Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-07-15

Eant, Wnlle the QOCF was closed ana
locked behind her; then raising her
eyes, she saw the tall figure of the
Duke, who had risen and was coming
forward.
She made deep and revereptial curt
sey 1t seemed to her that as he was
a Prince of the Blood Royal she ought
to kneel to him. But Bourbon soon
ended her doubts; bending forward, he
took her hands On his, and kissed her
on either cheek.
Welcome, my fair kinswomah! The
sight of you is real refreshment to a
weary traveller whose misfortunes have
banished Kim from the sight of Lovely
faces"
Before the blushing girl could speak
he had placed her in a chair, and pre-
scented to her his friend.
The sight Of the Duke, a long cher
ished wish dating from early child
hood, had excited Jeanne, and made
her for moment forget the great peril
that menaced him; but the anglers
matter-of-fact appearance and his
words recalled her scattered wits.
Madame" he said CURLY, my lord
is impatient to know to what cause he
is indebted for this vfsit?"
The Duke frowned; his extreme cour-
tesy towards women made him think
his friends words abrupt Jeanne's
eyes sparkled with eagerness and af-
lection as she gazed at the noble face,
on which the lines of remorse and cark-
ing care were already stamped.
my lord''-her sweet, timid voice
added to the fascination of her appear
ance-"may l ask if you think to sleep
tonight in this hostel?"
YES dear child; We had so planned, -
the Duke answered.
Jeanne looked from his grand face,
with it's ivory-tinted skin and gleam-
ing dark eyes, now fixed on her as if to
read her thoughts, and then she glanced
at the quiet, more commonplace cOun-
tenance beside him. The quiet man
looked far more on the alert than Bour-
bon did; her question had brought keen
anxiety into the eyes of De Pomperant.
Madame has special reason for
asking that question. May l know
what it is?" he said.
The Constable looked away; he had
been about to question Jeanne on the
subject of her mothers death; his
friends interruption appeared to him
Intrusive and uncalled for.
Il have the grayest reason, mon
sieur," Jeanne said in low voice TO
De Pomperant. 1T touches the safe
ty of his highness; he is in danger
while he stays in this house"
"Your devotion, sweet child, makes
you over-anxious," Bourbon interrupt
ed. '"The mistress Of the inn Is my
foster-mother; she would as soon be-
tray her own child"
Jeanne felt alarmed at her own dar-
ing.
Pardon me, your highness," she
said Quickly; 'tthe danger 1 warn you
of comes not from within. but from
without; it comes from the Count OF
Laval, who brought me hither, and
from his soldiers"
The Constable looked at her with
surprise.
Foy de Prince! He is your husband,
is he not? And yet | mind me that
your message was from Jeanne Ker-
grist, daughter of my old friend the
most loyal heart that ever beat IN
France or elsewhere. You, dear child,
must explain this riddle; how it is that
/ find your fathers daughter, if she is
not a wife, travelling in the company OF
the Chevalier de Retz, or Count of
Laval? Nom de Dieu! l know the
man and his deeds"
Jeanne was Greatly trouble. What
could her affairs signify, she asked her
self, when every moment was needed
to put distance between the Duke and
his pursuers? But those brilliant eyes
fixed SO searchingly ON hers compelled
an answer
A happy inspiration came to her.
She remembered Therese Vougeon.
My lord" she said with dignity-for
she felt that the Duke judged her in
ignorance am the widow Of the
late Count of Laval, a good and noble
man; at his death he babe his cousin
and successor take me with him to
Aboise, for | am ward Of the king"
The Dukes frOwn alarmed her, but
she went on: Hence it is that I travel
in his company. After we quilted Law
al, news came that the King had gone
south, and we followed him. 1t was
thus that l came to Moulins, and spoke
with Therese VougeOn at her inn, lie
Occur Loyal. Till then I had trusted
my guide, but she babe me beware of
him, and besought me if l by chance
met with your Highness, to give you
instant warning against him. She said"
Jeanne looked anXiously from one
face to the other-''that he was track
ing you to give you up to the King"
De Pomperant's hand grasped his
sword hilt.
How came you, madame, to remain
with the Count when you had received
such a warning?" The Duke spoke al
most Indignantly. IF you knew him
as others do, lady, you would know
that such a woman as you are is not
safe in his hands; and if you consent
to wed him, child. he means but to
rob you, and to break your heart"
His tone changed to earnest pleading.
do not listen to him, l beseech you;
avoid him as you would pestilence.
Jeanne smiled, but she looked CRATE
full.
Il thank my lord for his kind thought
for me. l would gladly free myself, but
how can /? / am alone, save for my
two women. Surely, my lord, he dares
not harm me, the widow of his kins-
man, and the Kings ward?"
Charles de Bourbon shrugged his
shoulders and turned away at the name
of the King.
De Pomperant, however, was impa-
tient; he thought that Jeanne's affairs
no hoop fpn 1opo ,,pJor Iicouccin,,