The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1897-04-23
CHAPTER XXIv.-(CoNriSurp. !

"Oh. yes, my young lady. I'll tell
you all about it; and indeed, 1t warns
up the old mans heart to see that
pleasant smile of yours again-so much
That can tell it briskly. You remem-
Der the terrible night-there, there, !
won't talk of. it! l won't say word
more than 1 can. help, it makes me
shiver myself. We servants were nan
frightened to death, such or us as "oio
not in that wretch of an M. Pierre )
plot. and we huddled together, not
knowing what to do, for they "ouiuh
LET us fly away from the chateau. we
guessed what terrible thing was nap
pening, but couldn't get near you "
see. until the new band came, the
masked men. which drove NJ. Pierre's
folks away. Then, while they were
fighting outside, crept into the chapel
My old blood quite froze in my VEINS
at the sight saw; thought you were
all killed. / was going to try 10 prlns
a little life to those who showed no
wounds; but heard some one coming
through the broken window, ana ran
away as fast as l could; | thought l
should be killed for being there, SO l
ran and hid away till everythihs was
ouiet. When came out l found most
of the servants gone; but there lay
poor Victories body right in the COT
rider.
THE masked men were most oil them
outside, keeping guard, ] thought anu
some were getting together piahke's
and food, and piling them lnto pas
kets: l crept back softly and looked IN
to the chapel. A tall man in mask
was there giving directions apou.
burying the bodies. He seemed to feel
dreadfully about the murder, ana the
curse he uttered against that Vliialh-
ous Pierre made ME feel sure ne was
friendly to your family. couiuh see
anything of my young mistress anu
this man kept asking where she was
One of his men said that they must
have carried her off, and then ne stai'
ed and went out as fast as he could go.
The men followed him. and SO l hurrieu
In and took nv last look, as l expect
ed. of my dear mistress. Whiie was
bending over her, ! saw little hu''er-
ing beating at her throat. put my
ear hastily to her heart; 1t was MIL
ute before | could make sure, then
knew she was not dead. STOOD a mo-
ment wringing my hands, not knowing
what to do; then some good SAINT pu'
it into my head to think OF Vlctorle
lying there dead. | tore out INTO the
corridor and brought the body IN
changed the ornaments and nantes
and put the long training SILK sklrt
of the countess on the dead girl, ana
the peasant cloak l wrapped around
my mistress.
1.-THE masked people came ana car
ried the poor Victcrie to the grave IN
stead of her mistress. They seemeu
expecting M. Pierre every moment, ana
paid no attention to the rear door.
Taking my mistress in my arms, ran
of through the darkness, on tnat size,
and got safely to my cottage. coula
not trust soul, but telling my daueh-
ter it was Victorie, laid her on pea,
and gave her the best cordial l coulu
find. She laid SO all the next day, just
breathing little, enough to show she
was not dead, but never opening ner
eyes.
al went over the spot where the
chateau had stood the next day. IL
was a terrible sight that smoking ring
of charred ground; but my heart was
TOO full of the fear of the knowledge
of what had done getting to M. Pierre.
to feel so badly as should have done
any other time.
81 found out from the other servants
that it was NJ. Pierre who struck VIC
torie, because she begged the mistress
life. but none of 'em seemed to know
she was dead. Perhaps some OF his
men gave the last blows which made
the face so none could have told who
il was.
"He came up to me, and asked me
il knew what had become OF the
Young mistress. l could answer inno-
cent enough there, and l pointed to
the grave.
"'No. no. said he; there are two
bodies missing. The old woman is
dead fast enough, but the other has
escaped and with terrible oath he
warned me not to harbor her.
81 shook like leaf with fear, and
asked meekly enough if he cared about
my keeping Victorie, that she was at
my cottage sick.
keep her as long as you like" said |
he. but mind you, keep clear of any
other.
81 went home, trembling you may be-
lieye. but the saints seemed to help me.
Ny lady never came to herself for
three long, dreary weeks, so as to know
I mean, and / managed to
keep everybody out, and my daughter
and / took all the care of her. They
were such wild times folks had enough |
to do to manage for themselves, with
out meddling with their neighbors' af-
fairs. M. Pierre came to the cottage |
,roo A,,t he 0nIxy Ulanood info fhp |