Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-12-23
THE HOUSE 0
OF The WOLF.
& y z *
BY STANLef ! WEYMAR.
CHAPTER XI.
A NIGHT OF SORROW.
-.

LOUIS! LOUIS.
He turned with a start as the sound
of my voice, Joy and bewilderment-
and no wonder - in his countenance.
lie had not supposed us to be within
100 leagues of him. And 10! here we
were, kneee to knee, hand meeting
hand in a long grasp, while his eyes,
TO which tears sprang unbidden, dwelt
ON my face as though they could read
in it the features of his sweetheart.
Some one had furnished him with a
hat and enabled him to put his dress
in order, and washed his wound, which
was very slight, and these changes had
improved his appearance; so that the
shadow of grief and dependency pass
ing for a moment from him in the joy
of seeing me, he looked once more his
former self; as he had looked in the old
days at Caylus on his return from
hawking, or from some boyisn escapade
among the hills. Only, alas! he wore no
sword.
And now tell me all, he cried, after
his first exclamation of wonder had
found vent. How on earth do you
come here? Here, of all places, and by
my side? Is all well at Caylus? Surely,
mademoiselle is not"
''MadamoiselIe is very well! perfect
~ we'll. And thinking of you l swear."
] answered passionately. For u.s." l
went on, eager for the moment to es-
cape that subject-how could l talk of
it in the daylight and under strange
eyes Marie and Croisette are be-
hind. We left Caylus eight days ago.
We reached Paris yesterday evening.
We have not been to bed! We have
passed, Louis, such a night as L
never"
He stopped me with gesture.
"Hush!" he said, raising his hand.
Don't speak of it, Anne!" and | saw
that the fate of his friends was still too
recent, the horror of his awakening to
those dreadful sights and sounds was
still too vivid for him to bear reference
to them. Yet after riding for a time in
silence-though his lips moyed-he
asked me again what had brought me
up.
I'VE came to warn you-of him. l
answer ed, pointing to the solitary fig
ure of the vidame, who was riding
ahead of the party. "He-he said that
Kit should never marry you, and boast
ed of what he would do to you, and
frightened her. So, learning he was
going to Paris, we follow ed him-to
put you on you guard, you know" And
briefly sketched our adventures, and
the circumstances and mistakes which
had delayed us hour after hour
through all that strange night, until
the time had gone by when we could do
good.
His eyes glistened and his color rose
as told the story. He wrung my hand
warmly, and looked back to smile at
Marie and Croisette. 1T was like
you!" he calculated, with emotion.
1T was like her cousins! Brave, brave
ladsi The vicomte will live to be
proud of you! Some day you viii all
do great things! l say it,"
"But oh, Louis!'' | exclaimed, sor-
rowfnlly, though my heart was bound
ing with pride at his words, IF we lad
only been in time! If we had only
come 10 you two hours earlier!"
You would have spoken to little
purpose then. I fear," he replied, sha1l-
ing his head. I'VE were given over as
prey to the enemy. Warnings? we
had warnings III plenty. De Rosny
warned US. and We sco4fed at him. The
kings eve warned US. and wo trusted
MIN. But" and Louis form diiated
and his hand rose as Re went On, and
thought Of ISIS cousins prediction
1t viI never f>s SO again in france.
A--af Nrpe-f M man WIN rf4ar. 81 Is