The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-10

In the dark passage without ST suppose
there is drawing room somewhere, but
the question is, how am 1 going to find
it?''
She wandered about opening door after
door, and closing them up again in dis
may after peep into the ghostly look
ing rooms. Dim. silent saloons, with
furniture shrouded in white, windows
closed and suffered; only ray of light
ffltering in here and there through the
chinks, touching the faded hangings on
the walls, or resting On the dingy gliding
Of pierglass cornice.
At last she heard footsteps behind her,
and turning, caught sight of Isidor who.
wearing green baize apron and carry
ing large tray, was evidently preparing
to remove the dinner things.
Does mademoiselIe wish to return to
her room?' he inquired bowling over the
tray with equal grace and dignity
Il want to find the drawing room,' re-
turned Molly, "but the whole house APP
pears to be shut up. Where is one to sit
in the EVENING""
well, mademoiselle Nine Ia Comtesse
remains in her ROOM
Yes, but M. lie Baron?' this impa-
uentIy, Il suppose he stays somewhere
is there no such thing as a sitting room
Ma FOL! mademoiselle,' in deeply scan
dal1zed tones, M'sieU lie Baron has also
his room-and mademoiselle has her
room, nest ce-pas? Then there is the
garden, is there not?' with an insinuat-
ing wave of the tray. Mon Dieu, one
habltuateS oneself
oh, the garden!' interrupted Molly,
catching eagerly at the suggestion. "Of
course L can go there, I suppose?"
But acknowledgements up, and
Wh1sking round, tray and all; this way,
mademoiselle
To
sage, having at the end a glass door
which, adroitly balancing the tray on
his knee, Isidore contrived to open, and
Molly passed out into a green, sweet
wilderness, bounded by an avenue of tall
trees. The golden light of the summers
evening was clarifying all it rested on;
birds were singing jubilantly; there was
a drowsy hum in the air, too, and the
little fountain trickled and splashed with
musical rhythm. Molly found all these
sounds pleasant after the stiffness of the
chateau, and wandered EDWARDS under
the trees, shifting the sweet doors of the
summer evening, and marking the wild
luxuriant beauty of the shrubs and flow
erS, which appeared to thrive all the
more for being wholly untrammeled
Presently the sound of voices caught her
ear, and, pushing through the branches,
she found herself close to a dilapidated
threshold of which sat a little child
supporting an empty bowl on its club
by brown knees, and sucking a large
wooden spoon with apparent relish
"Ah, ca, art thou finished then? cried
an impatient voice within. make haste,
L have a thousand things to do, and am
waiting to undress thee"
'Tout de suite, maman!' replied the
little creature, nodding its white-capped
head, continuing to suck the spoon with
unmoved composure.
There was a pause, broken only by the
clatter of crockery within; probably the
mother was utilizing the interval by dis
posing of one at least of the thousand
jobs which she had alluded to. But after
minute or two she again called her off
spring.
ARRIVE directly, I tell thee, or I shall
fetch Croquemitaine. Dost thou hear?
Here is Croquemitaine coming to eat thee
up!"
At this reference to the household DOGGY
the child uttered dismal wall, dropped
its spoon, and fastened into the house
with all possible speed:
Molly turned away smiling to herself,
and regained the avenue aforesaid,
wherein reigned a mysterious gloom, in
tensifying in the gathering dusk. Pres
emily the sound Of approaching footsteps
caused her to raise her eyes, and she
started as she caught sight OF M. de
Sauvigny. His tall form looked taller
and more formidable than ever in the
waning light, his arms were folded on
his breast, his eyes were fixed on the
ground; behind him stalked the dog, with
slow, deliberate steps, in imitation of his
master.
'Tf the small sinner yonder were to
catch sight Of this apparition," though
Molly, "she would think it was Gro
quennitaine in person coming to devour
her.
She stood little to one side to allow
the baron to pass her, a timid Good
night ready to flutter from her lips in
return for the greeting which she ex-
pected. But none was Vouchsafed. Gro
quemitaine walked on without appearing
conscious of her presence, though his
black familiar treated her to an evil
glance from the corner of his eyes and a
low growl.
Molly turned homewards after this, be-
ing DESTROYS to avoid a fresh encounter
with her employer.
AS she re-entered the silent house and
CROPPED up the dark stairs she shuddered
involuntarily There was something
weird, mysterious, terrifying about the
place in spite Of it's charms. It might be
an ogre's castle.
''Well, so 1t is" thought Molly, en-
deavoring to rally her courage by joking
to herself, sit is Croquemitaine's
(To Be Continued)