Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-10-21
CHAPTER Y.
A PRIEST AND A WOMAN.

PRIEST AND A WOMAN.
"He is my husband"
The statement was made in the purcst
innocence; yet never, as may well be
imagined, did words fall with more
stunning force. Not one of us an
swered, or, 1 believe, moved so much as
limb or an eyelid. We only stared,
wanting time to take in the astonishing
meaning of the words, ard then more
time to think what they meant to US in
particular.
Louis de Pavannes' wife! Louis de
Pavannes married! If the statement
were true-and we could not doubt,
looking in her face, that at least she
thought she was telling the truth-it
meant that we had been fooled indeed!
That we had had this journey for moth
ing, and run this risk Tor villain.
1t meant that the Louis de Pavannes
who bad won our boyish admiration
was the meanest. the yi1est of court
gallants. That Mile. de Caylus had been
his sport and plaything. And that
we in trying to be beforehand with
Beers had beer striving to save a
scoundrel from his due. 1t meant all
that as soon as we grasped it in the
least.
Madame" said Croisette, gravely,
after a pause so prolonged that her
smile faded pitifully from her face.
scared by our strange looks, "your
husband has been some time away from
your He only returned. think,
week or two Rgo?"
THAT is so,' she answered, naiveiy,
and our last hope vanished "Rut
what of that? He was back with me
again, and only yesterday-only yes
terday'" she continued, clasping her
hands, I'VE were SO happy"
"And now, madame?'
She looked at me. not comprehend
ing.
Il mean," fastened to explain. I'VE
do not understand how you come to be
here. And prisoner" was really
thinking that her story might throw
some light upon oars.
Il do not know. myself" she said.
Yesterday IL the afternoon. paid
visit to the Abbess of the Ursulines.'
Pardon me-" Croisette interposed
quickly, "but are you not of the new
faith? A Huguenot?''
"Oh. yes" she answered. eagerly.
"But the abbess is a very dear friend of
mine, and no bigot. On, nothing of
that kind, assure You. When am in
Paris l visit her once week Yes1er-
day, when left her, she begged me to
call here and deliver message"
L.
house? 2"
@Very well, indeed" she replied. 1T
is the sign of the Hand and Glove one
door out of the Rue P1atriehe. have
been in Master Mirepoix's shop more
than once before. came here yester-
day to deliver the message, leaving my
maid in the street, and was asked to
come upstairs, and still up until 1
reached this room. Asked to wait a
moment, / began TO think it strange
that should be brought to so wretched
q place, when had merely a message
for Mirepoix's ear about some gaunt-
lets. l tried the door; found it was
locked. Then was terrified, and made
q noise"
We all nodded. We were busy build
ing up theories-or it might be one and
the same theory-to explain this.
''Yes," said, eagerly.
''Mirepoix came to me then. What
does this mean?' 1 demanded. He
looked ashamed Of himself. but he
barred my way. Only this he slid, at
last, that your ladyship must remain
here a few hours--two days at most.
No harm whatever is intended TO you
Ny wife viii wait upon you, and when
you leave US all shall be explained He
would say no more, and it was In vain
that I asked him If he did not take me
for some one else; if he thought was
mad. To all he answered: No And