Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-07-14
MiIIqan, Wlkin { Co,
4 WARD Of The KING.
KATHARINE S. MACQUOID,
Author of "Maisie Derrick" THE Story
of Lois Patty Louisa" AT
tie Red Glove" Miss Eyon
of Eyoncourt," &c.
Copyright
CONTINUED from Yesterdays Issue.)
ClII ptCER XXI

CHAPTER XXI
CHARLES De BOURBON.
Jeanne had asked TO see the hostess,
but she learnt that Madame Iarbes was
too busy to wait On her. After the
evening meal she bad Mathurine brush
out her long, shining hair. The girl
could not see we'll to 90 this, for thc
chamber was lit only by single
sconee fixed to the wall, in which two
tallow candles were burning Mathur-
Inc seemed unusually slow and awk
ward this evening, and Jeanne said so.
Madame will pardon ms" the tire
woman blundered out; Il am fright
ened; this place is so lonely, and the
hostess looks angered. Madame heard
the Count and Gaspard ride away to
the village, and they have not returned.
Indeed, indeed, madame, we are
strang ely lonesome; there. is not cot
tage near us, and not man in the
place"
Where is Anne? Is she also fright
ened?"
Madame, Anne is worse than l am;
she sits below in the eating-room,
weeping for very terror. She says we
shall be robbed and murdered before
morning; when the sourfaced hostess
saw her tears she rated her, and bade
her not be a fool"
The hostess is right, my girl"
Jeanne. said kindly. Tears are often
foolishly, shed: they should not be
wasted, but kept for our own short
comings. Yet, it is lawful 20 weep for
the less of those we love"
Mathurine looked significant; she
wished her mistress would question
her about Anne, for she believed the
girl was weeping for lack of Gaspard's
company; but the young Countess was
not inquisitive, and she was now pos
sessed by an idea which she saw way
of carrying into action.
"Knot I'D my hair and replace my
colt | will not disrobe till | have
spoken with the hostess; she must be
at leisure by now"
When this was done Jeanne threw
aside the coverings which Mathurine
had spread over her mistress's shout
| ders while she cOmbed out the long
auburn tresses.
bid Madame Tarbes come up and
speak with lie; meantime, you can go
and sit with Anne. Two are more
cheerful company than one,' she ended,
smiling. for Mathurlne looked miser-
able.
Jeanne sighed at the truth Of her
own words How seldom she had been
alone in her short life; and yet she
supposed that wives were often left
alone when their lords Joined In the
wars which seemed to be for ever TAX
| ing place. She had known few women,
and. with the exception Of Gillonne and
her mother, she had slight contempt
| for her sex Women seemed to her
either vain or weak. If her husband
! had lived he would, she supposed, have
been her wise friend and adviser, but
| she would have preferred friend who
was rot her husband; and then deep
| er sigh came at the remembrance Of
| Hollands desertion. e ~
"Blt | must not think of myself; l
have to save my lord of Bourbon
This would be the third interview she
had had with hostesses, and the girl de-
| termined that it should not be wasted
in mere words. She believed that to-
night opportunity was given her, and
| tonight she would deliver her warn
! ing.
| The hostess came in. The tall, bony
woman looked more like a man; there
| was distrust In her eyes and she stared
at the lady, without any of the timld
/ shrinking which Jeanne's last hostess
| had displayed.
Madame the girl said firmly. there
is no time to lose. My woman Mathur-
inc is. believe, safe with her fellow in
the eating room?"
"Yes. madame" The woman looked
cold and suspicious.
| well then, listen. You have a
friend Of mine here IN the house, whom
il behooves NE to see without delay.
have message to give him from The
rese Vougeon."
The woman's hard face became still
! more rigid; then she said between her
set teeth: Pardon me, madame, but
by what right do you use my daughter
name about what does not concern you
or yours"
Jeanne smiled at the uncourteous
tone.
Your daughter sought me, and asked
nv help for friend in trouble, in hid
| ing, she said She did not know that l
| too loved him, and that the Duke was
my fathers dear friend
The tall woman pressed her hands to-
gether in her agony Of doubt
Il cannot believe, madame must par
don me. but Il seems as though she were
trying to put words in my mouth
words that may doom not me only, but
Others. TO prison and to death. Madame
is. is she not, the wife Of the Count Of
Laval?"
Il am the Count of Lavars widow,
but no wife. Who has betrayed me to
your" she asked sterniy.
The woman shook her head.
"A warning came 20 me: 1t matters
not whence had It: 1t said that the
Count of Layaf-she had lowered her
voice to a whispers hunting the
country for the sake of earning the