we three had jumped on
the bed and were crouching in row at
the head of it. where the curtains of
the alcove concealed, and only just con-
cealed, Us from anyone standing at the
end of the room near the door.
was the outermost, and through
a chink could see what passed. One,
two. three people came in, and the
door WIS closed behind them. Three
people, and one of them woman! My
heart-which had been in my mouth