Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-07-16

7hers Nh ~ xcs.,en \ ~. yhev
toid ~ Won then one niSft {
saw two horseme1 ride away fron ne
inn, and ! felt sure tnss one Of them
was the Duke. :
Did Laval suspect anything?"
Yes, and his questions put me on
my guard. When / arrived here, saw
alarm in Madame Tarbes' eyes, and
ing. I promised when We were at
Moulins to give him warning II could,
and felt that the chance was given me.
You know the good Duke was always
my hero. ROLAND"
The listener dug his nails into his
palms; he could scarcely keep himself
from bursting forth.
ALAS, yes" ROLAND sighed: "the
hero of all the noblest hearts in France.
You saw him.. then? Did you speak
With him."
He spoke very low. and she an
swered in tie same tone.
More than that'-her eyes shone
with proud eEthusiasm-"h kissed me.
and thanked me. and said was his
fair cousin"
ROLAND took her hand and pressed
it.
You have a noble heart, Jeanne!
But now about yourself. Tell me why
I find you here in Auvergne. when you
took the long journey to Moulins to
seek the King? It seems to me you
should have gone direct from Moulins
to Lyons"
Have not done so? Are you sure?"
Her tone was full OF surprise. Mon
sieur de Laval told me we were going
toward the camp"
ROLAND bent his brows, but he did
not at once express his indignation.
He longed to know the relations that
existed between Jeanne and her hand
some young escort, for it seemed to him
that she might side with the Duke,
ard yet be fascinated by Laval, but
D'Orbec could not believe that she had
brought herself to love such rascal
as he considered him.
ROLAND rose, walked to the farther
end OF the room, and then coming
back, he placed himself before her.
Listen, Jeanne, you are now your
own mistress; you are at liberty to go
where and when you will. Matthew
is in command of dozen young fell
lows, your own Lcnguedec men: old
Leon raised and armed them to serve
as your escort. l have Joined to them
my Coetfrec lances. Ny only doubt
is-well, l will be frank with you.
Are you in any way pledged to La
vail"
1t was said now; the words had ut
tered themselves almost without Roll
lands consent, and ne shrunk from the
indignant light in the girls eyes.
Meanwhile Laval was intently lis
tening for her answer.
1t came at last. with the most freez-
ing courtesy of tone.
Il pray you, monsieur, to say when
you have known me keep willing COM
paly with a villain, when l know him
| to be such?"
Pardon me, Jeanne, but you did not
say you were LavaPs prisoner"
Jeanne had risen, and now, deeply
| wounded, she stood looking at him.
The pain in her eyes made his heart
ache. He tried to speak, but Jeanne
stretched out her hand, and put 1t be-
fore his mouth.
II see; l know" she sobbed. "But
till tonight | have gone on in blind
lCSo. L ci maps was lOO Sil ClCco "
suspect a motive for the Counts kind
ness; and then-Oh. ROLAND, I can
never forget it!-in the midst Of his
own sore trial, he-the Duke-told me
the danger Of my position, and warned
me that Laval was a bad man"
did he? Curse him!" the listener
| muttered. Another item in the score
have against Charles de Bourbon.
Jeanne went on gratefully: Can you
not, then imagine the joy your sum-
mons gave me tonight"
ROLAND sighed with relief. She
might not care for him, but she did not
love Laval; she was free.
Il will leave you now" he said, "to
take the rest you must greatly need.
l shall soon return; | go but to find
my men, and to learn whether they
have news of Gillonne l will say au
revoir, dear Jeanne Shall l bid the
hostess attend you?"
Thank you, ! am safe here; but
return as soon as you can, my true
friend"
The listener longed to see how they
parted but he feared to attract atten-
ton my a movement. He soon heard
the Vic0mte speaking to the hostess
in the court yard; then he heard him
ride away.
(To be continue1)