Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-05-18
1t was the Countess d'Aubigny's

vention of so foul q wrong.
But man refused to listen, and God
was deaf. What then remained tC
her? A curious light cleaned on hel
face. She looked about her with q
certain cunning look-such a look az
the mad have when they mean mis-
chief.
Then she rose softly, softly and gen
thy drew back the bolts and turned
the key in her door.
What did she mean? She was mis-
tress in her own house.. OF what
then. was she afraid? Something
surely; for opening it so quietly as to
make no sound, she listened with keen
intentness All was still. AS yet
with the exception of herself, the Lit,
tile household all were wrapped in
slumber. Her long, trailing wrapper
of white cashmere made no rustic; hel
fur-lined slippers no noise.
She crossed the hall and paused out.
side a door whose threshold she had
not crossed in many months. IT led
into the apartments which had be.
longed exclusively to her husband
What could have brought her there at
such a time?
AS cautiously as if she had been a
burglar effecting an entrance. she glid.
ed in and shut the door behind her.
Passing through an ante-chamber and
a Sitting room she entered a somewhat
larger apartment beyond, at the far
Their end Of which was 4 table of curl
GUS workmanship. In this table she
touched secret spring, and instantly
a drawer flew out-a drawer filled with
curious and costly weapons.
1t was a collection of rare arms Louis
Gervase had at one time made. Once
he had opened this drawer to show
them to his wife, and laughed and
kissed her, because, with Il shudder,
she babe him close it quickly and shut
them out.
Now her eyes fairly gloatcd over
them. A moment she surveyed them,
then she chose from among them Il
tiny pistol She remembered Louis
had said that though it looked toy, it
might kill an OK. This pistol she lifted
with almost tender care. A hasty eN-
animation showed her that it's -four
chambers We're fully loaded.
Seeing this. Il smile lighted her face,
the first which had dawned there in
many IL day. She thrust the pistol
within the bosom of her dress, closed
the drawer and furtively and swiftly
hurried back to her own rooms.
There she dressed unaided, smiling
again, as with quick, nervous fingers
she attired herself i'll the same dress
she had Worn to the chateau.
1T is natural | should wish to see my
husbands bride,' she repeated, softly,
to herself; and instinctively rs she
spoke she put her hand within her
dress to feel the handle of the weapon
resting there.
/! 1t was safe. quite firm. She glanced
next at the clock upon the mantel. Its
| hands pointed to Il little before six. At
six the church doors would be opened.
Putting on Il simple hat and throwing
over it Il heavy veil, which she drew
down over her face, she once more
cautiously opened the door and stole
down the stairs and out into the street.
| \ light snow was falling and the air
was very cold; but, drawing her heavy
mantle more closely about her, she
walked rapidly on for some blocks;
then calling an empty carriage, she en-
tered it, but, still some distance from
her destination, alighted, and pursued
her way on foot
At last the grand old pile of Notre
Dame uprose before her. A few stray
glers, mostly of the humber walks in
life, We're pouring in through it's open
portals on their way to- early mass.
Some beggars had already gathered
there.
In each Of their outstretched palms
she put a piece of gold, and they
thought some saint in disguise had
passed them, and called upon the Holy
Mother herself to bless her. In heaven
would their prayer be heard?
At one Of the smaller affairs mass
was being intoned. She made no pause,
however, but, moving swiftly on, knelt
in one of the confeSsionals but few
feet distant from the main altar where
flowers already mingled their fra
GRANGE With burning incense.
The spot which she had selected was
in shadow. Her dark dress seemed to
mingle With the darkness about her.
Only close scrutiny would have re-
vealed her presence. II a priest hap
pened to enter the confessional she
might say that she awaited him. But
no priest came.
Hours passed and she had neither
moved nor stirred. Presently, at the
grand altar, an altar boy lighted all the
candles, even those that were never
lighted except on fete days. In the dis
tance the organ swelled into majestic
music. People of a different class
swept up the broad aisles, and outside
could be heard the roll Of the many
carriages.
1t was then that woman's form,
covering in the shadow of the con.
fessional, crept cautiously forth, and,
drawing nearer, alf-concealed herself
behind Il mighty pillar. No one no
ticed her. All were absorbed in their
gaze toward one particular entrance.
A few minutes elapse and the hush
of expectation intensied. Then
through the wide-open portals swept a
radiant vision. The countess wore NO
VEIL but her dress was composed of al.
most priceless lace, through which
shimmered the folds of heavy satin on
which it was artistically draped.
Her neck and arms were bare, and
were cncircled with single stones, dia
monds of the purest water. Her head
was held erect. On her curved lips al