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

FARE w ELL.
1t was the day after the wedding;
Jeanne was on her way to The garden,
clad soberly in blue, when at the castle
entrance she found ROLAND de la
Touche. He stood bending over the
OLD deerhound Montfort; the dog had
set MS front paws against the powerful
figure, clad now in buff coat and steel
thigh-pieces, and was crying over the
young baron IN a kind of sorrowful
babble. The assemblage of strangers
yesterday had bewildered the faithful
creature, and its joy broke loose at the
sight of this old friend
ROLAND heard Jeannes footsteps, and
pushed the dog away as he turned to
greet the young girl.
From babyhood she had always Of
fered him her forehead to kiss; now,
without knowing why, she held cut her
hand instead
He looked at her, and laughed.
II come sooner than you expected
me, but my orders were sent on to me
at Coetfrec: am only here to say fare
well, my child"
She gave him a saucy smile.
"Ah, indeed. that was yCnS idea? Il
10 llOt uuiIt, tOu dIS CO1uluS VIII ulC
to the garden, where you shall sit on
the grass, and listen to my news;
have story to tell you" As he fol-
lowed her, she said over her shoulder:
ITO begin with, am no longer Jeanne
Kergrist!" and she ran away to the
garden gate
He stared, and hurried after her: his
brows were knit. and his blue eyes were
full of pain He followed her to the old
sun-dial against which they usually
sat; then he said gravely:
"At least Jeanne, I have no spare
time for riddle-guessing. so YOU must
be plain with me, my child"
Jeanne only obeyed two persons-her
mother and ROLAND de la Touche. She
was sometimes fractions and hayward
when her old playmate leased her. but
when he spoke seriously she yielded al
once.
She looked at him, clasped her hands
behind her head, and piroutted on her
heels. Then she blew through ner
closed fists, initiating the sound of a
trumpet
"Know. then, by these tokens" she
said loftily. that I am no longer the
little girl Jeanne Kergrlst; I am that
high and mighty lady, Madame ia Com
Jesse de Laval!'
She stopped. frightened at the fierce
light she saw in his dark-blue eyes,
"If this be true, when were you mar
ried?" he said sternly
cat this hour yesterday the ink was
not dry en- the book we signed But
ROLAND, why are you displeased? After
you left US, week ago, said 70 my
mother you wished to be consulted
about my marriage. She listened. and
then she answered, that it was not pos
sible; she had received direct command
from the King to wed me without delay
to Monsieur lie Comte, and that she
could do nothing but obey. Besides,
am to stay here for three instead of
two years What does it matter? May
be l shall not see the Count again; he
NAV fall in battle-who can tell she
said airily.
ROLAND shook his head
Child, you must not so speak, or
even think. The Count Of Laval is now
your husband; your duty is to him, to
speak of him with fitting reverence. He
is a good man and noble lord. and will
merit your love: his name and his pro-
lection will shield you from all harm y
Jeanne looked pensive.
Il pray you, do not chide, ROLAND
But have you no curiosity? You have
not SO much as asked how | like my
husband, or what / feel about my mar
riage. l shall tell you without asking
Sit down on the grass till Gillonne
comes to seek us. There! that is as II
should be; now l can speak. I like
Monsieur de Laval. He is DID, but he
looks kind and honest; but / would
rather have stayed as / was. Listen!
there is one person | can never like
and that is the cousin Of my, husband
he looks cruel; I shiver when l think
of his snake-likes eyes"
care his yes1dark, and is he tall
and slender?'
She nodded.
He had spoken anxiously
"You mean Etienne de Retz,' he said
thoughtfully. mo, he is not like his
cousin; but the Countess of Laval car
have nothing to fear from him."
Jeanne sat moment silent; then
with little SILVER she said:
II do not know that; he oppressed
me like a nightmare l could not for
get his presence: I felt that those sly
cruel eyes were fixed on me. reading
my thoughts Even through the priests
holy words was thinking of that man
and of his power to harm me. l loathe
him, ROLAND, and l feel that some day
he will try to do me a mischief
Again she shivered. and then squeez-
ed herself close to ROLAND, as they sa,
side by side on the grass.
He took one OF her slim hands, and
kept it in his.
"You need not fear him: he has nc
power"-he spoke reassuringlv-"un
less Monsieur de Laval should die child
less In that case, De RetZ succeeds to
the Countship. But that need not
trouble YOU: try to forget this fancy
my dear little sister. and remember that
whenever you need help l am at your
service
There were tears in her bright eyes
"And when you are in Italy. ROLAND
wounded, perhaps prisoner, what
them"
She looked wistfully into his honest
fearless eyes. He bent down and kissed
her: this time she did not draw away
Marriage has disagreed with you
my child; this is not the brave Jeanne
who longed to lead her troops forward
| to victory like Jeanne la Flamme, and
| wear armour like Like Pucelle?"
! She wiped away her tears, she shook
her head. and looked up at him, once
more his fearless. saucy Jeanne.