The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1899-02-16

its him daily, and when he Is well enough
Is taken to her Normandy chateau where
he arrives shortly before noon.
CHAPTER IV.-CoNTNUFD.
A turn in the avenue at this moment
brought us in full view of the gray
walls of Didache. and on the wide stone
staircase that led to the great hall we
saw the servants of the household as
sembled. Madame waved her hand in
greeting, and the cheer which broke
from them was drowned in the boom
of the lombard from the keep. AS the
blue wreaths of smoke curled upward,
little ball ran to the top of the flag
staff on the keep, and the next moment
the banner of Tremouille, with the arms
of Rochemars of Bidache quartered
thereon, spread out its folds to the
morning, and madame was come home
once more.
We dined an hour or so later than
usual-madame d'Ayen, Palm and my
self at the high table, and the rest of the
household with all Bidache at the next.
Madame, who seemed in nowise ia
tigued with her long ride, was in the
gayest of spirits and ripplcd with talk.
As if thinking she had punished d'Ayen
enough she directed all her conversa-
tion towards him, and the old beau
was in his element in discussing the in
trigues of court life, and let me add
interesting, for his memory went far
back.
At last the dinner came to a close,
and Palm, rising, opened mis- lips in
! ong Thanksgiving, to which all, madame
included, listened Gevoutly. Our host
ess then retired, and we three were left
| together in an absolute silence. Had it
been any other place, would have felt
| bound to call D'Ayen to account, and
ask him 10 name proxy il he was un-
| able to meet me by reason of his age.
But as it was, this was impossible, and
I contented myself with frigid re-
serve, in which | was joined by the
| Huguenot. He looked from one to the
other of us with n satirical smile on
his thin lips, and then rising made a
slight bow, and left us to ourselves. As
we returned to our seats from our re-
sponse to his greeting, blurted out the
| questions:
"Who is NJ. d'Ayen? Why is he here?"
"Who is he? 1t is enough to say he is
one of those men who live on the follies
of kings. And it is enough to say that
his company is forced upon us"
II have heard that before; but ma
dame seemed to like linn well enough at
dinner" l felt l was wrong as | said
this; bat the words came out.
'He is here by the kings orders-by
the order of Henry the Great" said
Palm, with bitterness; monsieur, you
seem a man of honor. What do you
think of king who would force a mar.
riage on a woman to" and he whis-
pered words in my ear which struck me
speechless.
could not believe him. II was in
credible. Was this the hero king-the
gallant soldier-the father of his peo
pie? 1t could not be true.
Palm saw the doubt on my face.
"Even you,' he said, will go to Pari.
and see"
II shall go-I am going to-day"
at will be at the risk of your life"
|
peace-and even if it were not so will
60"
He hooked at me long and attentively
LET it be So" he muttered to him
self, and then loudly: "Well, chevalier
have warned you-if you go you will
want a safe lodging-seek out Pantin il
the Rue des Deux Mondes, and mention
my name. The house faces the Pom
Neuf, you can't miss it,"
THANK you, will do So"
Then after few minutes more of tall
we wished each other good-by an,
parted.
As for myself was or the cross witt
what had heard. My mind was raclzer
with doubt, and at last, in despair,
sought my own room to think over tn
matter. | could make nothing of il
turn which way would. To me Palm
story was incredible. But yet it ex
planned and made clear so muchl !
was not 10 offer my sword to the kin
that would now go TO Paris. 1T woul
be to save the woman / loved, if posi-
BILE. How l was to do this, / had n
definite idca-the one thing at presen
in my mind was Paris-Paris. ! there
fore gave the necessary orders t
Jacques 10 make ready TO start at one,
and, descending the winding staircas
Of the tower wherein my room lay
sought the great hall with the view c
either finding madame there, or c
sending some one with the request {
permit my waiting on her 20 say gooC
by. The staircase ended in long dar
corridor, hung on each side wit
trophies of the chase, old armor, an
frayed ard tattered banners. At th
end OF this was an arched doorway. hiC
den by heavy curtain. l lifted the GU
tain and passed into the great hall. A
first | thought il was empty, but SCI
ond glance showed me madame, seate
at a small table in the recess of the bow
window that overlooked the park. He
face, leaning on her hand. was ha
ayerted from me, and ! caught
glimpse of q small foot resting on on
OF the lions heads in which the legs {