Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-07-11

miih anu mduCHoL OF DfedQ, Wn1le
she ate and drank, she determined TO
consult Raoul. She would ask the hos
tess to take message to him.
/ She had seen the hostess at the door
| of room which seemed from its posi-
ton to lead into the kithcen, with it's
broad hearth and huge, red-mouthed
! oven. Without summO- ing her women,
who shared a chamber next her own,
Jeanne went quickly down stairs and
! tapped at the door of this room. AS
| she knocked she heard voices within
| the chamber; one a deep, powerful
| voice. She drew back in sudden alarm.
The hostess opened the door, and
when she saw the lady she hastily drew
| back; next moment she had filled up the
doorway with her black skirts, but
Jeanne had had time to see the tall
| inquire OF a man leaning against the op-
| posite wall.
The hostess eyed Jeanne curiously.
Your pardon, lady" She closed the
door. What can l do for madame?"
Jeanne felt disconnected and displeas-
| ed; it seemed to her very strange to
have the door shut in her face by this
quiet, humble-looking woman.
II will, with madame's permission,
follow her to her chamber. I grieve
that madame has given herself the IA
tlgue of seeking me-"
Jeanne felt obliged to go upstairs.
When she was again in her chamber,
she said gravely:
Il wish to speak with the leader Of
; my escort. You can send a messenger
for him, can you not? I would speak
with him without delay"
She looked at the woman and saw
her flush and tremble
Pardon, lady" the hostess said; "I
have no enc to send. My man Jean has
gone to find fowl for Madame's din
ner, and Mariette is away to fetch the
wise woman for my sick cow"
But there is surely a boy who can
do my errand for me?"
The woman crouched as though she
would sink into the floor.
Il ask the lady's pardon, but for the
m n, have no one 10 send T., Whe 70
do madames' bidding"
Jeanne was no longer afraid she was
not accustomed to have her will dis
puted She turned from the woman
in naughty anger.
THE moment he returns, be sure
IAoC ySu w llOI ldIl W oC1lu HILL IlC
is to tell Monsieur Raoul to come to
me at once, and to bring one of his
troopers"
There was silence; Jeanne turned, in
surprise that the woman had Got quit
ted the chamber She stood with her
back to the door; her lips were NOV
ing, as if rehearsing words she feared
| to speak aloud She looked more TIM
| he
What is it," Jeanne said compass
sionately. you seem troubled. Speak
| out. my good woman"
with the pardon of madame, it is
| only that l have learnt her ladyship.
| expects friends to meet her here, and
| l would presume to ask madame when
the persons for whom she waits here
may be expected to arrive so that
| she trembled and stammered-"s that
l may have a chamber at the Count
| disposal 1t is, is it not, the Count of
Laval who is expected by madame?"
Jeanne looked at her in cold displeas-
ure She could not believe that either
Anne or Mathurine would have fatty
! disobeyed her, for she had more than
once cautioned them since they left
Moulins that they were ont to mention
either her name or that Of the Count
of Laval.
at seems to me-" she said, chat you
are inquisitive. You would have been
wiser to check your curiosity, for
cannot, even if I would. crafty it.
do not deny your assertion, neither dc
I confirm it: but 1 cannot say when
the person I expect may arrive; he
may be here this evening, he may tarry
a week longer If you have not lodg-
ing for him. we will go elsewhere; he
certainly will not consent to lodge in
the village with the soldiers
The woman burst into tears.
81 crave pardon, madame" she said
humbly-"a thousand pardons. In
some way I have unwittingly given
offence. Indeed, indeed, the person
whoever he may be. that madame ex-
poets will be most welcome. and l viii
have a lookout kept so that I may no
be taken unawares. l beseech madame
to pardon my foolish tongue"
Jeanne looked grave and she fell
troubled: the woman's agitation seem
| ed to her exaggerated and out of place
81 forgive YOU" she said with dig
nifty, "but l must know why you
thought the person l expect was likely
to be the Count CT Laval
The woman stood trembling; she
pressed her hands together as though
she were wringing cheese-curds, ther
she said quickly:
THAT is easy, madame; 1t was bu
a chance guess. for. as madame says
l am inquisitive. and / had heard tina
tn Count of Laval had ridden from
Moulins to lie Puy."
Jeanne started; she had felt sure tn,
Count had gone to Lyons to see tn,
! King on her behalf. She said impul
sively:
'How did you hear this? Who toll,
you?
MA fc4. madame, in my walk o
life it is difficult to remember VIII,
brings tidings. Many and many
wayfarer comes in for manchet o
bread or cup of wine. and his tall
lodges, while / regard his face. Hi
name never reaches me; but for hi
words, he might be a dream figure. !"
This was the longest speech Jeann
had heard from her hostess, and sh
noted the purity Of the woman's &C
cent, and that her way of speaking wa
superior to the other hostesses will
i whom she had lodged.
Do you then consider it certain tina