Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-10-07
T s THE HOUSE 3
S OF THE WOLF.
k1dY llI3s \ = = \
SDEED BY STARLef ! WeYMss.
BY STAHLef ! WEYnas.
CHAPTER III.
THE ROAD TO PARIS.

The sun had not yet risen above the
hills when we three, with single serv-
ant behind US, drew rein at the end of
the valley, and easing our horses on the
ascent turned in the saddle to take a
last look at Caylus-at the huddled
gray town, and the towers above it.
A little thoughtful we all were, think.
The times were rough and our errand
was serious. But youth and early morn
ing are fine dispellers of care; and once
on the uplands, we trotted gayly for
ward, now passing through wide glades
IN the sparse oak forest, where the trees
all leaned one way, now over bare, wind
swept downs; or once and again de-
scending into chalky bottom, where
the stream dubbed through deep beds
of fern, and lonely farmhouse nes-
tied amid orchards.
Four hours riding, and we saw be-
low us Cahors, filling the bend of the
river. We cantered over the Vallandre
bridge. which there crosses the Lot,
and SO to M uncle's house of call in
the square. Here we ordered break
, fast, and announced with pride that
we were going to Paris.
Our host raised his hands. Nov
there!" he exclaimed, regret in his
voice. and if you had arrived yester-
day you could have travelled up with
Vidame de Beers! And you a small
party-saving your lordships' presence
and the roads but so-so!"
"But the vidame was riding with
only half a dozen attendants also!" I
less way.
The landlord shook his head. "Ah.
NJ. lie Vidame knows the world" he
answered, shrewdly. "He is not to be
taken off his guard, not hel One of
his men whispered me that 20 stanch
fellows would join him at Chateauroux.
They say the wars are over, but"
and the good man, struggling his Shout
ders, cast an expressive glance at some
fine fitches of bacon which We're hang
ing in his chimney. However, your
y lordships know better than l do" he
added, briskly. 81 am poor man. 1
only wish to live at peace with my
neighbors, whether they go to mass or
sermon"
This was a sentiment so common in
those days and so heartily echoed by
most men of substance both In town
and country that we did not stay to
assent to it; but having received from
the worthy fellow q token which would
| insure our obtaining fresh cattle at
Limoges, we took TO the road again,
n refreshed in body, and with some food
for thought.
K Extraordinarily attendants were
/ more than even such man as Beers,
1 who had many enemies, travelled with
in those days; unless accompanied by
ladies. That the vidame had provided
such reinforcement seemed to point
to wider scheme than the one with
4 which we had credited him. But we
4. could not guess what his plans were:
q since he must have ordered his people
before he heard of GATHERINGS engage
ment. Either his jealousy therefore
Y had put him on the alert earlier, or
his threatened attack on Pavannes
was only part of q larger plot. In
either case our errand seemed more
4 urgent, but scarcely more hopeful.
A The varied sights and sounds how
ever of the road-many of them new
much on this. Our eyes were young,
and whether it was a pretty girl lin
gering behind a troop of gypsies, or a
pair of strollers from Valencia-jong-
leurs theysti called themselves-sing-
ing in the old dialect of Provence, or
a Norman horse dealer with his string
of cattle tied head and tail, or the Puy
de Dome to the eastward over the
Auvergne hills, or a tattered old soldier
wounded in the wars-fghting for
either side, according as their lord
ships inclined--we were pleased with
all.
IN Yet we never forgot our errand. We
never, think, rose in the morning
too often stiff and sore-without think
ing; To-day or tomorrow or the next
day"-as the case might be-'we
shall make all right for Xiii" For
Xiii Perhaps it was the purest en-
thusiasm we were ever to feel, the least
selfish aim we were ever to pursue.
For Kit!
Meanwhile we met travellers of rank
on the road. Half the nobility of
France were still in Paris enjoying the
festivities which were being held to
mark the royal marriage. We OBJ
tanned horses where we needed them
without difficulty. And though we
had heard much of the dangers of the
way, infested as it was said to be by
disbanded troopers, we were not once
stopped or annoyed.
But it is not my intention to chron-