Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-12-22
even if it were not so I will

60"
He looked at me long and attentively.
Let it be so." he muttered to him
self, and then loudly: well, chevalier,
l have warned you-if you go you will
want safe lodging-seek out Pantin in
the Rue des Deux Mondes, and mention
my name. The house faces the Pont
Neuf, you can't miss it,"
Thank you, will do So"
Then after few minutes more of talk
we wished each other good-by and
parted.
AS for myself l was on the cross with
what had heard My mind was racked
with doubt, and at last, in despair, /
sought my own room to think over the
matter. / could make nothing of it,
turn which way would. To me Palms
story was incredible. But yet it eX-
planned and made clear so much! 1t
was not to offer my sword to the king
that l would now GO to Paris. 1t would
be to save the woman loved, if possi-
bic. How | was to do this, | bad no
definite idca-the one thing at present
IN my mind was Paris-Paris. | there
fore gave the necessary orders to
Jacques to make ready to start at once,
and, descending the winding staircase
of the tower wherein my room lay,
sought the great hall with the view of
either finding madame there, or of
sending some one with the request to
permit my waiting on her to say good
by. The staircase ended in long dark
corridor, hung on each side with
trophies of the chase, old armor, and
frayed and tattered banners. At the
end of this was an arched doorway, hid
den by heavy curtain. lifted the cur
tain and passed into the great hall. At
first | thought it was empty, but sec
ond glance showed me madame, seated
at small table in the recess of the bow
window that overlooked the park. Her
face, leaning on her hand, was half
averted from me, and | caught
glimpse of small foot resting on one
of the lions heads in which the legs of
the table finished. The foot was beat
ing up and down as if in unison with
the impatience of madame's thoughts,
but | could see nothing of her face be-
yond its contour. She was, as usual,
robed in black, wearing no jewels eX-
cept a gold collar round her neck. For
a moment | stood in silence looking at
her, half thinking that here was
chance to speak out what was in my
heart, and then stilling the words by
the thought of how impossible it was
for poor man to WOO a rich woman.
AS | stood, hat in hand, madame sud
denly turned with a little start, and
hastily concealed something as she
caught sight of me. I went up a once,
and she rose to meet me.
81 have come to say farewell, ma
DAME" and I held out my hand.
80 soOn," she said, as she took it for
a moment, her eyes not meeting mine.
''Yes-Paris is far-and it will be we'll
for me to be there as quickly as possi-
BILE"
Paris! You are surely not" and
she stopped.
"Why not, madame ?"
30, | don't know" and hastily, zone
sometimes says things that don't exact
ly convey ones meaning. But | can
imagine why you go to Paris-you are
tired of Bidache, and pine for the great
city"
1T is not that, but" and pointed TO
the rolling woods and wide lands that
spread before us, Il have no response
bllities like these-and Aurlac, which
stands by the sea, takes care of itself
besides have my way to make as yet"
You have friends?'
"One, at any rate, and that was re-
stored to me by YOU" and glan~ed to
the hilt of my sword.
She shook her head in depreciation.
Very well, then, will not recall ii to
you; but | can never forget-life is
sweet of SAVIOR, and you gave it back to
me. We will meet again in Paris-till
then, good by"
AT the Louvre"' AS she glanced up
at me, trying to smile, | saw her eyes
were moist with tears, and then-but
the wide lands of Bidache were before