The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1901-07-18

The House Of The Wolf,,sssy'
BY STANLEY j. wEYnAN
BY STANLEY j. wEYmAN

Ao~>~@oo
There was loud laugh at this, even
among the enemy's hackers. Bah, the
great pig!" calculated the girl above.
Spit him!" and she spat down on the
Whilom Hector-who made no great fig-
ure now.
Shall I bring you slice of him, my
dear?" asked my rakehelly friend,
looking up and making his sword play
round the shrinking wretch. Just
tit-bit, my love?'' he added. persua-
slValy. "A mouthful of white liver and
caper sauce?"
Not for me, the BEAST" the girl
cried, amid the laughter of the yard.
Not bit? III warrant him tender?
Ladies meat?"
Bah! no.! and she stolidly spat
down again.
do you hear? The lady has no taste
Tor you" the tormenter cried. Pig
of a Gascon!'' And deftly sheathing his
dagger, he seized the big coward by the
ear, and turning him around. gave him
a heavy kick which sent him spinning
over a bucket, and down against the
wall. There the bully remained,
swearing and rubbing himself by turns;
While the victor cried. boastfully;
Enough Of him. If anyone wants to
take up the quarrel, Blaise Bure is his
man. If not. let us have an end of it.
Let some one find stalls for the gentle
mems horses before they catch chill;
and have done with it. AS for me-" he
added, and then he turned to us and
removed his hat with an exaggerated
flourish: II am your lordships servant
to command
thanked him with heartiness, half
earnest, half-assumed. His cloak was
ragged, his trunk hose, which had been
Ich cto nd oily o<,ct
pointless. He staggered inimitably,
and had led-captain written large upon
him. But he had done us a service, for
Jean had no further trouble about the
horses. And besides one has a natural
liking for brave man, an6, this man
was brave beyond question.
You are from Orleans he said, re-
specially enough, but as one asserting
fact, not asking a question.
Yes" I answered, somewhat aston
ished. Did you see us come in?"
No, but looked at your boots, gen.
tlemen," he replied, White dust,
north; red dust, south. Do you see?"
Yes, see said, with admiration.
You must have been brought up in
sharp school, M. Bure.''
Sharp masters make sharp schol-
ars," he replied, grinning. And that
answer I had occasion to remember
afterwards.
You are from Orleans, also?" I
asked, as we prepared to go in.
Yes from Orleans, too, gentlemen.
But earlier in the day. With letters
letters of importance!" And bestowing
something like wink of confidence
on US, he drew himself up, looked
sternly at the table folk, patted him
self twice on the chest, and finally
tWirled his mustaches, and smirked at
the girl above, who was chewing
straws.
I thought it likely enough that we
might find it hard to get rid of him.
But this was not so. After listening
with qualification to our repeated
thanks, he bowed with the same gro
tesque flourish, and marched off as
grave as Spaniard, lumming:
"Ce petit homme tant jolt!
Qui toujours cause ct toujours rit,
Qui toujours baise sa nignonne,
Dieu gard de NAL ce petit homme!'
On our going in, the landlord met us
politely, but with curiosity, and SIM
mering of excitement also in his man
ner. From Paris, my lords?" he
asked, rubbing his hands and bowling
low. "Or from the south?"
From the SOUTH" l answered.
"From Orleans, and hungry and tired,
Master Host
"Ah," he replied, disregarding the
latter part Of my answer, while his
little eyes twinlkled with satisfaction.
Then I dare swear, my lords, you
have not heard the news?" He halted
in the narrow passage, and lifting the
candle he carried, scanning our faces
closely. as if he wished to learn some
thing about us before he spoke.
"News?" I answered, brusquely, be-
ing both tired and, as I had told him,
hungry. I'VE have heard none, and
the best you can give us will be that
our supper is ready to be served
But even this snub did not check his
eagerness to tell us the news "Ad-
miral de Coligny," he said, GREATNESS
ly, you have not heard what has hap
pened to him ?"
ITO the admiral? No, what?" I in
last.
For moment let me digress The
few of my age will remember, and the
many younger will have been told,
that at this time the italian queen
mother was the ruling power in
France. 1t was Catherine de Medicis
first object to maintain her influence
over Charles Ix.-her son: who, rick
ETY., weak and passionate, was already
doomed to an early grave. Her second,
to support the royal power by balanc-
ing the extreme Catholic against the
Huguenots. For the latter purpose
she would coquette first with one party,
& then with the other. AT the present
moment she had committed herself
more deeply than was her wont to the
Huguenots. Their leaders, Admiral
Gaspard de Coligny, the king the Ma
varre and the prince Of Condo, were
supposed to be high In favor, while the
chiefs Of the other party, the duke Of
Guise and the two cardinals of his
house, the cardinal of Lorraine and the
cardinal Of Guise, were in disgrace;
which, as it seemed, even their friend
at court, the queens favorite son
Henry Of Anjou, was unable to over
come.
Such was the outward aspect Of
things in August, 1872, but there were
not wanting rumors that already Co
ligny taking advantage of the footing
given him, had gained an influence over
the young king which threatened
Catherine de Medici herself. The adj
miral, therefore, to whom the Hugue-
not half Of France had long looked as
! to its leaders, was now the object of
the closest interest to all; the Guise
faction, hating him-as the alleged
assassin Of the duke Of Guise-with an
Intensity which probably was not to be