The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1901-08-15

surprised by the flashing of bright
lights in a courtyard. the door of which.
stood half open to right or left. Once
l saw the glow of torches reflected
ruddily in the windows of tall and
splendid mansion. little withdrawn
from the street. The source of the light
was in the forecourt, hidden from us
by a low wall, but l caught the muir
muir of voices and stir of many feet.
Once a gate was stealthily opened and
two armed men looked out, the act and
their manner Of doing it, reminded me
on the instant of those who had peeped
out TO inspect US some hours before in
BeZers' house. And once, nay twice,
in the knot of men standing notion
less in the gloom. There was an air
Of mystery abroad, a feeling as Of SOL
emn stir and preparations going on UNI
der cover of the darkness, which awed
and unnerved me.
But said nothing of this, and Nine.
DO was equally silent. Like most
countrymen l was ready to believe in
any exaggeration of the city's late
hours. the more as she made no re-
mark. l upposed--shaking off the mo-
mentary impression--that what 1 saw
was innocent and normal. Besides,
was thinking what I should say to
PaVannes when | saw HMM what
terms l should warn him of his peril
and cast his pertidy in his teeth.
We had hurried along in this way
and in absolute silence, save when some
obstacle or pitfall drew from us an ex-
clamation-for about a quarter of a
mile, when my companion, turning in
to slightly wider street slackened her
speed, and indicated by gesture that
we had arrived. A lamp hung over the
porch, to which she pointed, and
showed the small side gate half OPP
ened. We were close behind the other
three now. l saw Croisette stoop TO en-
ter and as quickly fall back a pace
Why?
In a moment it flashed across my
mind that we We're too late--that the
Vidame had been before us.
And yet how quiet it all was.
Then | breathed freely again. I saw
| that Croisette had only stepped back
| to avoid some one who was coming out
the coadjutor in fact The moment
the entrance was clear, the lad shot in,
and the others after him, the priest
taking no notice of them, nor they Of
him.
l was for going III, too, when I felt
Nine. DOS hand tighten suddenly on
my ARM and then fall from it. APP
prised of something by this, 1 glanced
at the priests face, catching sight Of
it by chance just as his eyes met hers
His face was white--nay, it was ugly
,
snarling rage, that was hardly human.
He grasped her by the arm roughly and
twisted her round without ceremony,
SO as to draw her few PAGES aside;
yet not so far that 1 could not hear
what they said
He is not here!" he hissed do
you understand? He crossed the river
to the Faubourg st. German at night
| fall-searching for her. And he has
not come back. He is on the other side
Of the water, and midnight has struck
this hour past!''
She stood silent for moment as if
she had received q blow-silent and dis
mayed. Something serious had hap
pened. l could see that.
He cannot recross the river now?"
| she said, after a time. THE gates
Shut he replied, briefly. THE keys
are at the Louvre"
and the boats are on this side?"
| Every boat! No one may cross until
| it is over"
And the Faubourg St. Germain?"
she said, in a lower voice.
There will be nothing done there,
Nothing!'