Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-02-11
T s THE HOUSE q
m OF TIE WOLF.
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SDlGS By STANLEY. WEYsissaN.
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BY STANLEY J. WEYMaA.
CHAPTER u.-CoNT1NUED.

CHAPTER II.-CoNTINUED.
Only for a moment, however. The
man was gone; or was going at any rate.
We stood silent and motionless, all
watching, until after what seemed a
long interval, the little party of seven
became visible on the white road far
below us-to the northward, and NOV
ing in that direction. Still we watched
them, muttering a word to one an
other, now and again, until presently
the riders slacl1ened their pace. and
began to ascend the winding track that
led to the hills and Cahors; and to
Paris also, if one went far enough.
Then at length with a loud 'Whoop!"
we dashed across the terrace, Croisette
leading, and SO through the courtyard
to the parlor; where we arrived breath
less. He is Off" Croisette cried, shril-
ly. HE has started for Paris. And bad
luck go with him!" And we ali threw
up our caps and shouted.
But no answer, such as we expected,
came from the women folk. When we
picked up our caps, and looked at Cath
crime, feeling rather foolish. she was
staring at us with a white face and
great scornful eyes. 'Fools!'' she
said. "Fools!"
And that was all. But it was enough
to take me aback. I had looked to see
her face Tighten at our news; instead it
wore an expression 1 had never seen on
it before. Catherine, so kind and so
gentle, calling US fools And without
cause! I did not understand it. !
turned confusedly to Croisette. He
was looking at her. and 1 saw that he
was frightened. AS for Nine. Claude,
she was crying in the corner. A pre-
sentiment of evil made my heart sink
like lead. What had happened?
''Fools!" my cousin repeated. with eX-
ceeding bitterness, her foot tapping the
parquet increasingly. .Do you think
he would have stopped to avenge him
self on you? On you! Or that he
could hurt me Tooth part as much here
as-as-" She broke off stammering.
Her scorn faltered for an instant.
Bah! he is a man! He knows!" she
exclaimed. superbly, her chin in the
air; but you are boys. You do not I'M
derstand!"
looked anlazedly at this angry wom-
an. I had difficulty in associating
her with my cousin. AS for Croisette,
he stepped forward abruptly, and
picked up q white object which was
lying at her feet.
Yes. read it," she cried, read it!
Ahi'' and she clenched her little hand,
and in her passion struck the oak table
beside her, so that a stain of blood
sprang out of her knucIlles. "Why did
you not kill him? Why did you not do
it while you had the chance?. You were
three to one!" she Missed. you had
him in your power! You could have
killed him, and you did not! Now he
will kill mel"
Nine. Claude muttered something
tearfully; something about Pavannes
cites shoulder. and read the letter.
1t began abruptly without any term of
address, and ran thus: II have a mis-
sion in Paris, mademoiselle, which adj
mits of no delay, your mission, as we'll
as my own-to see Pavannes. You have
won his heart. 1t is yours, and will
bring it to you, or his right hand, in to-
ken that he has yielded up his claim to
yours. And to this pledge myself"
The thing bore no signature. It was
written in some red fuid-blood per
haps-a mean and sorry trick! On the
outside was scrawled direction to
Mile. de Caylus. And the packet was
sealed with the vidame's crest, a VOLTS
head.
The coward! The miserable cow