The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-07-08


which was but dimly lighted and where |
my husband that was to be was already
standing booted and spurred, ready. |
like myself, to take to horse There |
were a dozen or so of people grouped |
around, and one seated figure which
felt was that of the king. l made a
half glance toward him, but dared not
look again, for behind Henri's chair
was De Clermont, gay and brilliant, in
marked contrast to the sonlber if state
~ figure of De Lorgnac.
At last the time came when l placed
hand as cold as stone in that of my
husband, and the words were spoken
which made US man and wife. When
it was all over and we had turned to
bow to the king, De Clermont stepped
forward and clasped a jeweled collar
around my neck, saying in loud voice,
I'm the kings name" and then, aided
by the dim light and with unexampled
daring, he swiftly snatched away one
of my gloves, which held in my hand,
with a whisper of ''This for me-"
Henri spoke few jesting words, and
then rising left the chapel abruptly,
followed by De Clermont, but those
who remained came round us with con-
CALCULATIONS that sounded idle and hol-
low to me. 1t was then that l noticed
for the first time that Catherine was
not present, although saw Queen Mar
got and Nine. de Canillac there. The
marshal, however, cut the buzz of
voices short:
"The horses are ready, De Lorgnac,
And now, my good niece, adieu, and
good fortune be with you and your
husband"
With that he bent and, touching my
forehead with his stiff mustache, step
ped back pace and let us pass.
AS / walked by my husbands side,
dazed and giddy, with humming in
my ears there came back to me with
a swift and insistent force the words
of the vows which, If had Rot Spoken,
I had given a tacit assent to. They
were none the less binding on this ac-
count. Two of them l could not keep.
One cannot control ones soul, and l
felt that in this respect my life would
be henceforth living lie. But one l
thought l might observe, and that was
the oath to obey, yet even in the short
passage leading from the oratory to
the entrance to the chapel my heart
| famed up in rebellion, and with sud
| den movement l withdrew my hand
| from my husbands arm and, biting my
| lips till the blood came, forced myself
| to keep by his side. He made no effort
| to restrain me; spoke never word un-
| til we came to the door where the
horses were waiting with half dozen
armed and mounted men. Here De
Lorgnac turned to me, saying. almost
in a whisper, MAY help you to
mountT
/ made a movement of my hand to
the negative, and he stepped back, but
the animal was FESTIVE, and at last
was forced to accept his aid. AS we
passed out of the gateway, riding side
by side, spoke for the first time.
"May l ask where you are going t.
take me, NJ. de Lorgnac?"
He answered, speaking as before IL
low tones: 81 thought you knew You
should have been told. We go first tt
the house of Nine. de Termes."
Like lightning it came to me that thu
man was afraid of me. | cannot sa.
how l knew it. felt it and made VI
my mind tc use my advantage, with {
vengeful joy at being able to make my
bear dance to my tune. | therefore
broke in upon his speech.
Enough, monsieur! I should no
have asked the question. 1t Is wife't
duty to obey without inquiry"
looked him full in the face as
said this coldly, and he touched hi
hogse with the spur and rode yard o
two In front of me, muttering some
thing indistinctly. But my heart wa
leaping at the discovery, and l Saward
ly thanked God that 1t was to Nine. d.
Termes we were to go, for apart iron
the fact that both she and her bus
band, whose lands of Termes marched
with mine, had been lifelong friend
of our house, she was one whom
knew to be the noblest and best OF wo
men. was not aware that she wa
known to- De Lorgnac, but ! hid m,
curiosity and asked no questions, an,
there was no further speech between
my husband and myself until we cam
to our destination. AS we entered tn
courtyard of the Hotel de Termes al
appeared to be hustle and confusion
within, and the fare of torches fell o.
moving figures hurrying to and fro, o.
saddled horses and packed mules an
on the flash and CLEAN of arms. M
surprise overcame my resolve of S
lence, and | asked out aloud, 'Surt
, ly Nine. de Termes is not leavin
PARISH
: "News has come that the vicomte
r grievously i'll in his government @
, Perigueux, and madame is hastenin
. there"
= "And we travel with her? There!
: is impossible, monsieur, that can fac
/. SO long journey without some pref
: aration. 1t is cruel to expect this {