Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-07-06
The House of The Wolf,,,,,,


twenty feet at least on every side from
the base OF the wallis. The gatehouse,
PavanneS had shown us, might be
blown up With ~gunpowder, indeed, but
we prepared to close the iron grating
which barred the way half way up the
ramp. This done. even II the enemy
should succeed in forcing an entrance
he would only find himself caught In
a trap-in a steep. narrow way ex-
posed to a fire from the top OF the
thanking walls, as well as from the
front. We had n couple of culverines,
which the vicomte had got twenty
years before, at the time OF the battle
OF st. Quentin. We fixed one OF these
al the head OF the ramp, and placed
the other on the terrace, where by NOV
Ing 1t a few PAGES forward we could
train 1t on Beers house, which thus
lay at our mercy.
Not that we really expected an at
tack. But we did not know what to
expect or what to fear. We mad not ten
servants. the vicomte having taken a
score OF the sturdiest lackeys and
keepers to attend him at Bayonne. And
we felt immensely responsible. Our
main hope was hat the vidame would
at once go to Paris and postpone his
vengeance. So again and again we east
longlng glances at the House Of the
Wolf. hoping that each symptom of
hustle heralded his departure.
consequently II was a shock to me,
n a great downfall of hopes, when
Gil. with n grave face, came 10 me on
the terrace and announced HI NJ. lie
Vidame was at the gate. asking to see
mademoiselle.
1T Is out Of the question that he
should see her." the old servant added.
scratching his head In grave perpleX-
ity.
Most certainly. / will see him in
stead" l answered, stoutly. do you
leave Francis and another at the gate.
GIL. Marie. keep within sight. lad.
And let Croisette stay with me-
These preparations made--and they
took up scarcely a moment--I met the
vidame at the head OF the ramp. Mile.
dc Caylus," ] said, bowling, lis. / regret
to say. indisposed today, vidame."
she VIII not see me?" he asked, eye
Ing me very unpleasantly.
Her indisposition deprives her of the
pleasure l answered, with an effort.
lie was certainly a wonderful man, for
at sight OF him three-fourths OF my
courage, and oil my Importance, ooZed
out at the heels of my boots.
she will not see me. Very WELL" he
replied, as If l had not spoken. And
the simple words sounded like a SEN
tence Of death. Then, NJ. Anne, /
have a crow to pick with you. What
compensation do you propose TO make
for the death Of my servant? A decent,
quiet fellow, whom you killed yester-
day, poor man, because his enthusiasm
for the true faith carried him away a
little"
Whom / killed because he drew a
dagger on M. St. Croix de Caylus at the
vicomte's gate" l answered, steadily.
/ had thought about this. Of course,
and was ready for 1t. You are aware,
NJ. de Beers" / continued. that the
vicomte has Jurisdiction extending to
life and death over all persons within
the valley?'
MY household excepted" he re-
joined, quietly.
Precisely; While they are within the
curtilage Of your house." | retorted.
However, as the punishment was sum-
mary, and the nan had no time to con-
fess himself, / am willing to"
"Well?'
ITO pay lathe Pierre to say ten
masses for his soul"
The way the vidame received this sur
prised me. He broke into boisterous
laughter. "By our lady. my friend
he cried, with rough merriment, but
you are q Joker! You are, indeed.
Masses? Why, the man was a Protes-
tamil"
And that startled me more han any
thing which had zone before; more, in
deed, than / can explain. For 1t seemed
TO prove that this man, laughing his
unholy laugh, was not like other men.
He did not pick and choose his SER
wants for their religion. He was sure
that the Huguenot o stone his fell
low at his bidding; the Catholic cry:
"Vive Coligny!" / was 50 completely
taken aback that l found no words TO
answer him, and It was Croisette who
said, smartly: Then how about his
enthusiasm for the true faith, NJ. lie
Vidame?"
The true faith" he answered-"for
my servan is my faith" Then a
thought seemed to strike him. "What
Is more" he continued, slowly, that 1t
Is the true II only faith for all, thou
sands will learn before the world Is ten
days older. Bear my words in mind,
boy! They Will come back to you. And
now hear me-" he went on in his usual
tone, Il am anxious to accommodate q
neighbor. 1t goes without saying that
I would not think of putting you, Nj.
Anne, to any trouble for the sake OF
that rascal Of mine. But my people
will expect something. Let the plaguy
fellow who caused all this disturbance
be given up to me, that i may hang
him, and let us cry quits"
That Is impossible" I answered,
coolly. / had no need to ask what he
meant. Give UP Pavannes' messenger,
indeed! Never!'
He regarded me-unmoved by my re-
fusal-with a smile under which
chafed, while l was impotent to resent
1t. do not build too much on a single
blow, young gentleman" he said, shak-
Ing his head, waggishly. Il had fought
a dozen times when l was your age.
However, / understand that you refuse
to give me satisfaction"
I'm the mode mention. certainly
I replied. But"
BAH" he exclaimed. with q sheer,
business first and pleasure after
wards! Beers will obtain satisfaction
in his own way, l promise you that!
And at his own time. And il will not
be on unfledged paintings like you.
But what is this for?" n he rudely
kicked the culverin, which apparently
he had not noticed before. So! so!
understand" he continued, casting a
sharp glance at n and another OF us.
You looked to be besieged! Why, you
BOBBY, there Is the shoot Of you kitch-
en- hidden. twenty feet above the roof
Of old Fretis store! And open, / will
be sworn! Do you think hat l should
have come this way while there was
a ladder In Caylus? Did you take the
wolf for a Sheep"
With that he turned on his heel.
staggering away in the full enjoyment
or his triumph. For a triumph 1t was.
We stood stunned: ashamed to look
n another in the face. OF course the
shoot was open. We remembered now
that 1t was, and we were so sorely
mortified by his knowledge of our folly
that ! failed In my courtesy and did
not see him TO the gate, as l should
have done. We paid for that later.
He Is the devil in person!" / ex-
claimed, angrily, shaking my fist at the
House of the Wolf, as / strobe UP and
down impatiently. II hate him worse!'
s do II" said Croisette, mildly.