Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1898-02-19
CHAPTER XXIv.-tCoSrINuEpl

Ipltasfut SiliItc VI yUuis oSsN's
that can tell Ii briskly. You reneii.
her the terrible night--there, theta,
won't talk OF Il, l won't say worn
more than | can help, 1t makes me
shiyer myself. We servants were hal1
frightened to death, such OF US a. "ers
not in that wretch OF an M rlerte
plot, and we huddled together. hos
knowing what to do. for they Woulun -
let US ny away from the chateau. We
guessed what terrible thing was nap
Ipening, but couldn't get near you -
see, until the new band came, the
masked men, which drove M. Pierre .
folks away. Then, while they were
lighting outside, crept into tne chapel
My old blood quite froze in my VEINS
at the sight | saw: thought you were
all killed. | was going TO Try 70 otths
a little life to those who showed no
wounds; but heard some one conihs
through the broken window. ana ! ran
away as fast as could; thought
should be killed for being there, 20
ran and hid away till everything was
quiet. When I came out iouha moss
of the servants gone; but there lay
poor Victories body right In the cor
ridor.
THE masked men were most OF them
outside, keeping guard. thought, ana
come were getting together planA
and food, and piling them into oas-
kets. crept back softly and looked m
. all In a MASK
was there giving directions anou.
burying the bodies. He seemed TO ieei
dreadfully about the murder. ana the
curse he uttered against that villain
GUS Pierre made me feel sure ne was
friendly to your family. couldn't see
anything OF my young mistress. ana
this man kept asking where she was
One Of his men said that they must
have carried her of, and then ne start
ed and went out as fast as he could 60
The men followed him. and 80 hurried
In and took my last look. as ! expect
cd Of INV dear mistress. While was
bending over her, saw a little nuueF.
Ing beating at her throat. put my
ear hastily TO her heart; II was min-
nte before 1 could make sure, then
knew she was not dead. stood mo
ment wringing my hands, not knowing
what to do; then some good saint put
1t Into my head TO think OF Vtctorie
/ lying there dead. I tore out into the
corridor and brought the body IN.
changed the ornaments and mantles,
and put the long training silk skirt
I OF the countess on the dead girl, and
I the peasant cloak I wrapped around
my mistress,
The masked people came and car
ried the poor victcrie to the grave In
I stead Of her mistress. They seemed
expecting NJ. Pierre every moment, and
/ paid no attention to the rear door.
I Taking my mistress In my arms. ran
of through the darkness. on that side.
/ and got safely TO my cottage. ] could
/ not trust soul, but telling my daugh-
! ter Il was victorie. laid her on bed.
7 and gave her the best cordial | could
/ find. She laid so all the next day, just
/ breathing a little. enough 70 show she
was not dead. but never opening her
] eyes.
II went over the spot where the
Y chateau had stood the next day. It
was terrible sight. that smoking ring
OF charred ground: but my heart was
+ too full Of the fear OF the knowledge
Of what had done getting to NJ. Pierre.
to feel 80 badly as should have done
any other time.
Il found out from the other servants
that Il was NJ. Pierre who struck Vic
i torie. because she begged the mistress
/ life. but none of EN- seemed to know
/ she was dead. Perhaps some Of hts
men gave the last blows which made
the face 50 none could have told who
I II was.
HE came up to me, and asked me
IL I knew what had become OF the
!. young mistress. could answer limo
cent enough there. and | pointed TO
the grave.
"'No. no. said he: there are two
bodies missing. The old woman Ia
dead fast enough, but the other has
escaped and with terrible oath he
warned me not to harbor her.
II shook like a leaf with fear. and
asked meekly enough If he cared about
my keeping victorie. that she was at
my cottage sick.
Keep her as long as you like said
he, but mind you, keep clear Of any
other
Il went home. trembling you may be.
lieye, but the saints seemed to help me.
My lady never came to herself for
three long, dreary weeks, 30 as TO know
anything. I mean, and / managed to
keep everybody out. and my daughter
and took all the care Of her. They
we're such wild times folks had enough
to do TO manage for themselves, with
out meddling with their neighbors, AZ
fairs. NJ. Pierre came to the cottage
once. but he only glanced into the
room where he supposed victorie was
sick. He kept guard around my
place, know, so no one should come Ia
me, and he had me watched wherever
went; but he never thought had
AL A< t..