The National tribune., 1902-11-13

test the flavor of La Farge's vintage,
at my expense, while 1 pay my honors to
him.
The maids now fled with terror, and
though Mary heard no more of the result
of the Intendant's prolonged tarry at the
inn that morning, she had vague feel
ing of insecurity during the balance of
the day. In this uneasy frame of mind
she an1iously awaited the hour when she
could meet again her new-found friend,
thinking that at this time she would relate
some of her own bitter experiences. TAX
ing the little wooden ladle that she had
brought with her, which formed the only
link between her present situation and the
home she had been so rudely torn from,
as the last notes of the Angelus died away,
she went out into the yard to meet Marie
st. Alose.
| Her sight was gladdened by the ap-
pearance of her young friend as she sped
swiftly toward the retired corner where
they had held their morning conference,
and she was about to cali softly her name,
when she was both surprised and startled
by the sound of a voice near at hand, ex-
claiming:
Here is the Intendant's bird, or / am
blind"' advancing to lay his hands upon
her as lie spoke.
| Mary shrank back, with low cry of
terror, while Marie, seeming to divine the
| purpose of the man and his companions,
sprang swiftly to her side. and throwing
lher arms about the others neck, cried
sharply:
"You shall not take her, monsieir, with
out taking me!'
The soldier, for such his dress showed
him to be, paused with uncertainty as
how to act, until one of Lis followers said,
with jest:
"Take them both, Varin! The Royal
Intendant cannot find fault if You bring
/. <xr,, nnlx
asked"
Still Varin hesitated, having no desire
to raise a disturbance, particularly where
one who was under the protection of the
church was concerned. Just how he
would have extricated himself from the
| dilemma is uncertain, had not La Fargo
himself, q dark burly man, appeared on
the scene, to laugh at his discontinue.
'Aye take them both, Varin. The one
| will be company for the other. / will an
swer to Father lie Petite for the safe re-
turn of his chicken"
! So the unfortunate girls were both
seized, in spite Of their futile resistance,
and placed upon the backs of couple of
the horses standing at the hitching posts
on the other side of the inn. The men
then spraDg into the saddles of their ami
mails, and riding SO as to guard their
charges, started up the way at smart
canter.
Soon leaving the little village of Charlie
bourg behind, the party slackened their
lheadlong gait as thy entered hpon the
lpath running out into the forest in the
direction of the lonely retreat of New
Frances dissolute commander. That this
pathway was frequently Travelled was
lshOwn by its well-worn track, for car
lriages as well as for horses. Winding
lalong Mt intervals under the dropping
branches of resinous pines, it must have
been beautiful drive during the Summer
season when its borders were lined with
dainty star-1owers, deep purple triliums.
and delicate ferns. Tiny rivuiets, whose
lslOping banks were carpeted with grass
tef a pale green relieved by the silver foil
lof anemOnes or the pink bells of the Lin
naeus Borealis, ran across its track laugh
ing in happy innocence of the purpose of
Those who crossed them.
Even at midday the path must have
missed the sunlight for rods at a stretch,
and at this hour it was quite dark at these
lplaces. While passing one of these places
lat a leisurely pace, Mary Shepley felt
hand reach ont from the thick growth
bordering the pathside and thrust into her
own piece of wood. With what she af-
lterwards looked upon rs remarkable pres
Ience of mind, she covered this under the
} folds of her garments without attracting
the attention Of her escorts. Wondering
what it could be, and who had so surrep-
titiousiy given it to her, she improved her
! FIRST opportunity upon gaining an opening
! in their course to give it furtive examina-
!. ltion.
} II she had managed to retain her pres
eDce Of mind before, she came near be-
! traying herself now, when she found that
the object was wooden ladle exactly
; like the one she had with her! In a mo-
ment her mind recalled the scene in the
; sugar orchard when she and her little
brother had been assailed by the Indians.
Was this his ladle2 If so, as she believed
L. l. L. "a
} Iclose enough to satisfy herself, what did
!. lit mean? In the midst Of her wild thoughts
iand maddening speculations the leader of
!the party announced that Beaumanoir had
ibeen reached.
i Go be continued.)