Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-08-19
thick as snownakes, and across which

thick rs snownakes, and across which
the wind hustled riotously.
AS we cantered along side by side
my companion again broke forth into
a joyous song that sprang full throat
ed and clear from heart that never
seemed to have known moment OF
pain. His was q 1.-the, leopardlike
strength, and as looked at him my
thoughts ran back to the time when
we first met on his return from the
! Venetian embassy, whittier he had
gone when NJ. de Bruslart made
mess Of things. | do not know why
1t was, but he singled me out for his
particular notice, and, though 1t was
openly known that he was betrOthed
to the second daughter Of NJ. dAyen,
l, like fool, was fattered by the at
tentions of this gay and brilliant caya-
lier, and day by day we were thrown
together more and more. and sort
of confidence was established between
! us that was almost more than friend
ship. There was, as l have said, that
in his maSterful way that had the ef-
feet Of leaving me powerless. and,
though he could put all its light in his
eyes and all its tones in his voice,
felt instinctively that he did not love
me, but was merely playing with me
uth
me toward him with resistless force.
| In short, the influence of De Clermont
| on me was never for my good. and our
intercourse always left me with the
conviction that | had sunk little low
er than before. and it was at times
like these when | met De Lorgnac's
grave eyes that | felt the unspoken re-
proach in their glance and would strug'
gle to rise again, and then In the con-
sciousness of my own folly felt falr'
ly hated him for seeing my weakness.
What right had De Lorgnac even to
think of me? What did it matter to
him what did or said? So used to
argue with myself yet in my heart OF
hearts ! felt that my standard or
right and wrong was being measured
by what I ina agined man to whom
had hardly ever spoken might think.
When l make this confession and say
that the influence Of De Clermont over
me was never for my good. do not
mean to imply that l was guilty OF
ANYTHING more than foolishness. but
the effect Of it was to sap my hlsh
ideas. and | now know that this man.
aided by his surrOundings-and they
were all to his advantage - took the
Measure of devil in lowering my
moral nature and in molding me to be
come "of the world" as he would put
II. God be thanked that the world Is
not as he would have made 1t. At thar
time however, was dazzled, all bu:
overpowered, by him. and day by day
my struggles were growing weaker
like those Of some poor fly caught III
pitiless web. The knowledge Of all
this was to come to me later. when by
Gods help escaped, but then was
blind and foolish and mad.
My companions song was interrupt
ed by Laande. who came Sallop!n&
back in hot haste and in no good TEN,
per to say that the whole party had
| halted to wait for me, and. quickeninS
our pace. we hurried onward and found
them about a mile farther on. To say
| that Nine. de Termes was surprised ut
seeing De Clermont is to say little, and
| could see, too, that she was not very
well pleased, but he spoke to her So
| fairly and gracefully that in spite Of
herself she thawed. and half an hour
| later he was riding 1T her bride hand.
bringing smiles that had long been alb
sent to her face. He was oyerJoyed IL
| hear Of the vicomte'S recovery and
said many fattering things about him,
| for he knew him well. having served
under him in the campaign of l.anguc.
| doc, and then he went on To become
| more communicative about himself.
saving that he was the bearer of Il dis
patch to the king Of Navarro. adding.
with laugh "a duplicate, you know.
| the original being carried by VI. Nor
reys. the England free lance. Ma fol
But should not be surprised If | reach
| ed the Bearnnois before the sluggish
| islander"
Hardly, If you loiter here. NJ. le
Marquis" said.
"You must bear the blame for that.
madame, but will add that my orders
are to pass through Perisueu& as well.
and so. madame"-and he turned to
my friend-'if you will permit Raoul
| de Clermont to be your escort there he
will look upon it as the most sacred
trust of his life"
He bowed to his saddlebow and look
| cd so winning and handsome that ma
dame replied most graciously in the
affirmative. A little beyond La Jon
chere something very like an adventure
befell us, the first on this hitherto un
eventful journey. At the crossroad
| leading to Bourganeuf we met with
party of six or eight men who did not
require a second glance to make us see
that they were capable of any mischief.
They had halted to bait their horses
and. flung about in picturesque atti'
tudes, were resting under the trees-as
III looking u set Of fellows as the pleas
ant shade of the planes had ever fallen
upon. Had they known beforehand
| that we were travelling this way they
would very probably have arranged an
| attack on us. but as it was we came
upon them rather suddenly. and as
our party. which had been added to
by De Clermont's two lackeys. was
somewhat too strong to assault openly
| without the risk of broken heads and
| hard knocks-things which gentry OF
| this kind do not much affect-they let
| us alone. contenting themselves with
| gathering into n group to watch us rs
we went hy. and this we did slowly.
| our men with their arms ready AS
we approached. however. and saw theil
truculent faces l had doubts as to
whether we should pass them without
bloodshed and begged De Clermont IN
low voice to prevent any such thing.
| He had drawn q light rapier that he
wore, but as spoke he put 1t back
| . .,,,, and hoI1inD pnt his hD nd