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

<ndlne - Nv journey. ~ ba9e tha
woman place the da6k before the ~
ronished trooper.
Hs filled Ills glass to overnowing.
then rising, he sh0uted: "Au b0nheur
de Madame la Comtease," and tossed
of the liquor at draught.
He was going to add some coarse
compliment, but looking at her he met
her strong. fearless glance, and he sat
down again without a word.
Drink freely, friend" Jeanne said to
him; 1.-The wine is good, and the long
ride must have made you thirsty"
Then 20 Madame Tarbes, turning her
back so complacently to Gaspard that
be could not see her significant glances:
"You did my errand up stairs, madame,
with my women" She spoke louder
than usual, that the man at the table
might hear
The hostess answered the girls eyes,
her own showed deeper meaning than
her words did.
II went to their chamber, madame,
but they had left it. l did not linger,
because madame had commanded the
wine, but / can, if she now pleases,
seek her women in madame's cham
her,"
Gaspard had already drained the con-
tents of the bottle,
Yes, yes; send the wenches here, or
one of them. Morbleu! l have emptied
the flask before they came to help me;
saving your noble presence"-he looked
dTunkenly at jeanne" It's but dry
work to talk with a thirsty throat
Jeanne shuddered as she met the
mans bold glance fixed on her, but
the thought Of Bourbons danger nerv-
ed her to go on.
He says sooth, mistress" she said
rebuking to the hostess, who, shock
ed by the freedom the lady allowed to
this drunken soldier, looked at her with
alarm and certain distrust. "You
must bring another flask-stay, wine Is
thin drink for fighting men; bring them
fiagon Of ale, the strongest you
have"
Then as the woman quilted the cham
Der, Jeanne followed her to the door.
Hasten" she Whispered, do not
let the grass grow under your feet"
1t seemed to Gaspard that the Coun-
tess scolded, for he said quite aud.bly
what he doubtless meant for an side:
who would have thought the beauty
. had such a spirit? My lord may need
to slit her tongue before he has done
with her. Mort de diable. She is too
slender for my taste. Sit we down,
lady" he called out; 81 mean kindly
by you and your wenches-that is, the
young ones. May the foul fiend fly
away with all ill-favoured and old wo-
men!"
While Jeanne hesitated unwilling to
put herself within his reach, the host
ess had returned, and she set the fagOn
of ale and a tall mug beside the troop
er. She had by this time guessed the
lady's meaning, and she poured out a
brimming mug of the liquor with hope
full expectation.
"Ho, ho" Gaspard cried, there is
Death to all traitorsn"
Jeanne stayed till he had drained the
mug She felt sure from the change
she saw in the hostess that the fugi-
tiveS had escaped and saying she
would go to find her women, she hast
lily rose and left the chamber. Her
courage fled when she gained the stairs;
she hardly knew how she reached the
| upper floor. She barred her chamber
door against intruders, and fell ex-
hausted en- the bed.
She listened; only now and then a
dull sound reached her. All at once
she heard a voice raised in anger; then
a firm armed heel on the stairs Jean
ne's heart beat faster; she knew that
this must be Laval, and that he had
discovered the drunken condition of his
follower.
(To be continued)