The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-16
THE HOUNDS.
BIZ GERTRUDE POTTER DANIELS.

tafnplating it in its finished state. The
last workman had left that very DAY
she wished. waiting for her the instant
she should become his bride.
Presently he went into the house. lie
stopped occasionally to rearrange pieces
stand helpless with admiration in the
doorway of Jeanne's boudoir A room
as dainty as she herself. Everything was
very complete; everything very cnarm-
Clifford had reached his den and was
intent on filling his pipe when voice
\ came ringing through the house. Inc
mans face Frightened
I'm in my den, Jean. Come in ne
called. moment later the new conner
entered 1t was evident that something
was amiss. Every line Of the young Eel,
lows face expressed trouble. CLIFFORD laid
down his pipe.
Nothing the matter win Jeanne! ne
demanded, quickly.
She is quite well-but how did you
guess something was wrong; that l had
What is it, Jean? Come along out
Then the boy, very flushed and breath.
ing hard, began: I'VE should have told
house. should have spoken before your
chip was very brief apologetically.
Clifford shouted. 1T doesn't take more
with a girl like your sister," ne said.
No. 1t took you only FIVE days. mon
si: .!1y.,, thor. VA. the nous. to build.
protested. Then he sat up stiffly, a sud
den fear leaping into his mind. Jeanne
doesn't want me to break 1t on-she ism
tired Of me. Jean?"
Jeans reply came quickly. oh. no:
She is afraid you will want to break 1t
on, after you know what am here to
tell. She Is very unhappy.
Then the boy speaking with unusual
rapidity. blurted out his story. 1t was
Of an ancient curse, pronounced by an
unhappy father upon an ancestor OF his
and Jeanne's.
You see. monsieur. this great grand
father OF ours. Count Victor Pierre de
= . young w1 gin from his doors when he
should have protected her. Afterward
she returned. and to be rid Of her this
/. second time, he unloosed fierce dog
whom no one but the Count dared APP
proach. and permitted the creature to
pursue the frightened girl until she sank
exhausted and dying on her father
threshold. The father: Wild with griei
him. This was the curse: For three gen
erations all 1.-THE daughters of the d.
Marcys in direct descent from Victor
Pierre should die in giving birth to thei'
two first children. the death not coming
from natural causes. but from fright a
the pursuit of dog.
Jeanne and / are direct descendants
We are also the third generation. ant
therefore the last upon whom the curse
can fall. They say 1t has been unfailine
SO far My mother" Jeans voice falt
cred. I'VE never saw her. She died only
few hours after Jeanne and l were
born. Her death killed my father. Anc
while no one has ever said so directly
we believe the curse worked her end
for we have heard it was terrible" HIS
story ended abruptly.
clifford drew nearer. He put one hand
affectionately on jeans shoulder. rs
Jeanne afraid"
Not afraid; only unwilling to marry,
unless you understand"
You know. Jean. We Americans do moi
believe much inln this sort of thing,
he said. finally. Il have no uneasiness
Unless Jeanne feels the risk Is too great
--oh JEAN he broke out, suddenly, thu
immense joy Ct possessing her Selling
him. Il can't give her up now. ma
Jeanne. nv little Jeanne"
The boy and the man faced each othei
in perfect understanding. Their hand!
FIJI tell her." called Jean. and he lef
the house hastily.
Jeanne and clifford were married or
Easter Sunday. 1t was perhaps thu
greatest event the village had ever wit
messed. Clifford had brought florists from
Paris to decorate the church, and must
clans to furnish the music. There were
two extra priests present to give solemn
fly to the ceremony. After the service
was over. Jeanne and Clifford received
the people at the new chateau and served
1 dinner that lasted for hours.
When the last guest had departed, the
two. alone now the first time all dar
wandered out into the open air. 1t was
deiiciously warm. The soft wind was
laden with the perfume of early ylolets
the moon was riding a clear sky: It wa:
Jeanne caught her breath. See. Geof
FREY" she whispered
What, sweetheart
1.-THE moon. 1t Is set IN the very cen
ter of an Easter cross.
For a moment Clifford's eyes left hel
face Against the blue-black sky famed
a cross, opalescent. almost transparent
moving with the moon.
1T Is a good omen. my Jeanne-ror tins
future" he said, thrilling with the JOY
that flashed through his body.
She chung to him. her face little pale
tears trimming in her dark eyes.
you are not afraid Of our future
dear?" he asked gently. remembering al
ct once Jeans story.
No Geoffrey. not now. 1 think l am
afraid of nothing with YOU.
His arm went tight about her. all his
love for her leaping to the surface. HI:
head bent lower and lower until his lip;
met hers. What were curses or legeno'
now-now that she was his. all his? 49,,
Spring passed: then summer. The
whole landscape became a flaming rides
cence of red. orange and yellow. The
life Of the Cliffords had already settled
into a definite routine. Jean had CLOSED
his little cottage and taken his belong
ings to the chateau. All morning loni
the two men trailed through the fores
with infinite enjoyment, driving up tn
game birds, chasing miles after fright
ened rabbits. In the afternoon Jeann
Joined them, the three driving, or walk
ing. or staying indoors, Jean reading
aloud, while his sister sewed ana Cht
ford close beside her cleaned his gun
and smoked, his contentment supreme.
But there came an afternoon early II
the new year when Chnord. late
erywhere. running up the stairs breath
less, hurrying from room to room Iher'
was no one TO be found. In the dinlni
room their luncheon lay untouched. Tit
man called repeatedly.
Jeanne, dear. Oh JEANNE" Then h'
stood listening alert in every faculty fol
some reply. What had happened? She
never went away like this. The man rar
from the house. He passed Jean near
the stables and sent him off towards the
river. He made his way across the lawr
towards the wCous. Before he had gone
n dozen Yards. jeanne appeared. coming
toward him. walking rapidly Even al
that distance ne saw that her face was
fearfullV white.
A wave of almost sckening relief
She came to him. quickly calling out in
a trembling voice Il did not mean &c
be gone so long. but I had 10 find Out
about it. 1t seems wears that | have
listened to it. I made up my mind tina,
would find out-something- il
] could"
What do you mean, dear"
THAT souno Godfrey. That terrible
terrible sound. 1t is so real, yet l sup
pos it isn't real I could not find any