News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1902-04-16

manded by General Buell. on the Union
side and General Bragg on the Con-
| federate and that Judge Tailleur and
Horace Oakfell had been slain and left
on the bloody field by their retreatng
| comrades. For many months the re-
port could not be verified or tested,
communication with the army of the
southwest being cut off by the Federal
lines east of the Mississippi, but gen.
eral credence was given to it. An add
ed gloom settled upon the people.
Father Grhe stroye in vain to prevent
these tidings from reaching Estelle
She staggered as if under a bludgeon's
blow, but tears came not to her relief
Odette kneit beside her and repeated
like a deyOtee telling beads: There is
no proof Mr.. Horace is dead. Then.
MISTRESS 90 not believe it," And by
dint of her strange persistency she
lodged doubt in Estele's mind, which
brought her the consolation of frail
hope.
Quillebert gave the intelligence to
Laure with a chuckle and observed:
'The obliging Yankee took the job
off my hands so far as Oakfell was
concerned"
81 suppose" Laure commented, Eva,
riste will now think he can persuade
Estelle Latiolais to marry him and will
speed his steps accordingly"
Il hope So" said Quillebert, still
pleased. "It would be a fit punish
ment for her, and my vengeance would
be satisfied"
"He shall not marry her," Laure ex-
claimed hotly.
And you shall not marry him." re-
torted Quillebert in sudden rage.
"Let him say that not you. My
grandmother never used shall or shall
not to me. Then do not waste your
energy in laying commands upon me.
You cannot steal my liberty as you did
the negro Jockeys"
Laure's defiance was pronounced with
such fire, contempt and insinuated
threat that Quillebert quailed beneath
her flashing eyes, and, swallowing the
coarse retOrt that rose to his lips, he
whistled a prolonged note of mock sur
prise and walked to the room where
his treasure of brandy was stored. But
he stiffly resolved that Evariste should
wed Estelle and in that connection took
from his strong box bundle of papers
bearing the signature of Leonidas La
tiolais. Selecting two, he read them
carefully and tied them in a separate
parcel, which he laid away by itself.
To the curious Evariste's grief was
evidenced by his self seclusion. For
the space of a week he was not seen
at the Latiolais home, Quilleberts place
or Dede's cabaret. He immured him
self behind locked doors at 81 Espe-
rance" and Mrs. Wyley saw him only
at meals. She, good soul, was over
whelmed by sorrow. She could not
trust herself to mention the dreadful
rumor to Evariste, even to question its
verify. But he. when alone, passed his
time otherwise than in mourning. 1t
was busy week with him. He count
ed and recounted the money he had
boarded since his brothers departure,
calculated over and over his gains
from the cOntraband ventures exploited
with Quillebert. scanned repeatedly the
written obligations of old man Latio-
lais which he had purchased from the
Frenchman; but, though the effort in
volved the full measure of his strength,
he RETAINED from opening the sealed
envelope which Horace had delivered
into his hand before marching to the
dangers Of battle. He cOntented him
self for the present with the belief that
it contained a disposition in his favor
of all the Oakfell estate. The thoughts,
schemes and resolves which occupied
him during those seven days were such
as consume or scar the soul, and he
came forth with hardened countenance,
compressed lips, cruel eyes and con-
tracted brows.
His first call was on Estelle, whose
pale face and stricken look stirred his
secret resentment. She greeted him
sadly and, almost weeping, said
Tell me, my friend, that you do not
believe this awful news about your
brother; that you have good reason to
disbelieve it,"
"Alas, mademOiselle," he replied, af- |
fecting a distress he did not feel, Il
have no more reason for belief than the |
existence of the rumor and none for |
other than the absence of Off |
cial or authoritative corrobOration. | |
can only hope that Horace still lives"
God grant he lives! God grant he |
livesr' she murmured, sinking into a |
chair.
"Amen to that" said Evariste solemn |
ly But should the all wise God have |
decreed differently, l pray you, made
to feel assured that you have |
in me friend and protector as devoted |
and as brave as he, though not as gift
ed"
eyes, yes" She seemed to be speaking |
to herself without looking at her Wis |
itor. "He said so and babe me trust
his brother. But God grant he lives!
God grant he lives!
"Estelle, am l never to be regarded |
by you save as the suggestion of an
other man? Can you not see Her
and panied glance apprised
him that he was betraying anger, and
he checked the utterance Of harsh
words that sprang from his heart, for
40 lnoyv bic time was NOT vet riDe !