The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-07-11
S. LEvETT YEATS
...ooPYRIGHT 1903. By s. LETETT YEATs...


message from his creatures to the Most
High.
let my heart go after the voices of
the bells as they travelled heavenward.
and had it not been for Mousette's
shrill tones that cut through the quiet
night and recalled me to myself l
might have let the party go onward l
do not know how far. AS it was,
had to hustle my little horse to gain
the side of Nine. de Termes once more.
1t was not, of course, our intention to
travel all night. That would have been
impossible, for it would have entailed
weary horses and long halt the next
day, but it was proposed that we should
make for small chateau belonging to
M de Bouchage, the brother of the
Due de Joyeuse, which he had placed at
Nine. de Termes' disposal, and there
rest for the remainder of the night,
making a start early the next morning
and then pressing on daily as fast as
our strength would allow. Lalande
had sent courier on in advance to an
nounce our sudden coming. We did
.
house until about midnight, and the
equerry was now fussing up and down
the line of march, urging pack horse
on here, checking a FESTIVE animal
there, and ever and again warning the
lackeys to keep their arms in readiness,
for the times were such that no mans
teeth were safe in his head unless he
wore good blade by his side.
We were, in short, on the eve of that
tremendous struggle which, beginning
with the day of the barbados, went
on to the murder of the princes of Lor-
raine on that terrible Christmastide at
Blois and eliminated with the dagger
of Clement and the death of the mis-
creant whom God in his anger had Civ
en- to us for. a king.
Things being so, the land was as full
of angry murmurs as nest of dis
turbed bees, the result being that the
writ of the king was almost as waste
paper, and bands of cutthroat soldiery
committed every excess, now under
the white, then under the red scarf, as
it suited their convenience
1t was for this reason that Lalande
urged us on, and we were nothing loath
ourselves to hasten, but our pace had
to be regulated by that of the laden
animals, and, do what we would, our
progress was slow. a
Madame and 1 rode in the rear Of the
troops, couple of armed men immedi-
ately behind us. Lalande was in front
and exercised the greatest caution
whenever we came to a place that was
at all likely to be used for an ambus.
cade.
Nothing, however, happened, and
finally we set down to jogging motion,
speaking no word, for we were wea-
ried, and with no sound to break the
silence of the night except the shutting
of our horses, the straining of their
harness and the clink of sword sheath
and chain bit.
Suddenly we were startled by the
rapid beat of hoofs, and in moment a
white horse and it's rider emerged from
the moonlit haze to our right, coming
as it were straight upon us. Lalande
gave quick order to halt, and l saw
the barrel of his pistol flashing in his
hand, but the horseman, with cry of
>"For the king! Way. wayp' dashed
over the road at full gallop and sped
off like sprite over the open plain to
our left.
%Did you hear the voice, Denise?"
asked madame.
eyes"
''It is stranger than ever" she said
And 7 could m alYn No ancmnr
There was no doubt about it. 1t was
De Lorgnac, and instead of going to
the Porte st. Honore, as 1 thought when
he left us, he must have crossed by
the Meunniers and come out by the st.
German gate. He had evidently, too,
separated himself from his men.
81 shall be glad when we reach De
Bouchage's house." l said, with
shiver, for the apparition of my hus-
band had sent chill through me.
sit is not far now" replied madame.
And then we both became silent, alb
sorbed in our own thoughts, she no
doubt thinking of the vicomte and l
with my mind full of forebodings as to
what other evil fate had in store for
me, and with this there came thoughts
of De Clermont, whose presence
seemed absolutely to feel about me.
could not say I loved him, but it was
He dashed oUer the road at full gdllop.
as if he had a power over me that sap
ped my strength, and | felt that / was
being dragged toward him. l cannot
explain what it was. but others have
told me the same, that when his clear
blue eyes were fixed on them they
seemed to lose themselves and that his
glance had power the force of which
no one could put into words, nor indeed
canI
1t was only by an effort and prayer
that 1 succeeded in collecting myself,
and it was with no little joy that
saw the gray outlines of the Chateau
de Bouchage and knew that for the re-
mainder of the night there was rest.
4