The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-07-11

will look upon it as the most sacred
trust of his life"
BE 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 a
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
i'll looking 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 Clermonts 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 group to watch us as
we went by, and this we did slowly,
our men with their arms ready AS
we approached. however, and saw their
truculent faces 1 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 light rapier that he
wore, but as l spoke he put it back
with snap and, holding out his hand,
asked for the loan of my riding whip,
a little, delicate, agate handled thing.
at will be enough" he said as l gave
it to him, and he began to swing it
backward and forward, as if using it
to flick off flies from his horse. To my
joy they made no attempt to modest us,
though at one time q quarrel hung on
a cobweb, for as we passed the leader
Of the troop, a big, burly man, with a
very long sword trailing at his side and
a face as red as the constant dipping
of his nose into wine cup could make
it, advanced a step into the wood and,
wishing us the day, tried deliberately
to get better look at me, with an I'M
speakable expression in his eyes. l
saw De Clermont's face grow cold and
hard, and he quietly put his horse be-
tween me and the man and, checking
it slightly, stretched out the whip and
touched q not very clean white scarf
the creature wore over his shoulder,
saying:
"YOu are q trifle too near Limoges to
wear this, my man. Take my advice
and fling it away"
"That is my affair."" answered the
man insolently.
Precisely, Captain la Coquille. l
spoke but for your good. All, take
carer And De Clermonts horse, no
doubt secretly touched by the spur,
dashed out suddenly, causing the man
TO spring back with an oath and an ex-
clamation of:
"You know me! Who the devil are
your"
~ lhlo, INV CNCIs 4S SlCIlllplll
no answer, but as we passed on he re.
turned my whip to me, saying; 81 am
glad l did not have to use it. 1t would
have deprived you of pretty toy had
1 done So"
''Thank you. Who is that horrible
man? You called him by name"
eyes, La Coquille. l know him by
sight, though he does not know me. He
was very near being crucified once and
escaped but by fiuke. He is a robber,
thief and perhaps murderer, and"--
"And whatT
De Clermont reached forward and
brushed off an imaginary fly from his
horses ears.
"And has something of a history. /
believe he was a gentleman once and
then went under-found his way to the
galleys. After that he was anything,
and perhaps ought not to tell you, but
in time he became De Lorguacs SER
geant-his confidential man-and it
was only his masters influence that
saved him from we'll deserved death.
1t was foolish of De Lorgnac, for the
man knew too many of his secrets and
was getting dangerous. l hope | have
not panied YOU" he added gently.
"Not in the least" replied and rode
on, looking straight before me. So this
vile criminal was once my husbands
confidential servant, was perhaps still
connected with him in some of his dark
designs, and then l said a bitter thing:
Like master, like man. Is that not the
adage, monsieur" But as the words
escaped me felt keen regret.
"God help you, Denise" 1 heard De
Clermont murmur as if to himself, and
then he turned abruptly from me and
Joined Nine. de Termes, leaving me
with beating heart, for his words had
come to me with a sense of undying,
hopeless love in them, and he was so
brave, he seemed so true and looked so
handsome that my heart went out in
pity for him. How the mind can move!
In q moment there rose before me
y. o.,