Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-12-15
CHAPTER ".
THE CHATEAU DE LA BIDAcHE.

tall and green on the mounds around
La Fere, which marked the graves of
those who fought and died there. 1t
was autumn now, and as |, well and
strong again, walked down the long
avenue of beeches that led to the park
gates of Bidache, let my memory run
back to the days in the hospital of Ste.
Genevieve, whittier l was borne from the
field, and above all, to the tall, slight,
black-robed figure that came to see me
daily, and for whose coming | used to
long with an infinite desire. Who or
what she was l cared not, and reckless
ly abandoned myself to the feelings
that were aroused in my heart. / shall
not forget what happened one after
noon. A long gallery in the convent of
Ste. Genevieve had been turned into
ward, and here the wounded lay on pal
let's with walking space between. Ow-
ing to madame's kindness | was COM
fortably quartered at the end of the gal
lery, and a screen had been set between
me and the other patients. | was gain
ing strength daily, and, at the moment
l speak of, was in state between sleep
ing and waking, when | heard a laugh
and the sound of footsteps, and saw
through the partly open wing of the
screen that my lady had come to make
her daily rounds, not attended, as usual,
only by her women, but by a gayly
dressed cavalier as well, and it was his
laugh that had heard. In this person,
dressed in the extreme of fashion, |
made out NJ. d'Ayen, the same who
had so kindly suggested that | should
be left to die on the field. He battered
along, holding kerchief edged with
gold lace to his nose, and ever and
again waving it in the air, whilst he
spoke in a loud tone, regardless of the
looks cast at him by the sisters in at
tendance on the wounded. They came
slowly toward me, for madame stayed
constantly to speak to some manned
wretch, and | saw her slip money into
the hands of some, and there were kind
words for all. felt a strange pleasure
in watching her, whilst at the same
time thought Of my past, and how un-
fit | was even TO nurse such dream as
my love for her. When within yard or
so of the screen, madame bent over
sufferer, and d'Ayen exclaimed in his
biting voice:
''Morbleu! Madame! But you are the
Princess of Charity. Let us hasten to
your interesting patient, however. His
majesty is most anxious to hear of
him"
Ills majesty has never done me the
honor to inquire" she answered coldly.
You could hardly expect that,
madame. But it came about in this
way. We were at cards, and as usual
| held bad cascade"
But madame, to whom his presence
was unWelcome, waited to hear no more,
and, passing the screen, came to my
side, and would nave spoken; d'Ayen,
however, cut in with a rudeness for
which | could have run him through.
MY compliments, NJ. dAuriac. You
are a lucky man. The king takes so
great an interest in you that he has
charged me with a message to you.
His majesty bids me say and his
bead-like eyes twiukled down on me
from his painted cheeks, and then
turned slyly towards madame.
| was about to make some answer,
when he continued, talking as if his
words were meant for madame as well:
His majesty trusts you will soon be
recovered and relieve Nine. de la BIZ
dache from the strain of watching you,
and begs me to add that he is of a tenn
per that can brook no rival in war-or
love. Let me say, on my own account,
that Il ws.,.t be well if NJ. le Chevaler
wo1ai tnsie change of air"
| socked from one to another in blank
amaze. At the little ape with his cruel
eyes, and at madame, who was still as
stone. Then she colored to her eye
lids, her hands fell clenched to her side
and she turned on d'Ayen. "Such a
message, monsieur, should not have
been delivered before me. | will take
care that NJ. d'Auriac has change of
air; and, monsieur, your presence
Expresses me. l beg you will not
| trouble to escort me farther"
Then she turned from us and passed
down the ward, but d'Ayen remained.
'I will kill you for this" gasped.
He looked at me with a shrug of his
| lean shoulders.
'Perhaps-I am old. But you would
| do we'll to take my advice, monsieur"
and with bow he, too, turned and
went.
l was left lost in wonder utterly in
| the dark as to what this all meant, but
determined to find out and bring d'Ayen
| to book at the first chance. | made up
my mind to ask the next day. The next
| dav came. but madame did not, and
then another and yet another day of
| dreariness passed. At last some one
told me she had gone with the court to
| Nantes, and that would see her no
more. Later on, when Marescot came
to me, begged the favor of his getting
me the knot of ribbon he would find in
| the left hand breast pocket of the
doublet I wore on the day was brought
into the hospital.
"You are getting WELL" he said and
turned away, but came back in little
| with a Wrinkled smile on his liDS. II