Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-06-25
(Copyright.)
continued from yesterdays issue.)
CHAPTER ".
BESIDE THE GRAVE.

4 long procession OF mOurnerS came
slowly down the hill from the Castle
Of Longuedec to the village churchyard
The death-bell sounded out its mourn
ful monotonous summons, and in an
swer there came from the small thatch-
81 cottages, that clustered round the
old church spire as chickens gather
round a hen, men and women and
children, the women in their large
winged caps, till the whole population
Of Longuedec stood in groups waiting
TO ake part in their lady's burial.
The long, grave Breton faces looked
sadder than ever; the people knew they
had lost a bountiful mistress and
friend in need in the late Countess; and
though Madame de Laval-or Madembi-
selle Jeanne, as some of the women
efiU called her-remaned with them, it
was well known that her husband, the
Count de Laval, had several months
ago announced his intention of coming
to claim his young wife, and that he
had yielded to Madame Kergrist's re-
Quest that her daughter might be al
lowed to close her eyes before she left
her. There could be no doubt but that
the Young Countess would have to
leave Longuedec directly after the fun
eral rites were solemnized.
The people stood mute, while Father
Iehan placed them in two bodies, men
and women apart, on either side of the
church porch Each person held a
lighted candle, which fickered and gut
tered in the wind. Some of the older
men had gone up to the castle with the
priest and now they headed the ap-
preaching procession. wailing out mo-
rctonous dirge as they came, to the
strains of the melancholy biniou
The grey sky was low; for early Sep
TENDER the wind was keen, and Jeanne
shivered under her long black cloak
as she walked alone behind the bier.
She was only seventeen. very tall
and slender 1t seemed sad that there
was no fellow mourner to walk beside
her, but the Countess's Kindred had
either fallen in the Italian campaigns
or were already on their way TO join
the army levied for a new effort on the
Kings part to regain the Milanese.
ROLAND de Ia Touche had been sum-
moned, but no answer had come from
him: he was thought to be in the Low
Countries.
The cross-bearer went first of all;
then the acolytes, swinging censers, or
bearing tall torch-lights, preceded the
cure and the chaplain, who walked be-
fore the bier.
The seneschal Of Longuedec, Leon
Krzevec, and Gillonne. the duenna of
the Countess's maids had both tried
to dissuade their young mistress from
Il h,,+ Io hot
elaine said ii was an imperative duty
laid on her in the absence of any male
relative.
1T is all she has left of me to do for
her the girl said to Gillonne through
her streaming tears.
Now at the grave she was very calm.
When all was over she gave last look
into the grave. and walked away. close
" muffled in her cloak, back to the
Castle followed by the chaplain and
Gillonne
Jeanne had meant to saw few fare
well words to her people. but she found
that she could not trust her voice.
AS the tall, black-cloaked figure went
uphill. the people strained their eyes
n watch her till she had passed in at
the Castle gate. She had been born and
bred among them, and in their troubles
and sickness she had never failed to
come down the hill to help and comfort
them, especially since her mothers
prolonged illness and kept the Countess
9 prisoner TO her room. A low murmur
of pity passed from one hard-featured
yillager to the other.
God be with her in all her ways"
said old Barbe Daoulas, who looked
more like bundle of rags than wo-
man. There will soon be no one left
10 care for us, the spirits of the de-
parted will gather under the Castle
Icof-tree. wailing The days that are
gone Yes, neighbors. mark me, the
glory of Longuedec has for ever passed
away
Her voice had risen to sort of high
pitched chant as she poured forth her
lamentation AS it reached the dead
ened hearing of Father Jehan. an old
man clad in dark-colored breeches and
Jacket. a broad leathern belt. and GAL
ters reaching to his knees. with white
hair falling to his shoulders, he held
up his thin hand at her, and babe her
cease.
Peace, woman, Get within to your
dstaff This is no time to croak over
what has ever been the common lot Ct
humanity, Our chatelaine-God lest
her soul,-was a pious and virtuous
lady: but she had long suffered linger-
Ing pain and discomfort: mayhap she
Is taken from the evil to come" He
turned away from Barbe to the crowd.
Brothers," he went on, in shrill,
cackling voice. "there is heavier trou
bic abroad. let us therefore stay at
home, and keep wives and children
quiet, so that we may not draw on our
selves the pillagers and marauders who
rayage from one end of the land to
tha other. robbing and numbering all
that comes within their ken. Let us
hide quiet, l say" His outstretched
hand did not change its attitude till
'he women and children had retired
to their cottages. Then Jehan called
out: "a word with you. Lao Kergoel,
and with you. Matthew Laaleff."
Two tall young men, with broad.
rather sloping, shoulders. were garbed
like Jehan himself in dark cloth jack
cts. waistcoats covered with buttons.
with full trousers reaching to the knee,
Where they were met by bathern gai-
lers. As they sauntered slowly away
from the rest with old Jehan, their
plack broad-leaved hats seemed pre-
cisely alike.
Lao looked over his shoulder at the
diggers as they shovelled the earth into
Tue grave; for the tomb in which ley
lhF bones of Madame Kergrist's long