Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-04-29
CHAPTER X.
HAU, HAU. HUGUENOTS!


His late majesty. Henry the Fourth,
L remember-than whom no drawer
man wore sword. who loved danger, in
deed, for its own sake. and courted it as
a mistress, could never sleep on the
night before an action. L have heard
him say himself that it was so before
the fight of Argues. Croisette partook
of this nature, too, being high-strung
and apt to be easily over-wrought, but
never until the necessity for eXertion
had passed away; while Marie and 1.
though not a whit stouter at pinch,
were slower to feel and less easy to
move-more Germanic, in fact
1 name this here partly lest it should
be thought after what I have just told
Of Croisette that there was anything
of the woman about him-save the ten
derness; and partly to show that we
acted at this crisis each after his man
ner. While Croisette turned pale and
trembled, and hid his eyes, I stood
daZed, looking from the desolate house
to the face stiffening in the sunshine
and back again; wondering, though I
had seen scores of dead faces since day
break, and plenitude of suffering in
all dreadful shapes, how Providence
could let this happen to us. To us! In
his instincts man is as selfish as any
animal that lives.
1 saw nothing indeed of the dead face
and dead house after the first convinc
ing glance. I saw instead with hot, hot
eyes the old castle at home, the green
fields about the brook, and the gray
hills rising from them; and the terrace,
and Kit coming to meet US, Kit with
face and parted lips and avid eyes that
questioned US! And we with no COM
fort to give her, no love to bring back to
her!
a faint noise behind as of a sign
creaking in the wind, reused me from
this most painful reverie. I turned
round, not quickly or in surprise or
fear. Rather in the same dull wonder
The upper part of the booksellers door
was aiar. 1t was that / had heard
opened. An old woman was peering out
at us.
AS our eyes met, she made slight
movement to close the door again. But
l did not stir, and seeming to be reas
surred by second glance, she nodded
to me in a steaIthy fashion. I drew
step nearer. listlessly. ''Pst! Pst!"
she whispered. Her wrinkled old face,
which was like Normandy apple long
kept. was soft with pity as she looked at
Croisette. 'Pst,''
'Well!" 1 said. mechanically
rs he taken?'' she muttered.
.'Who taken?" [ asked stupidity.
She nodded towards the forsaken
house, and answered: 1.-The young lord
who lodged there? All! sirs," she con-
tinued, ''he looked gay and handsome.
if you'll believe me, as he came from tbs,
kings court yester even! AS bonny 4
sight in his satin coat, and his ribbons,
as my eyes ever saw! And to think THAI
they should be hunting him like a rat
to-day"
The woman's words were few and
simple. But what a change they made
in my world! How my heart awolle
from its stupor, and leapt up with Il
new joy and newborn hope! did
he get away?" I cried eagerly. did
he escape. mother, then?'
cay. that he did," she replied, quick
w. THAT poor fellow. yonder-he lies
quiet enough now. God forgive him his
hercsy. say I!-kept the door manful-
ly while the gentleman got on the roof
and ran right down the street on the
tops of the houses. with them firing and
hooting at him: for all the world as
if he had been a squirrel and they
pack of boys with stones!"
And he escaped"
Escaped" she answered, more slow
". shaking her old head in doubt. 81
do not know about thati | fear they
have got him by now. gentlemen.
have been shivering and shaking up
stairs with my husbard-he is in bed.
good man, and the safest place for him
the saints have mercy upon us! But
I heard them go with their shouting
end gunpowder right along to the river.
and l doubt they will take him between
this and the chatelet, 1 doubt they
VIII
How long ago was it, dame" cried.
"Oh. maybe half an hour. Perhaps
YOU are friends of his?' she added.
questioningly.
But l did not stay to answer her.
shook Croisette. who had not heard a
word of this. by the shoulder. There
is a chance that he has escaped"
cried in his ear. Escaped. do you
| hear?" And I told him hastily what
| she had said.
1t was fine. indeed. and sight to see
tears dry in his eyes. and energy and
the blood rush to his cheeks. and the
and muscle of his face. Then there
| is hope!" he cried. grasping my arm.
Hope. Anne. Come! Come! Do not
let us lose another instant. If he be
alive let US join him!"