The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-11-12
AN UNwELcoME GUEST.
A Story of War in La Vendee.

our low raftered room, M. Henri CfleC | with victorious clemency, Lower youl
 arms and you shall not be hurt. The
 republicans were disarmed and let SC | free I pointed out to the young chief the danger of letting hundreds of reb- I els wander about the outskirts just
 when his men were thinking of nothing
 but victory and of going each his own
 way"
 You have some merciless enemies,
 said. "A Manseillais lieutenant named Ripard has sworn that he would kill you in the combat or mur- | der you afterward on the first oppor- 1 tunity''
 On the young chiefs handsome face there was a look of childish astonish- ment at Ripard's hatred. His brow clouded at my words. but he dismissed
 the thought with a shake of the shoul- ders and gave the order to release the rest of the prisoners.
 We must show them that we have more humanity than they" he said. He had scarce finished speaking when there was a tumult outside, and three Vendean soldiers dragged a rough haired man into the room. He had cruel, bloodshot eyes; his face was convulsed with rage and hatred.
 This rebel has been arrested pistol in hand,'' said one of the Vendeans His life and liberty were given him. He made off, then turned and fired on his lberators. We dragged his pistol from him. Here it is.' And the man placed the weapon upon the table
 MI al and, turning to the man, he said, Your name?"
 The prisoner grinned savagely. "Take care. My name will alarm you. I am Ripard."
 I trembled M Henri looked at the Marseillaise and said quietly: Well, Ripard, you are free. Col"
 Mop replied the man sullenly. T know that trick. I am unarmed. As soon as I am outside I shall be shot down by your soldiers"
 My word is my oath. You shall net go unarmed. Take your pistol" M. Henri pointed to the pistol on the ta- ble
 The man jeered Do you know that 1t Is loaded?"
 
 and held 1t out to Ripard The prison CT snatched 1t from his hand, stuck it in his belt and. looking at the young chief with an evil eye, said sullenly:
 Where do you expect me to, go? The houses are full; there Is no straw. Tbe country Is unsafe. If you are afraid to keep me, kill me, for I am wornout I cannot drag another step"
 "Soit!" said M Henri we are no longer fighting. There is a capitula- tion. If you do not know where to go, you may stop here"
 1 trembled at the thought of harbor- ing so dangerous a guest and raised q hundred objections, We had not even a chair to spare.
 "At least" said M Henri Che shall share my room. The bed Is big enough for two.''
 I was dumb with horror. There was painful silence, broken by M. Henri begging me to take the torch and show Ripard to his room. The man watched us narrowly. A drop of blood hanging from the corner of his eyelid rolled down his cheek, leaving a ghastly stain upon 1t. I walked first, showing the way up the steps, but my heart beat fast, and the torch trembed in my hand, throwing weird shadows as we went. Inside the corridor l opened the sleeping room door and placed the light upon the chimney. The grin on the Manseilais' face froze my blood | with horror. I fingered hoping to find | a chance of whispering to MT. Henri to | disarm Ripard or, at any rate to let | one of the men sleep In his room but | he had forgotten about the pistol or was obstinate in his idea, for he cut ne short, saying:
 Good night! A demain. am worn ut with fatigue"
 And to hasten my departure he com menced to unfasten his coat
 I went away in despair, leaving the loor ajar behind me, but I heard M Henri bid Ripard close 1t, saying that hey would sleep more quietly. I trem- ,led at the haste with which the man 'beyed double-Iocking the door behind Jim. In the anguish that possessed me had mind to cross the corridor upon which their room opened, to get lad Ter, and climbing up, to watch them trough the narrow oeil de boeuf win low placed high in the wall but my outrage failed. Still I could not aban- lon our guest to the mercy of his ene- ny. M. Henri's Vendean soldiers hared my fears but they dared not isobey the command. When M. Henri says a thing, he 1eans It." they said, but I persuaded , ne of them to place his mattress , cross the door, begging him to spend . he night there, ready to break in at ne first alarm. This done retired. ,, ut I was still uneasy. Though I ., hrew myself dressed upon my bed, I {, ould not sleep. An hour passed wear y by, then another; the suspense be- anne unbearable. Unable longer to . lppress my fears I took ladder from lumber room at the end of the corri- t or placed 1t noiselessy under the eill de boeuf window, climbed up and 'olSed into the room. The light was C ill burning, though the house was r unged in silence. | M Henri was lying on the side of the r 9d nea rest to the wall, and Ripard, T aving placed the light upon the table a gar to the head of the bed. was stand a g motionless beside 1t watching the V eeper's face. n I could not see his expression, for his C ack was toward me. He remained h us some minutes, debating, perhaps, q neither the serenity of M.Henris fea- C yes were not ruse. Q Tho yptlno chiefs shirt wac oman a o