The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1901-07-04

have come this way while there was
a ladder i'll Caylus? DID YOU take the
wolf for q sheep?"
With that he turned on his heel
staggering away in the full enjoyment
! of his triumph. For a triumph it was.
| We stood stunned: ashamed to look
! one another IN the face. OF course the
/ shoot was open. We remembered now
that it VAS and we We're SO sorely
mortified by his knowledge of our folly
that [ failed in my courtesy end did
not see him to the gate, as should
have Gone. We paid for thai later.
He Is the devil in person." l ex.
claimed, angrly, shaking my fist at the
House OF the Wolf, as strobe up and
down impatiently. Il hate him worse!"
SO do T." said Croisette, mildly.
But that he hates us is a matter Of
more Importance. At any rate we wilt
close the shoot"
Wait a moment I replied. as. aft
er another volley of complaints direct
ed at our visitor. the lad was moving
off to see to it. What is going on down
there?"
Upon my word, believe he is leav-
ing u.s. Croisette rejoined sharply.
For there was q noise of hoofs below
us. gathering on the pavement. Half
a-dozen horsemen We're issuing from
the House of the Wolf, the ring of their
brides and the sound of their careless
| voices came up to US through the clear
morning air. Beers valet, whom we
knew by sight. was the last of them.
| lie had pair of great saddle bags be-
tore him, and at sight of these we ut
tered glad exclamation. He is go
ing 1 murmured, hardly able to be-
lleNe my eyes He is going after ALI"
Watt" Croiset,e answered dryly.
But he was right. We had not to
wait long. He was gong. In another
moment he came out himself, riding
strong iron gray horse, and we could
| see that he had holsters to his saddle
His steward was running beside him,
to take, l suppose. his last orders A
1 cripple, whom the hustle had attracted
from his usual haunt the church porch,
held up his hand FOR aims. The vidame
as ne passed cut him savagely across
the face with his whip and cursed him
audibly.
May the devil take him!' exclaimed
/ Croisette in just rage. But said moth
Ing, remembering that the cripple was
particular pet Of GATHERINGS.
thought instead OF an occasion, not 80
very long ago, when the vicomte being
at home we had had great hawking
party. Beers ana Catherine had rid
crime giving the cripple piece Of
money Beers had flung to him all his
share of the game. And my heart sank.
I Only for moment, however. The
man was gone; or was going at any
rate. We stood silent and motionless,
| all watching, until after what seemed
long interval, the little party of seven
! became visible on the white road far
below us--to the northward, and NOV
/ ing in that direction. Still we watched
| them. mutterirg word to one another,
now and again. until presently the rid
| ers slackened their pace and began to
ascend the winding track that led to
the hills and Cahors: and to Paris also,
If one went far enough.
Then at length With a loud ''Whoopn'
| we dashed across the terrace, Croisette
leading. and so through the courtyard
to the parlor, where we arrived breath
I less. He's off, Croisette cried, shril-
| ly. He has started for Paris! and
bad luck go with him!" And we all
| threw up our caps and shouted.
| But no answer, such as we expected,
came from the women folk. When we
1 picked up our caps and looked at Cath
| crime, feeling rather foolish, she was
staring at us with a white face and
great scornful eyes. 'Fools!" she said
"Fools!''
And that was all But 1t was enough
to take me aback. l had looked to see
her face tighten at our news; instead it
wore an expression l had never seen
on it before. Catherine, SO kind and so
gentle, calling us fools And without
cause! l did not understand it.
! turned confusedly to Croisette. He
was looking at her. and I saw that he
was frightened. AS for Nine. Claude
she was crying in the corner. A pre-
sentiment of evil made my heart sink
like lead. What had happened?
Fools!" my cousin repeated, with
exceeding bitterness, her foot tapping
the parquet INCREASINGLY do you
himself ON you? On you! Or that he
could hurt me one hundredth part as
much here as-as-" She broke off
stammering. Her scorn faltered for an
instant. Bah! he is man! He
knows!" she exclaimed, superbly, her
chin in the air; but you are boys You
do not understand
l looked amazedly at this angry
woman. l had difficulty in associat-
settle, he stepped forward abruptly, and
picked up a white object which was
lying at her feet.
Yes, read it," she cried, read It'll
Ah!'' and she clenched her little hand
and in her passion struck the oak table
beside her, so that a stain of blood
sprang out Of her knuckles. Why did
you not kill him? Why did you not do
it while you had the chance? You We're
him in your power. You could have
killed him, and you did not! Now he
will Kill mel"
CONTINUED Next Weekly rs