Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-07-11

The House of The Wolf,,,,,,ss
By STANLEY j. WEYNAN Il
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~ By STANLEY
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Nine. Claude muttered something
tearfully; something about Pavannes
and the saints. 1 looked over Croi-
settles shoulder and read the letter. 1t
began abruptly without any term of
address, and ran thus: Il have mis-
sion in Paris, mademoise1le, which adj
mits of no delay. your mission, as we'll
as my own-to see Pavnnnes. You have
won his heart. 1t is yours, and l Will
bring 1t to you. or his right hand, in
token that he has yielded up his claim
to yours And to this l pledge myself"
The thing bore no signature. 1t was
written in some red fluid-blood per-
haps-a mean and sorry trick! On the
outside was scrawled direction to
Mile. de Caylus. And the packet was
sealed with the vidames crest. a wolf S
head.
THE coward! The miserable cow
ard!" Croisette cried. He was the first
to read the meaning of the thing.
And his eyes Were full of tears-tears
Of rage.
For me. / was angry exceedingly.
My Veins seemed full OF fire. as COM
pretended the mean cruelty which
could thus torture q girl.
Who delivered this?' | tiundered.
Who gave IT to mademoiselle? How
did it reach her haHds? Speak, some
one"
A maid. whiinpering in the back
ground. said that Francis had given it
to her to hand to nadeaoisclle.
l ground my teeth together. while
1,fs 1,, 4 e,
Francis-and a stivrup leather The
Nidame had brought the note In his
pocket, no doubt. rightly expecting
that he would not get an audience of
my cousin. Returning to- the gate
alone he had seen his opportunity, and
given the note to Francis, probably
with a small fee to secure It's trans
mission.
Crosette and looked at one another,
apprehending all tits. "IIe will sleep
at Cahors tonight" | said, sullenly.
The lad shook his head and answered
In low voice: ~ am afraid not. His
horses are fresh. l think he will push
on. He always travels quickly. And
now you Know
1 nodded, understanding only too
we'll.
Catherine had flung herself into a
chair. Her arms lay ne.,veless on the
But now, overhearing us, or stung by
Some fresh thought. she sprang TO her
feet in anguish. Her face twitched.
her form seemed to stiffen as she drew
herself up like ore in physical pain.
oh, l cannot hear it, she cried to us
In dreadful tones. ooh, will no one
do anything? l win go to him. I will
tell him l will give him up. 1 will dc
Whatever he wishes if he Will only
spare him.
Croisette Went from the room crying
1t was dreadful sight for us-this girl
IN agony. And it was Impossible to re-
assure her! Not one of us doubted the
horrible meaning of the note, its covert
threat. Civil wars and religious hat
red. and I fancy italian modes OF
thought, had for the time changed cul
countrymen to beasts. Far more dread
full things We're done than this which
Beers threatened--eNen &c he meant il
literally-far more dreadful things were
suffered. But in the flendish ingenuity
OF his vengeance on her. the helpless
loving woman, l thought liaoul de I5ez-
ers stood alone. Alas! ii fares i'll with
the butterfly when the cat has STRUCK
it down. Ill indeed.
Nine. Claude rose and put her arm.
round the girl, Diminishing me by ges
ture. l went out. passing through tw,
" eiilSe sSstlSd servants: ana llldSle u
once for the terrace. / felt as if coul,
only breathe there. i found Marie ane
st. Croix together, silent, the marks o.
tears on their faces. Our eyes met, ant
they told one tale.
We all spoke at the same time
"When?" we said. But the other:
looked to me for an answer.
was somewhat sobered by that. ant
paused to consider before l replied
n II, =,
presently. TT is an hour after moor
already. We want money. and TIL,
horses are out. 1t will take an hour I,
bring them in. After that we nigh
still reach Cahors tonight perhaps; bu
more haste less speed, you know. No
At daybreals tomorrow we will start
They nodded assent.
1t was a great thing we meditated
No less than to go to Parasitic un
known city so far beyond the hills
and seek out NJ. de Pavannes. and wari
him. 1t would be a race between tn
vidame and ourselves: race for TIL
| life of Kits sutton. Could we reacl
Paris first, or even within twenty-fou
| hours Of Beers arrival, we should i;
| all bability be in time, and be abb
to put Pavannes on his guard. 1t ha.
been the first thought of all of us Il
| take such men as we could get to
gelher ana ran upon BEERS WhereVe
we found him, making it our slmpi
object to XII him. But the lacheys M
| lie Vlcomte had left with us, the time
| being peaceful and the neighbor
| friendly, were poor spirited fellows
| Beers handful, on the contrary, wer
reckless Swiss riders-like master, lih
men. We decided that 1T would be wis
er simply to warn Payannes, and the
stand by him If necessary.
we might have dispatched a messen
| ger. But our servants-Gil excepted