The Holly chieftain., 1899-02-10

vi w Auy sS SOtR8SsAuo k,ADGttS st20e
Mauginot ther partner) to gain possession
OF the prise. After this hideous scene
Henry with retinue. among whom II the
fair prisoner who had escaped from the
hand Of do Gomeron. rides over the neld.
Chapter Iv-D'Auriac in tho hospital of
Ste. Genevieve discovers his unknown
friend Is the heiress OF Bidache. She Wis
10 taken to her Normandy chateau where
he arrives shortly before noon.
CHAPTER Iv.-CoSr1xuED.
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 fiag-
staff on the keep. and the next moment
the banner Of fTremouille, 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-uadame, 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 close,
and Palm, rising, opened his lips in q
long thanksgiving to which all. madame
included, listened devoutly. Our host
ess then retired, and we three were left
together in an absolute silence. Had il
been any other place. I would have felt
bound to call D'Ayen to account. md
ask him to name a proxy II he was un-
able to meet me by reason Of his age.
But as it was, this was impossible. and
I contented myself with a frigid re-
serve, in which was Joined by the
Huguenot. He looked from one to the
other OF us with q satirical smile on
his thin lips, and then rising made q
slight bow. and left us to ourselves. Az
we returned to our seats from our re-
sponse to his greeting, Iblurted out the
questions:
"Who is NJ. d'Ayen? Why is he here?'
"Ivho is he? It 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 him well enough at
dinner" I felt was wrong as said
this; but the words came out.
"He rs here by the kings orders-by
the order OF Henry the Great" said
Palm. with bitterness; monsieur. you
seem . man Of honor. What do you
think Of king who would force mar.
ringe on a woman to- and he whis.
percd 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? Il could not be true.
Palm saw the doubt ON my face.
-Even you." he said, A'will 60 to Pnris
and See"
II shall so-I am going to-day"
ut will be at the risk Of your life"
"Maitre Palm, there 10 the king'i
peace-and even II Il were not 90 will
60"
He hooked at me long and nttentiveIy
"Let II be So" he muttered to him
self. and then loudly: "Well, chevalier
have warned you-if you go you will
want safe lodging-scek out Pantin in
the Ruc des Deux Mondes, and mention
my name. The house faces the Pont
Ncuf. you can't miss It,"
'Thank you, will do So"
Then after few minutes more of tnlk
we wished each other good-by md
parted.
AS for myself I was on the cross will
what I had heard. My mind was rackei
with doubt. and at last, in despair.
sought my own room to think over tn,
matter. l could make nothing OF it
turn which way would. To me PALM
story was incredible. But yet it ex
planned and made clear 80 much! 1
was not to offer my sword to the kim
that ! would now go to Paris. 1t woult
be to save the woman loved, II possi
Bile. How I was to do this, had n,
definite idca-the one thing at prescn
In my mind was Paris-Paria there
fore gave the necessary orders Il
Jacques to make ready to start at once
and. descending the winding staircas
Of the tower wherein my room lay
sought the great hall with the view 0
either finding nalamc thers, or o
sendfng soms one with TIE request I,
| persist ny waiting on her 10 ny good
~: The staircase ended IN . long darl
sersidcr. hung % each side VII
6vphies Of the CHASE. old arnor, ans
tsayed and tA&tered banners At th,
I'D of this ~ a. aErhsd doorway, hid
den BY Z heavy puFtnln. Tilted the eur
tain and paseed fnto the great hall, Al
nrst I I'thought it Wns empty. but 4 -
oud gIAncs sl51wtd ne madame, seated
| - ! smsll tsbl6ln the reosss Of the hov,
window that pveflecked ~ park, n,
| lacc, leaniue % hor hand. VA NJ,