Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-06-27

when he received the news that Mad
anne kergrist was near her end, and he
at once sent for me. There is no time
to be lost, Etienne,' he said; messen-
ger must be dispatched to Longuedec
with a letter to announce that you are
setting forth with an escort, to claim
my bride and bring her to Laval |
demonstrated; | knew that prepara-
tons for your reception had been made
some time before, and that all was
ready. | urged that some one might
be sent in my place, Or that you could
be kept waiting until the Count was
himself able to go to Longuedec; urg-
ed that | could not leave him while he
was suffering. He was infexible in
his determination, madame He said
ne had promised your mother to
claim you as soon as she had passed
away, and he must keep his word
The Seneschal and the rest will care
for me- he said, and you know that
our chaplain is skillful both as nurse
and physician. If need should arise.
L Will summon the Kings leech from
Amboise. | still demonstrated. I
said 1t was a dismal time to bring a
young bride home; but the Count
would not listen. He said he could not
pear TO think OF your unprotected posi-
tion at Longuedec, now that the coun-
Try Is known to be infested with mar
duders. He became at last angered by
my opposition. and had to obey, when
ne SAID that to me only could he en-
trust SO precious charge as the safe
ty OF the Countess of Laval"
He StOODf0 and lOoI~o5 -,
ne remained silent; she felt unbeliev-
ing. This story sounded to her too
plausible to be quite true: she felt
sure that she ought to have been told
me truth before she left her own home.
De Retz saw the doubt in her eyes.
Madame doubtless wonders why I
did not speak of this before she quilted
Longuedec; but | had no choice in the
matter l had only to obey my cousin,
and to escort his bride to Laval l ask
you, madame, to imagine what sore
blow it was to me to learn on our ar
rival that the Count had had passed
away, and had that morning been laid
in the grave of his ancestors"
Jeanne's face was without express
sion; she felt hard and cold as a stone.
Madame will therefore,
Pardon me, monsieur" she said
brusquely, ''but l must blame you. At
least | should have been told the truth
on my arrival. / am not a child; this
cOncealment was unnecessary, and
foolish
She looked greatly displeased as she
rose and, followed by Gillonne, turned
to leave the chamber.
De Retz had expected tears; perhaps
petularce. The girls stern dignity
disconnected his plans; but he recov-
cred himself before the door closed on
her.
Il pray you grant me moment,
madame, and then | will no longer in
trude my presence on your great sor-
row."
Jeanne WINGED she knew that she
had not shed tear or shown any sor-
row for the death of her husband; the
shock seemed to have dulled other feel
ings; in the deep grief she felt for her
mother the fresh bereavement did not
reach her heart.
De RetZ went on:
My cousin, madame, babe me re-
member that you are a ward OF the
King; his Majesty is therefore your
natural protector in your widowed
state. To my sorrow, I am constrained
to quit Laval On urgent business, and,
if YOU wish, madame, to seek the
Kings protection at Amboise, | will
gladly escort you thfther: if, on the
contrary. you prefer to remain at La
val till you have recovered from the ia
tigue and the shock you have under
gone l shall feel honored, and L need
not say how welcome a guest you will
be within its walls.
Il thank you, monsieur, but / will
go at once to Amboise; | have a friend
at Court. and | need not further burden
YOUR kindness. l thank you for your
nromised escort to the Court. She ad-
ded this courteously; she felt that he
must have seen her anger.
De Retz bowed.
"Will a horse suit you, madame as
well as a litter; if so we shall arrive lar
sooner at our destination?
Jeanne smiled, and again De Retz
FOLD himself she was beautiful.
81 should have proposed it, monsieur,
T am already rested and we can set
forth whenever you summon US.
He made a low bow and departed,
when he was gone Jeanne turned to
her tirewoman; Gillonne's strong dark
face looked very severe and dlscon-
tented "What are your" her mistress
said. what better can we DO? Ibey
say we are not safe at Longuedec, ana
7 certainly will not remain here, where
7 am evidently no longer mistress.
"Your pardon. madame, but does
madame forget that there is always the
convent and that kind Madame de
Caen. who visited my dear mistress at
I.onguedec when madame was still a
cbild9 While she lay Ill my dear lady
told me that if you had not been mar
ried madame she should have pre-
farred Madame de Caens guardianship
TO even that of the King.
For the first time since her mother S
death her old mischievous smile spar
killed. over Jeanne's face.
"Fie. then. | am shocked at YOU,
Gillonne, ITndutifulness to the Kline
is treason: it could not be thought of,
Resides. Amboise attracts me: there |
shall at last have the pleasure OF en-
bracing my long-loved cousin Fran
coise. Madame de Chateaubriand.'
Gillonne turned sharply away, for
she knew she must be looking sour;
she had almost forgotten the girls
childish infatuation for the frail beauty
who at that time was still the regnlng
favorite The resolute Breton woman
at once determined that her mistress
should not be corrupted by the Court
atmosphere; but she held her peace,
she too we'll understood Jeannes con-
Trajectory nature and her strong will: