Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-12-30

elsewhere Nun9 Win tapestry, wen
lighted by three old pointed windows
reaching to the rush-covered floor. The
room was large, set here and there with
stands of arms. and had dais with a
raised carved chair at one end. The
ceiling was of blue. with gold stars
set about it. Seeing this, l remembered
the place. had been in it once, years
ago, when had attended the vicomte
on state visit to the governor. All!
that the vicomte were here now!
/ advanced to the middle window,
which was open. Then l started back,
for outside was the scaffold built level
with the floor, and Undiscovered like
it, Two or three people were lounging
on it. My eyes sought Louis among
the group. but in vain. He was not
there; and while l looked for him /
heard noise behind me. and he came
in, guarded by four soldiers with pixies.
His face was pale and grave, but per-
fectly composed. There was a wistful
look in his eyes indeed, as if he were
thinking of something or some one far
away-Kit's face on the sunny hills of
Quercy, where he had ridden with her.
perhaps; look which seemed to say
that the doings here were nothing to
him, and the parting was yonder where
she was. But his bearing was calm and
collected, his step firm and fearless.
When he saw us, indeed his face light
cned moment and he greeted us cheer
fully, even acknowledged Bure's salu
tation with dignity and good temper.
Croisette sprang towards him impul-
sively, and cried his name-Croisette
ever the first to speak. But before
Louis could grasp his hand, the door
at the bottom of the hall swung open,
and the vidame came hurriedly in.
He was alone. He glanced around.
his forbidding face, which was some
what flushed as if by haste, wearing a
scowl. Then he saw us. and, nodding
laughtily, strobe up the floor, his spurs
blinking heavily on the boards. He
gave us no greeting, but by short word
dismissed Bure and the soldiers to the
lower end of the room. And then he
stood and looked at us four, but princi-
pally at his rival; and looked, and
looked with eyes of smoldering. hate.
And there was silence, a long silence,
while the murmur of the crowd came
almost cheerfully through the window,
and the sparrows under the caves
chirped and twittered, and the heart
that throbbed least painfully was, 1
do believe, Louis de Pavannes'!
At last Beers broke the silence.
M. de Pavannes!" he began, speak
ing hoarsely, yet concealing all passion
under a cynical smile and mock po-
likeness, M. de Pavannes, L hold the
kings commission to put TO death all
the Huguenots within my province of
Quercy. Have you anything to say.
beg, why should not begin with you !?
Or do you wish to return to the
church,"
Louis shrugged his shoulders as in
contempt, and held his peace. saw
his captor's great hands twitch CON
vulsively at this, but still the vidame
mastered himself. and when he spoke
again he spoke slowly. Very well,
he continued, taking no heed of us, the
silent witnesses of this strange strug-
gle between the two men, but cycling
Louis only. You have wronged me
moro than any man alive. Alive or
dead! or dead! You have thwarted me,
NJ. de Pavannes, and taken from me the
woman | loved. Six days ago l might
have killed you. 1 had it in my power.
had but to leave you to the rabble, re-
member, and you would have been rot
ting at Montfaucon to-day, NJ. de Pa
Vannes."
THAT is true said Louis. quietly
why SO many words?'
But the vidame went on as if he had
not heard Il did not leave you to
them" he resumed, "and yet hate you
more than ever hated any man yet,
and l am not apt to forgive. But now
the time has come, sir, for my revengei
The oath / swore your mistress a fort
night ago l will keep to the letter. L
Silence, babel" he Numbered, turning
suddenly, 'or win keep my word with
you, tool"
Croisette had muttered something.
and this had drawn on him the glare of
BEERS eyes. But the threat was eff
fectual. Croisette was silent. The two
were left henceforth to one another.
Yet the vidame seemed to be put out
by the interruption. Muttering a string
of oaths, he strobe back again. The
cool cynicism with which he was won't
to veil his anger and impose on other
men, while it heightened the effect of
his ruthless deeds, in part fell from
him. He showed himself as he was
masterful. and violent, hating, with all
the strength of a turbulent nature
which had never known a check. /
quailed before him myself. confess it.
"Listen!" he continued harshly, COM
ing back and taking his place in front
of US at last, his manner more violent
than before the interruption Il might
have left you to die in that he'll yonder!
And l did not leave you. had but to
hold my hand and you would have been
torn to pieces! The wolf, however,
does not hunt with the rats, and
Beers wants no help in his vengeance