Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-09-02

nothing to be feared from De Termes,
that l should order Lalande to turn
and guide me back to madame and
| Perigueux. but De Clermont barred
the way. and it was better after all
to push on to Meymac and there with
a cooler head than now possessed de-
| eide what to do. What had not pass
ed through within the last few hoursP
| had made trouble enough for myself
by jumping womanlike to conclusions
and imagining that the postscript of
De Termes' letter to his wife referred
to me. whereas it clearly concerned
some one else That was perhaps a
pardonable error. considering the cir
cumstances. but there were other
things. and even now my face grows
hot when I think Of them.
My nature Is proud. That can never
alter. though sorrow and many bitter
lesson have brought me good sense, but
| it cut like knife to realize how had
been fooled by De Clermont and how
near l had been to fall victim to a
pitiless libertine. 1t Is bad and cruel
lesson for any woman to learn that she
has been the sport of man. ten times
bad and cruel if the woman be proud
and high spirited. And as for De Lor-
gnac | did not know what to think.
My mind concerning him was chaos.
I had misjudged him. wronged him ut
terly, but it was gall to me to know that
he had stood forth as my champion.
1t was bitterness untold to think that
I must humble myself in my heart be-
fore him. could never do so in words
to his face IL ever we met: daughter
of MieuX could not do that. 1t was aw.
full to think that his hands were red
with blood for my sake. ard shud
dered as l reflected that had been rs
It were the immediate cause OF a
frightful death. De Lorgnac had no
business to kill that man. whoever he
was; he had no right to make me feel
almost a murderess, and withal there
rose in my heart kind of fierce PRIDE
in the man who could do this for my
sake and a joy could not make out
because he was other than took him
to be-because, in short, he was a gal
liant gentleman, and not-oh. need
say no more!
When we had Travelled for about the
space Of two hours the horse OF one OF
the two troopers that NJ. de Norreys In
his kindness had lent to me fell while
crossing water cut, and on eXamlna
ton it was found to be so hurt that II
was impossible for it to continue the
tourney to Millevranches. 1t was de-
cided that the two men should he left
behind to return to their camp they
had not far to go-and that we should
press on as before. gave the good
fellows q brace Of crowns apiece. ana.
commencing myself to NJ. de Norreys.
we went on the sheep track can
call It by no better name--now passing
through all the widest scenery sur
rounding the Puy de Meymac.
"If luck befriends US. madame ana
the storm which has kept of so long
does not come. we should reach Mile
vranches in little over two hours
said Lalande to me as we rode down
narrow and steep descent.
"Why should the storm come on
now? There is no breath of air stir
ring. and the moon Is clear"
The equerry did not reply until
reaching the more level ground at the
foot of the incline down which we had
ridden and then. pointing behind me
said simply, Look. madame"'
Turning, saw that half the arc OF
the heavens was. as 1t were. obscured
by q thick curtain that hung heavily
and sullenly over it. and rs we looked
q chain of fire ran across the black
ness. the distant roar OF thunder came
to us. and then low. deep moaning
yibrated through the air.
"The storm is afoot. fear. madame
We must press on and cross the
Luxege. which. though narrow enough
| to lump over now. may in an hour be
impossible, and with the darkness 1t
will be impossible to tell the way
At this speech Mousette gave little
cry Of alarm and then, her fears over
coming her. began to declare that she
could 20 no farther and begged us to
leave her there to die. to be killed by
the storm or eaten up by the wolves. it
| did not matter which; either alterna-
tive was preferable to going on.
| tried O i could to pacify the poor girl,
| but she was getting into state OF hys'
terical excitement and absolutely re-
fused to move, though every moment
| was precious and the dead stiffness
| formerly around US was now awake
with the voice of the coming storm.
| At last l began to despair of moving
her when Lalande said grimly: Leave
her to me, madame. am an old mar
ried man." Then. bending forward, he
seized my bride and with Il cool "Adieu,
mademoisele; hope you will not dis
agree with the wolves" to Mousette be-
| gan to urge our beasts forward not
withstanding my protests.
| But the issue showed he was right.
| though confess | was surprised to see
the way in which my maid recovered
| her strength under this rough and
ready treatment, for in two minutes
she was bustling along at our heels.
But the lost time never came to our
hands again, and as we began to de-
scend the wooded slope toward the
| L,Iyege, which we could hear hum
| ming angrily below us, the storm burst
with Shrek of the winds and an alb
solute darkness that was rendered
more intense and horrible by the vivid
flashes of lightning and the continuous
roar of thunder. In trice Lalande
had dismounted and taken us from our
horses, and the poor animals seemed
so overcome by fear or fatigue or both
combined that they stood perfectly
still.
at Is death, madame, attempting to
ride now. We must get to the river on
foot" Saying this, Lalande managed
somehow to get the horses in front OF
us. and then, holding on to each other
and guided by the incessant flashes of
lightning, we began slow and pain
full progress. l soon began to feel the
fatigue and exhaustion so much that
in my turn begged Lalande to stop.
Courage. madame, it's but a few
wards more to the river bank" he an
swered. "There we can stop and rest.
And took my heart up and strove on
tx.tt In N