The herald., 1898-12-25
His laughing Eyes Looked Me Full in the Face.

the barrel Of his pistol flashing in his
hand; but the horseman, with a cry of
For the king! Way way!" dashed
over the road at full gallop, and sped
off like a sprite over the open plain to
our left.
Did you hear the voice, Denise?"
asked madame.
YES"
ut is stranger than ever" she said,
and I could make no answer.
There was no doubt about it. 1t was
de Lorgnac; and instead of going to
the Porte ST. Honore as thought when
he left us, he must have crossed by
the Meunniers and come out by the st.
Germans Gate. He had evidently, too,
separated himself from his men.
II shall be glad when we reach de
Bouchage's house." I said with a
shiver, for the apparition of my hus-
band had sent chill through me.
1T is not far now," replied madame; {;
and then we both became silent, alb
sorbed in our own thoughts. She, no
doubt, thinking of the Vicomte, and 1
with my mind full of forebodings as to
what other evil fate had in store for
me; and with this there came thoughts
of de Clermont, whose presence
seemed absolutely to feel about me. I
could not say I loved him, but it was
as if he had a power over me that
sapped my strength, and I felt that
was being dragged toward him. can
not explain what it was, but others
have told me the same, that when his
clear blue eyes were fixed on them they
seemed to lose themselves, and that his
glance had q power the force of which
no one could put into words, nor, in
deed, can I.
1t was only by an effort and prayer
that I succeeded in collecting myself
and it was with no little joy that 1
saw the grey outlines of the Chateau
de Bouchage, and knew that for the
remainder of the night there was rest.
I will pass over our journey till we
reached the Limousin. Going at our
utmost strength, we found we could
barely cover more than six leagues a
day; and as day after day passed and
no news of the Vicomte came mad
ame's face grew paler, and she became
feverishly impatient for US to hurry
onward; yet never for one moment did
she lose the sweetness of her temper
or falter in her kindness toward me.
4NO lliloiilP VI oily hiliu OCLCll DuI
at the ford of the Gartempe, there at
last came good news that brought the
glad tears to madame's eyes and the
color once more to her cheeks, for here
a courier met us, riding with a red
spur, to say that the Vicomte was out
of danger and striding hour by hour to-
ward recovery. The courier further
said, in answer to our questions, that
xry1xN
Termes had sent on in advance to an
nounce her coming had never arrived,
and he himself was more than sur
prised at meeting us, believing mad
anne to be yet at Paris. No doubt the
poor man who had been sent on in ad-
vance had met with i'll, and we thanked
God for the lucky change that had put
us in the way of the Vicomte's mes
senger, and also that it was not with
us as with our man, for he had doubt
less been killed, and indeed he was
never seen again. Back we sent the
courier with spare horse to announce
our speedy coming, and it was gay
and joyous party that splashed through
the sparkling waters Of the Gartempe
Even I for the moment forgot every
thing with the glad tidings that had
come like the lark's song in the morn
ing to cheer my friends heart, and for
a brief space forgot de Lorgnac and
my bonds, and was once more Denise
de Mieux, as needless and light-heart-
ed as youth, high spirits, and health
could make me. 1t was decided to push
'on to Ambazac at any cost by that
evening. The news we had heard
seemed to tighten even the loads Of the
pack animals, and we soon left the sill
yer thread Of the river behind us, and
entered the outskirts of the Viennois.
AS for me, I do not know how it was,
but was, as have said, in the Wild
est of spirits, and nothing could con-
tent me but the most rapid motion. At