The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-07-07


His men crowded round our servants
with rough joking. and he, picking up "a
stool. placed IL at our table and held out
an immense greasy paw to me.
Shake hands, ma mignonne! Never
mind the old lady and the silk mercer.
There Is no lover like a brave soldier"
Madame was white with anger. had
sprung TO my feet, meditating flight. and
the villains followers raised hoarss
shout: Courage, captain! None but
the brave deserve the fairr
Then De Clermonts hand was on the
mans neck. and with a swing OF his arm
he sent him staggering back almost
across the room. He recovered himself
on the instant, however. for he was
powerful man, and rushed forward. but
stopped when he saw De Clermonts
rapier In his hand and began 10 tug at
his fathom OF a sword His men. how
ever. offered no assistance 10 him. con-
tenting themselves with breaking into
loud laughter. As for De Ciermont, ho
was as cool and self possessed as ir he
were at a court function.
"Out of thisl" he said. ''Begone. else
shall have you logged and you shall
taste the carcan. BE on"
The carcan! You silkworm! You
cream faced dancing master!' yelled the
man, who had now drawn his sword.
who the devil are you to threaten me
la Coquille-with the carcan? Blood or
a Jew! Who are your
THE Marquis de Clermont-Ferrand."
was the answer, "and these ladies are
of the housohould OF M de Termes. and
now I will give you and your men two
minutes 20 go. IL not. i shall have them
stoned out Of the place, and you-you
know what to expect II you are wise.
you will put hundred leagues between
yourself and Perigord after this. And
now be off-fool'
The man dropped his sword into It's
sheath. and stammered out: Your par
don, monseigneur did not know. Come,
boys" he said, with an affectation OF
concern, these ladies complain that the
place is too crowded. We will 80 else
where. At your service. mesdames.
And, making q bow that had q sort OF
faded grace about IT, he staggered OFF.
followed by his men. who took his lead
with surprising alacrity. The people In
the inn and our servants raised cheer
and were for going after them. doubtless
TO administer the stoning. but De Cler-
mont put a stop TO this. saying In a per-
emptory tone Let them 90. 1 VIII see
that they are dealt with"
AS may be ina agined. we were In no
mood for much supper after this. MY
knees felt very weak under me. and Nine.
de Termes was trembling all over. but
she thanked De Clermont very gracefully
his eyes fixed on me. and III could say
nothing. We would have retired at once,
but De Clermont pressed US to stay. ana
madame, with q little smile, agreed. say
ing. II am afraid even after all these
years I am not quite soldiers vie.
So We fingered yet little longer ana
found our nerves come back TO US. AZ
ter that we sat In the garden, where the
moonlight was full and bright and the
breeze brought us the scent OF the roses
Then De Clermont. bringing out his lutte.
sang to us. He had voice such an neil
ther I nor any one else knew who had
listened to Il had ever heard equalled. SO
perhaps sang his old troubador ancestors.
and the sweet notes had died with the
DAYS OF chivalry TO be born Again In
Raoul de Clermont The song ne chose
was one that was perchance written by
one OF his minstrel forbears and described
I'm that old tongue that We no longer use
as a lovers agony at being separated
forever from his mistress. The words
were perhaps poor. but there was genu-
Inc feeling in them. and sung by DE Cler-
mont IL might have been the wall OF an
angel shut out from paradise. Never
did hear the like. Never would 1 care
10 hear the like again. and as the last
OF the glorious notes died away in liquid
stream OF ineffable melody I saw mad
ame's face buried In her hands, and there
was n great sob behind me that came
from the broad chest OF Lalande. who had
stolen up TO hear and was blubberins like
a child Then Nine. de Termes rose and
hurried of. followed by Lalande. ana we
were alone, I sitting still with my whole
soul full OF that wondrous song and every
nerve strung to Its highest pitch. while
De Clermont remained standing. his lutte.
slung by its silken sash. In the loop OF MS
arm.
Denise" he said. you understand
dear?"
yes" I could barely whisper the
word, and then he bent down and kissed
me softly on the forehead and the touch
OF his lips seemed to burn into me IKE
red hot seal With little cry rose TO
my feet. and. hardly knowing what was
doing ran past him. never stopping until
I reached my room. Here I remained as
II lost IN q dream, with a hundred mad
thoughts dancing in my brain. 1 tried TO
pray, but my lips could only frame words,
for there was nothing In my neart. ana
then I thought I would seek forgetful-
ness In sleep. but sleep would not come,
and lay awake watching the broad ban
ner OF moonlight that came In through
the open window and all the memories OF
the past awake within me. De Cler-
mont's kiss still burned on my face and
shivered with the shame and the sin OF II,
for was another's wife--and heaven help
me- thought then that loved De Cler-
mont Oh the misery OF those hours,
when tossed from side TO side. with dry.
burning eyes and bitter shame In my
heartl At last. as the moon was paling,
| could endure II no longer, and. rising
from my bed began TO pace the room. 1
felt that what / needed was motion.
movement--I couid not be still, IL
could only pray And as the thought
came TO me once more 1 heard little
clink and, STOPPING, picked up small
locket containing n miniature OF my mo-
ther which I wore round my neck the
gold chain by which IL was suspended
having broken I'm my restless movements.
I opened the locket and. standing near
the window, looked at the picture. and.
as live, Il seemed 10 tighten so that
could see each feature, with the soft eyes
bent on me In pity. and teen voice-it
was her yoicc-said
Denise. pray
And then my eyes were blinded with
tears. and, fiinging myself on my knees,
with my hands clasped on the mulllons
OF the window. i sobbed out, God. dear
God. have pity on me.
h,,t NV xhn