Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-09-30

was open. We remembered now that II
was. and we were so sorely mortified by
his knowledge of our folly, that l failed
in my courtesy. and did not see him TO
the gate, as l should have done. We
paid for that later.
HE is the devil in person!" l ex-
claimed, angrily. shaking my fist at the
House of the Wolf, as l strobe up and
down impatiently. 81 hate him worse.'
so do l." said Croisette, mildly.
''But that he hates US is a matter of
more Importance. At any rate we Will
close the shoot"
wait a moment" replied, as, after
another volley of complaints directed
at our visitor. the lad was moving of
to see to it. What is going on down
there?"
Upon my word, 1 believe he is leav-
ing us!" Croisette rejoined sharply.
For there was a noise of hoofs below
us, gathering on the pavement. Half
a-dozen horsemen were issuing from the
House of the Wolf, the ring of their
brides and the sound of their careless
voices came up TO us through the clear
morning air. Beers valet, whom we
knew by sight, was the last of them. He
had pair of great saddle-bags before
him, and at sight of these we uttered a
glad exclamation. He is going!"
murmured, hardly able to believe my
eyes. HE is going after ALL"
'Wait!" Croisette answered dryly.
But ne was right. We had not to
wait long. He was going. In another
moment he came out himself. riding
strong iron-gray horse; and we could
see that he had holsters to his saddle.
His steward was running beside him,
to take, suppose, his last orders. a
cripple, whom the hustle had attracted
from his usual haunt, the church porch,
held up his hand for aims. The vidamc
as he passed, cut him savagely across
the face with his whip, and cursed him
audibly.
MAY the devil take him!" exclaimed
Croisette in just rage. But said moth
ing. remembering that the cripple was
particular pet of GATHERINGS.
thought instead of an occasion.not so
very long ago, when the vicomte being
at home, we had had great hawking
party. Beers and Catherine had rid
den up the street together. and Cath
crime giving the cripple a piece of
money, Beers had flung TO him all his
share of the game. And my heart sank.
Only for moment, however. The
man was gone; or was going atany rate
We stood silent and motionless, oil
watching, until after what seemed O
- khe v-$xr -
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 slackened 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 aloud 'Vhoop!"
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 all 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 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 l had never seen on
it before. Catherine, so kind and so
gentle, calling US fools! And without
cause! l did not understand it.
turned confusedly to Croisette. He
was looking at her. and l saw that be
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 un-
derstand!"
looked amazedly at this angry wom-
an. l had difficulty in associating
her with my cousin. AS for Croisette.
he stepped forward abruptly, and
picked up a white object which was
lying at her feet.
Yes. read it," she cried, read it'll
Ali" 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 knuclles. why did
you not kill him? Why did you not do
it while you had the chance? You were
three to one!" she Kissed. you had
him in your powerl You could have
killed him. and you did notl Now he
will kill mel"
Nine. Claude muttered something
L