Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-10-17
The House of The Wolf,,,,,,2s
BY STANLEY ]. WEYMAN
&sssssssssssssssssssssssss
CHAPTER XII.


CHAPTER XII.
Joy in the Morning.
was too weary with riding to go en-
tirely without sleep. And moreover it
is anxiety and the tremor of excite
nent which makes the pillow sleepless,
not, heaven be thanked. sorrow. God
made man to lie awake and hope; but
never to lie awake and grieve. An hour
or two before daybreak fell asleep,
utterly worn out. When awoke the
sun was high, and shining slantwiSe on
our window. The room was gay with
the morning rays. and soft with the
morning freshness, and I lay awhile,
my cheek on my hand, drinking in the
cheerful influence as had done many
and many a day in our room at Caylus.
1t was the touch of Maries hand, laid
timidly on my hand, which aroused me
with shock to consciousness. The
truth broke upon me. I remembered
where we were and what was before
Us. win you get up, Anne?" Crotsette
said. 1.-The vidame has sent for US"
I got to my feet and buckled on my
sword. Croisette was leaning against
the wall, pale and downcast. Bure
filled the open doorway, his feathered
cap in his hand, a queer smile on his
face. You are good sleeper, young
gentleman" he said. You should have
good conscience"
Better than yours. no doubt" re-
torted, "or your masters"
He shrugged his shoulders. and, bid
Dig US by sign to follow him, led
the way through several gloomy pas
sages. At the end of these flight of
stone steps leading upward seemed to
promise something better; and true
enough, the door at the top being
opened, the murmur of crowd reached
our ears, with a burst of sunlight and
warmth. We were in lofty room
with walls in some places painted, and
elsewhere hung with tapestry; we'll
lighted by three old pointed windows
reaching to the Undiscovered floor. The
room was large, set here and there With
stands Of arms, and had a dais with a
raised carved chair at one end. The
ceiling was of blue, with gold stars
set about 1t. Seeing this, remembered
the place. I had been in 1t once, years
ago, when I had attended the vicomte
on a state visit to the governor. All!
that the vicomte was here now!
advanced to the middle window,
which was open. Then started back,
for outside was the scaffold built level
with the floor and rush-covered like
It! Two or three people We're lounging
on 1t. My eyes sought Louis among
the group, but in vain. He was not
there; and while I looked for him /
heard noise behind me, and he came
In, guarded by four soldiers with pixies.
His face was pale and grave, but per-
fectly composed There was wistful
look in his eyes indeed, as If he We're
thinking of something or someone far
away-Kit's face on the sunny hills OF
Quercy, where he had ridden with her,
perhaps; look which seemed to say
that the doings here were nothing to
him, and the parting was yonder where
she was. But his bearing was calm and
collected. his step firm and fearless.
When he saw us, indeed his face light
ened moment and he greeted us cheer
fully, even acknowledged Bure's salu-
tation with dignity and good temper.
Croisette sprang towards him impul-
sively, and cried his name-Croisettc
ever the first to speak. But before
Louis could grasp his hand the door
at the bottom of the hall swung open
and the vidame came hurriedly in.
He was alone. He glanced around
his forbidding face, which was some
what flushed as If by haste. wearing 9
scowl. Then he saw US and, noddina
haughtily, strobe up the floor, his spurs
climbing heavily on the boards Nc
gave us no greeting, but by shor
word dismissed Bure and the soldier:
to the lower end of the room. And ther
he stood and looked at us four, bu'
principally at his rival; and looked ant
looked with eyes OF snloldering hate
And there was silence. long silence
while the murmur Of the crowd came
almost cheerfully through the window
and the sparrows under the cave
chirped and twittered. and the hear
that throbbed least painfully was,
do believe, Louis de Pavannes.
At last Beers broke the silence.
IN. de Pavannes!" he began, speak
ing hoarsely, yet concealing all passlol
under cynical smile and a mock of pc
likeness. m. de Pavannes, l hold tn
kings commission to put to death al
the Huguenots within my province Q
Quercy. Have you anything to say,
beg. why l should not begin with you
Or do you wish to return to the church
Louis shrugged his shoulders as u
contempt, and held his peace. l say
his captor's great hands twitch con
yulsively at this. But still the vidam
mastered himself, and when he spok
again he spoke slowly Very we'll.
he continued, taking no heed of u.s. tn
silent witnesses of this strange strus
gle between the two men, but eyetn
Louis only. You have wronged m
more than any man alive. Alive G
dead! or dead! You have thwarted M
NJ de Payannes and taken from me tn
L
have killed you. / had 1T in my powe
had but to leave you to the rabb!e, re
member, and you would have been rot
ting at Montfaucon today, M. de Pa
vannes."
THAT is true" said Louis quietl:
''Why SO many words?
But the vidame went on as If i
had not heard. II did not leave you
them" he resumed "and yet hate &c
more than ever hated any man ye
and l am not apt to forgive. But no
the time has come, sir, for my reveng
The oath l swore to your mistress
fortnight ago / will keep to the lette
Il Silence, babel" he Numbered, turf
Ing suddenly, 'or will keep my VOL
with you, tool"
Croisette had muttered somethin
and this had drawn on him the glare
Beers eyes. But the threat was e
fectual. Croisette was silent. The ty
were left henceforth to one another.
Yet the vidame seemed to be put O
by the interruption. Muttcring strii
of oaths, he strobe back again. II
cool cynicism with which he was wo
to veil his anger and impose on 9th
men, while 1t heightened the effect
his ruthless deeds, in part fell fro
him. He showed himself as he was
masterful and violent hating with /;
the strength of turbulent natu
which had never known a check
quailcd before him myself. ! confess
"Listen!" he continued harshly. col
Ing back and taking his place in fro
than before the interruption. II mig
have left you to die in that hell yonde
And did not leave you. had but
hold my hand and you would have be
torn to pieces! The wolf, howev
does not hunt with the rats, and