Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1898-01-26
CHAPTER XXIv.-lCoNrINurpl

up lhN t-i man heaft TO see lhdt
pleasant smile OF yours again--so much
that l can tell it briskly. You remem-
Der the terrible night-there, there, l
won't talk of IT, | won't say word
more than | can help, it makes me
shiyer myself. We servants were halI
frightened to death, such of us as were
not in that wretch of an M. Plerre's
plot, and we huddled together, not
knowing what to do, for they wouluh
let us fly away from the chateau. we
guessed what terrible thing was hap
pening, but couldn't get near you TO
see, until the new band came, the
masked men, which drove Nj. Pierre
folks away. Then, while they were
fighting outside. crept into the chapel.
My old blood quite froze in my veins
at the sight | saw; thought you were
all killed. | was going to try 10 Drlhg
a little life to those who showed no
wounds; but | heard some one coming
through the broken window, and l ran
away as fast as | could l thought /
should be killed for being there, SO
ran and hid away till everything was
quiet, When | came out found most
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
some were getting together blankets
and food, and piling them into pas
kets; / crept back softly and looked IN
to the chapel. A tall man in mask
was there giving directions ABOUT
burying the bodies. He seemed 10 ieei
dreadfully about the murder, ana Inc
curse he uttered against that Vllia.n-
Gus Pierre made me feel sure he was
friendly to your family. ! couidh 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 off, and then he start
ed and went out as fast as he could 90.
The men followed him, and so hurrleu
I in and took my last look, as expect
ed of NV dear mistress While | was
/ bending over her, | saw little hutter-
| ing beating at her throat. put my
ear hastily to her heart; it was min
| ute before / could make sure, theh
/ knew she was not dead. ! STOOD mo
ment wringing my hands, not KNOWING
what to do; then some good SAINT pu
il into my head to think OF Nlctorl'
living there dead. | tore out into th'
corridor and brought the body IN
changed the ornaments and NANTES
and put the long training SILK skT
of the countess on the dead girl, ant
the peasant cloak | wrapped arounl
my mistress.
THE masked people came and car
ried the poor VictCrie to the grave III
stead of her mistress. They SCENE
expecting M. Pierre every moment, an
Maid no attention to the rear dooi
Taking my mistress in my arms, ra
off through the darkness, on that sld'
and got safely to my cottage. | coul
not trust a soul. but telling my daugh
ter it was Victorie, | laid her on pe'
and gave her the best cordial conl
find. She laid so all the next day, JUS
breathing little, enough to snow sh
was not dead, but never opening he
eyes.
81 went over the spot where tn
chateau had stood the next day.
was a terrible sight. that smoking rim
OF charred ground; but my heart wa
too full of the fear of the knowledg
of what had done getting to M. Pierre
to feel so badly as | should have don
apy other time.
81 found out from the other servant
that II was NJ. Pierre who struck VIZ
torie. because she begged the mistres
life, but none of 'em seemed to kno
she was dead Perhaps some OF h
men gave the last blows which mad
the face so none could have told WI
ii was.
"He came up to me, and asked n
if knew what had become OF Il
Young mistress. | could answer inn
cent enough there, and | pointed
, the grave.
''No. no. said he; there are tv
bodies missing. The old woman
dead fast enough, but the other h
ESCAPED. and with terrible oath
warned me not to harbor her.
Il shook like a leaf with fear, al
asked meekly enough if he cared abo
NV keeping Victorie, that she was
my cottage sick.
keep her as long as you like sa
, he. but mind you. keep clear of a
other
! Il went home, trembling you may
c lieve, but the saints seemed to help n
+ NV lady never came to herself
l. three long, dreary weeks, so as to KIN
/, anything, | mean, and | managed
# keep everybody out, and my daugh
/ and | took all the care of her. tt
were such wild times folks had enou
Il to do to manage for themselves, wi
!, out meddling with their neighbofs'
!, fairs. NJ. Pierre came to the Gotta
once. but he only glanced into
: room where he supposed Victorie v
sick. He kept a guard around
place, | know, so no one should come
me, and he had me watched where
i, l went; but he never thought |
Is her all the time in my cottage.
Ie when my lady woke up to kn
. herself, she was like a little child.
e had dreaded it-not being sure
}. the shocil would kill her; but when s
d asked for her daughter, l told her
= was safe tthe saints know | meant
!. Heayen). and she was so feeble, S
asked no more. l waited till she v