Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-07-07
l|l|
KATHARINE s nAcouoID.
Author Of "Maisie Derrick. 1.-THE Story
Of Lois. Patty" Louisa, = AT
the Red Glove" Miss Eyon
of Eyoncourt," &c.
(copyright.l.

the ReQ CiOVe, MISS Eyou
of Eyoncourt," &c.
(Copyright.)
Continued from Yesterdays Issue.)
CHAPTER XIV.
ROLAND TO THE RESCUE.
ROLAND, Vicomte dOrbec, had rid
den of in haste to Laval, and thence to
Longuedec, but he had not expected
that he should there find the young
Countess of Laval. ROLAND had been
absent from France for several months,
out of the way of hearing news, so that
the tidings of Jeanne's double bereave-
ment had troubled him, especially when
he learnt at Laval that the young Wild
Ow had gone to seek the King, under
the escort Of the late Coupt's successor,
Etienne de Retz. He had known De
Retz in the army for thorough liber-
tine, seemingly good-natured and easy
going, but in reality man who gam
bled deeply, and who was INSCRIPTIONS
in his greed for money. The county
of Laval was fairly rich inheritance,
but the lands appertaining to it were
said to be sterile. 1t was not likely
that a needy man would lose this
chance Of winning rich heiress, when
he had every facility in his hands.
ROLAND ground his teeth at the
thought of such marriage; it was to
him horrible that his pure, innocent
Jeanne was In the hands of a man SO
attractive, who had over and over again
proved his unf1tness to be trusted with
the care Of a good woman's happiness
No, ROLAND knew that he should not
find Jeanne at Longuedec; Laval would
keep her to himself, and had certainly
taken her to Moulins He knew that
she was surrounded by the soldiers OF
Laval; his present purpose in riding to
Longuedec was to find out whether
Jeanne had with her any guard Of her
own, and also to ask how many men
Leon, the old seneschal, could raise or
space from the Castle garrison. At
the head of a body of her own people,
Jeanne would be far better able to
cope with Laval-unless, indeed, he had
already succeeded in winning her.
But even then, unless compelled there
to by royal command, the young Count
ess could not again wed until the time
of her mourning had expired and Roll
land felt in better hope as the thought
came He had tired out two horses
before he at last reached Longuedec.
At Laval he had seen both the chap
lain and the seneschal; they assured
him that Jeanne had ridden away with
the Count of Laval and her three wo-
men; no male escort had followed her
from Longuedec, though the chaplain
said it was possible that such an escort
might have followed the lady to Rem
mes, or even to Wire, and might then
have returned to the castle.
The seneschals further tidings had
made ROLAND very anxious. He said
that the elder woman who had accom-
panied the widowed Countess had crav-
ed leave of absence; and although she
left the Castle with her mistress, she
was bound for Mayenne ROLAND had
determined to visit Mayenne on his re-
turn from LCnguedec, to CLEAN, If pos
sible, some tidings Of Gillonne; he was
sure that the duenna was far too pru-
dent to leave her mistress without good
cause
His arrival at Longuedec had been
anxiously watched from the Castle ram
parts, and he found the portcullis with
drawn, and the drawbridge lowered for
his passage across it.
Leon, the old seneschal to whom
Jeanne had confded the charge of the
Castle tin her return, welcomed the
young lord with affectionate reverence
"Your lordship's face is the best sight
have seen since your Excellency went
away from Coetfrec! Ah, my lord, who
knows fittings might have happened
differently. Your lordship was the key
stone of the arch; in your absence the
| building has crumbled."
| ROLAND walked on in silence till he
| reached the great hall.
Il have come as quickly as I could,
old friend; 1 have been to Laval, but
| that Is not much of detour'
"Ill be bound my lady was not to be
| found there?" said the seneschal.
do you know or guess whereabouts
she is?'
eve have had tidings, my lord, but
| not of late date; band of those marau-
| ders-your lordship has noted them?-
| caught Pierre Livet, and they were
| bringing him this way, meaning to drag
a ransom out of his people, his father
being wealthy farmer at Plenare.
Between Blois and Vendome the party
fell in with the Count of Laval and a
strong body Of soldiers; there was a
sharp encounter, and Pierre managed
to escape. When he reached Vendome,
| he learnt that the Count of Laval was
escorting our dear lady to Moulins. So
| my lord, if the King is still at Moulins,
our chatelaine will also be there"
ROLAND did not answer; he sat lost
| in thought 1t seemed scarcely likely
! that Laval would take his charge to the
| camp at Lyons; yet he would hardly
leave her alone at Moulins, which was
now doubtless in state of insurrec-
| ton, for ROLAND had heard the rumor
that price was set on the Constable
| head.
II do not think Gillonne is with her
mistress; she seems to have gone to
Mayenne. Do you think whether she
has friends in Mayenne?"
Leon looked doubtful There was a
cousin, Excellency, but no one near
enough for Gillonne to leave her mis-
tress at such time
| There was silence; then the senes-
| chal said with some hesitation:
Can it be that Gillonne went in
search CT your lordship? l have heard