Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-06-24

part of the marriage; for instance, [
! liked Monsieur de Laval-what | saw
| OF him-and the casket of jewels he
gave me. The worst part Of all was my
gown; without doubt it is lovely, it
shimmers like sunshine; though Gill
tonne vows it is Old-fashioned; | be-
! lieve l look like countess in it-oh! l
should love you to see me in it! But
alas! 1t seems to be lined with lead. |
! could not run in 1t if l tried; it must be
, as heavy as a suit Of armour. And
then, my shoes were tight and pinched
| me; | felt crippled, and longed for a
trainbearer, but there was no time to
seek one"
Gillonne had come silently into the
garden.
Monsieur lie Baron, my Lady would
] see you in her upper chamber, if it so
please you"
ROLAND rose and turned to obey the
summons. Jeanne began to follow him
but the woman said:
'Mademoiselle is not summoned; she
will stay here with Montfort.'
The dos heard his name, and rubbed
his head against his young mistress.
Jeanne pushed the creature away; she
drew herself up, and tossed her fair
head.
You are to remember, Gillonne, that
1t Is not fitting to call me mademoiselle;
l am Madame la Countess de Laval
Madame Kergrist had sent away her
maids, and ROLAND found her alone in
her large, pleasant chamber, with its
rush strewn floor and industrious look
ing spinning wheels and embroidery
frames. The tapestried walls looked
brighter than those in the hall; there
were flowers of varied hues in the fore
ground. The countess smiled at De la
Touche as he came in, and greeted him
as affectiOnately as though he were
| really her son.
I'VE shall sadly miss you, my boy,
| but you must do like your fellows; no
brave gentleman | think, will willingly
absent himself from this campaign. Is
| it true that the king will command in
person, or will he leave it to our brave
cousin, the Constable de Bourbon"
ROLAND hestitated; she fancied he
| looked troubled.
1T is thought that the king will com
mand in person, when he joins us, but
that will not happen until we cross the
! Alps. There is a glorious list of COM
| manders, and if the soldiers are paid
success is said to be certain; but we
have to depend in a measure on Swiss
auxiliaries, and the Swiss are cold
blooded, they will not fight without
pay. The Cardinal of Sion, too, is all
powerful with them, and he is ever a
thorn in the side of France" Then he
| said abruptly: Madame, have l not
/ 10 al I
| the seneschal, to increase the guard and
to keep more diligent watch, by night
as well as by day."
| He spoke urgently, and she looked
surprised.
IF it seems to be needful you can
speak about this with Leon; but, Roll
land, my husband was wont to say that
when France carried war beyond her
frontiers there was usually peace at
home"
Roland rose, and paced up and down
| the chamber: he knew that the coun-
tess disliked any change to be made in
her household plans.
THAT was true in the days Of King
Louis; soldiers were then paid thell
wages. But | must tell you, madame
what is now common news: France is
overrun by hundreds of soldiers who
cannot get paid by their commanders;
they leave their ranks and plumber the
| defenseless peasantry, and to seize or
the crops and cattle; it is not so Ions
| since Chateau Preleon itself was at
tackled, in the absence of its lord"
Chateau Preleon is not far away,
she said, but It's means Of defense arr
inferior to ours; my dear lord consider.
ed our garrison sufficient to repel ma
! RAIDERS However, talk with Leon, i
you will; but, in my judgment, iht
walls Of Longuedec are tough nut tt
! crack for mere undisciplined soldiers.
Her unbelief chafed Roland but ht
| knew CT old that argument would fai
to convince her.
Il will talk to Leon. And now, my
second mother, farewell" He ben
down and kissed her. BE careful OF
your health; it needs, not to bid you takf
care of Jeanne"
She put her arm around him, and re-
turned the kiss.
Farewell, my ROLAND; once | hoped
| that you would be my son indeed; bu
| that is over. Wed some sweet woman
who will be as an elder sister to my lit
tie Jeanne. May the blessing OF God g
| with you.'
| (To be Coutinued.)
K