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

We could sea bend in the street
laying 1t open-part of the Vidame'S
mouse; the gloomy square hold which
had come to him from his mother. His
own chateau of Beers lay far away
IN F'ranche Comte, but of late he had
shown preference-Catherin could
best account for it. perhaps-for this
mean house in Caylus. 1t was the only
house In the town which did not be-
long to US. 1t was known as the
House of the Wolf, and was grim
stone building surrounding court
yard. Rows of wolves heads carved
IN stone thanked the windows, whence
their bare fangs grinned day and night
at the church porch opposite.
The noise drew our eyes in this d.
rection; and there, lolling in a window
over the door, looking out on the
street with laughing eye was Be-
zers himself. The cause of his merri-
ment-we had not far TO look for 1t
was horseman who was riding up
the street under difficulties He was
refining in his steed-no easy task on
that steep, greasy pavement-so as to
present some front to a score or so of
ragged knaves who We're Following
close at his heels, hooting and throw
Ing mud and pebbles at him. The man
had drawn his sword, and his oaths
came up to US, mingled with shrill
cries OF 'Vive la messe!' and half
drowned by the gathering of the
horses hoofs. We saw a stone strike
him IN the face, and draw blood, and
heard him swear louder than before.
OH cried Catherine, clasping her
hands with a sudden shrek of indig-
nation, my letter! They will get my
letter!''
Ia,
is right! 1t is M. de Pavannes' cou
rier! This must be stopped! We can
not stand this, Anne!''
They shall pay dearly for it. by our
LADY," | cried! swearing myself. And
in peace time, too-the villains! Gil!
Francis!" I shouted. Where are
your"
And I looked round for my fowling
piece, while Croisette jumped upon the
wall, and, forming trumpet with his
hands, shrieked at the top Of his voice:
Back! he bears a letter from the
vicomte!"
But the device did not succeed, and
could not find my gun. For mo-
ment we were helpless, and before I
could have fetched the gun from the
house the horseman and the hooting
rabble at his heels had turned a cor
ner and were hidden by the roofs.
Another turn, however would bring
them out in front Of the gateway, and,
seeing this, we hurried down the ramp
to meet them. i stayed moment to
tell GIL to collect the servants, and,
this keeping me, Croisette reached the
narrow street outside before me. AS
Il I followed him I was nearly knocked
down by the rider whose face was
covered with dirt and blood, while
fright had rendered his horse unman-
ageable. Darling aside, I let him pass
he was blinded and could not see me
and then found that Croisette-brave
lad!-had collared the foremost of the
ruffians and was beating him with his
sheathed sword, while the rest of the
rabble stood back. ashamed, yet sui
len, and with anger in their eyes. A
dangerous crew, l thought; not towns
men, most of them.
Down with the Huguenots!" cried
one, as l appeared, holder than the
rest.
Down with the canaille!" I retort-
Will you set yourselves above the
kings peace, dirt that you are? Go
back to your kennels!"
The words We're scarcely out Of my
mouth beforet I saw that the fellow
whom Croisette was Furnishing had got
hold Of dagger. I shouted a warn
Ing, but it came too late. The blade
Len, d1u-LudllhS 10 sSIOu-SlIlhluS lue
buckle of the lads belt, glanced off
harmless. / saw the steel flash up
again-saw the spite in the mans eyes;
but this time I was a step nearer, and
before the weapon fell I passed my
sword clean through the wretch's
body. He went down like a log, Croi-
settle falling with him, held fast by
his stiffening fingers.
had never killed q man before, nor
I Seen a man die. and If had Sta we'd r.
think about 1t, should have fallen
sick perhaps. But it was no time for
thought; no time for sickness. The
crowd were close upon US, line OF
flushed threatening faces from wall tc
wall. A single glance downwards told
me that the man was dead, and I set
my foot upon his neck. Hounds!
Beasts" cried, not loudly this time
for though was like one possessed
with rage, 1t was inward rage, "go tc
= your kennels! Will you dare to raise
q hand against a Caylus? Go-or when
the vicomte returns, dozen Of you
shall hang In the market place!"
suppose I looked fierce enough
know I felt no fear, only a strange e&-
altationfor they skunk away I'm
willingly, but with little delay, the
group melted. Brezers' following-o1
whom knew the dead man was one
the last to go. While still glared al
them, 10! the street was empty; the
y last had disappeared round the bend
turned to find Gil and half dozen
servants standing with pale faces a,
my back. Croisette seized my hand
with a sob. ''Oh. my Lord" cried Gil
quaveringly. But l shook one off, j
frowned at the other
Take UP this carrion:' I said
touching 1t with my foot, land hang
It from the justice elm. And Their
close the gates! See to it, knaves. and
lose no time =
CHAPTER II.
THE VIDAMES THREAT.
Croisette used to tell story, Of the
facts of which I have no remembrance
save as q bad dream. He would have
1t that left my pallet that night
i had one to myself in the summer, be-
4 ing the eldest, while he and Marie
h slept in another in the same room
and came to him and woke him sob
+ bing and shaking and clutehing him
and begging him in fit OF terror not
TO let me go. And that so I slept in
his arms until morning. But as have
a said, II DO not remember anything OF