The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1901-07-25

the night short August night. Yet
the loneliest manor in Quercy could
scarcely have bristled with more pixies
and musquetoons, on a winters night
and in time of war
No doubt these signs impressed US
all: and Croisette not least. For sud
denly heard him stop, as he followed
US up the narrow staircase, and begin |
without warning to stumble down
again as fast as he could. l did not |
know what he was about, but NUT
tering something to Marie 1 followed
the lad to see. At the foot of the fight |
of stairs looked back. Marie and the |
servant were standing in suspense.
where l had left them. l heard the
latter bid us angrily to return.
But by this time Croisette was at
the end of the corridor; and reassuring
the fellow by gesture, | hurried on,
until brought to a standstill by man
opening a door in my face. He had
heard our returning footsteps, and eyed
me suspiciously; but gave way after
moment with a grunt of doubt.
FASTENED on. reaching the door Of the
room in which we had supped in time
! to see something Which filled me with
! grim establishment; so much so that l
stood rooted where l was too proud
at any rate to interfere.
Beers was standing, the leering
priest at his elbow. And Croisette was
| STOPPING forward his hands stretched
out in an attitude of supplication.
May, but NJ. lie Nidame," the lad
cried. as I stood, the door in my hand,
! '.it were better to stab her at once
than break her heart Have pity on
! her! If you kill him, you kill her!"
/ The Nidame was silent seeming to
glover on the boy. The priest sneered.
Hearts are soon mended-especially
womens,'' he said.
But not KITS Croisette said, pas
ionately-otherwise ignoring him.
mot Kits! You do not know her, vi
dame! Indeed, you do not!'-
The remark was ill-timed. I saw a
4 spasm of anger distort Beers face.
Get up, boy!" he snarled. II wrote to
mademoiselle what l would do, and
that ! shall do! A Beers keeps his
word. BY the God above us-if there
be a God, and in the devils name I
doubt it tonight shall keep mine!
Col"
His great face was full of rage. He
looked over Croisette's head as he
spoke, as if appealing to the great reg
istrar Of his vow, in the very moment
in which he had had all but denied
him. turned and stole back the way
l had come; and heard Croisette fol-
| low.
That little scene completed my mis-
cry. After that 1 seemed to take no
heed of anything or anybody until 1
was aroused by the grating of our jail
ers key in the lock, and became aware
that he was gone, and that we were
alone in a small room under the tiles.
He had left the candle on the floor, and
1 we three stood around it, Save for the
long shadows we cast on the walls and
two pallets hastily thrown down in
one corner, the place was empty. 1
did not look much at it, and I would
not look at the others. flung myself
on one of the pallets and turned my
face to the wall. despairingly.
thought bitterly of the failure we had
made of it, and of the vidame's tri-
umph. cursed ST. Croix especially for
that last touch Of humiliation he had
my anger abated, l thought of Kit so
far away ct Caylus-of Kits pale, gen.
tie face, and her sorrow. And little by
little l forgave Croisettc. After all he
had not begged for us-he had not
stopped for our sakes, but for hers.
do not know how long 1 lay at see
saw. between these two moo6 Or
whether during that time the others
talked or We're silent, moved about the
room or lay still. But it was Croisettes
hand on my shoulder touching me
with a quivering eagerness that in
SJantly communicated itself to my
limbs, which recalled me to the room
ard it's shadows "Anne!" he cried
,, Anne! Are you awaken
What is it?' I said, sitting UP and
looking at him.
Marie he began has
, But there was no need for him t.
finish. saw that Marie was standing
at the far side of the room by the un.
> glazed window; which, being in
sloping part of the roof inclined slight
ly also. He had raised the shutter
+. which closed it, and on his tip toes-fol
the sill was almost his own height from
, the foor-was peering out. l looked
sharply at Croisette rs there gut
ter outsider" I whispered, beginning
: to Jingle all over as the thought of es
| cape for the first time occurred to me
= No" he answered in the same tone
But Marie says he can see bean
u below, which has thinks we can reach.
{ i I sprang up, promptly displaced Ma
5 rio and looked out. When my eye
grew accustomed to the gloom l dis
u cerned dark cha os Of roofs and gable
stretching as far as l could see befor'
me. Nearer, Immediately under tn
: window, yawned chasm-a marrow
e street. Beyond this was house rath
n er lower than that in which we were
u the top of it's roof not quite reachin,
I the level Of my eyes. II see no beam,
e l said.
I, CONTINUED Next Weekly
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