The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-07-12

that the man would break down, out, no,
the metal was true. But the haggard
look on his face went out as he answered; {;
Demise. Lorgnac Is yours 10 It's small
est stone. and | thank you for this.
Then he bent down and touched my fin
gers with his lips and was gone. L lis
tened 10 his footsteps dying away along
the passage. Would ever call him backY
II was on my tongue 10 do so as he went,
but / held myself in and began restlessly
10 pace the room.
"If / but knew myself II I but knew
myself" | called out aloud and then
moved aimlessy toward the window.
Here / looked out, but saw nothing of
the view, for / was looking into my own
heart, and there all was mist and fog
The more I tried 10 think the more help
less it all seemed. and II came TO me
TO abandon my position and, accepting
my fate. make the best OF circumstances,
as other women had done. l could give
respect and trust, and as long as my
husband knew this and / looked after
his comforts he would never know how
selfshly blind men are In this respect.
But De Lorgnac was not as other men.
felt that his keen eye would take in the
part / was playing, that his great love
for me would penetrate and grasp all my
devices and that he would feel that he
had only a wife--not a lover as well.
about? If II meant respect and honor
and desire for constant guiding pres
ence about me, then | felt l could give
that To Blaise do Lorgnac, but L felt.
too. that more was due to him.
The neigh OF a horse and the clatter
Of hoofs on stony ground aroused me.
Bending forward over the window, l
looked out and saw DE Lorgnac and a
half dozen mounted men riding out OF
the courtyayd. My husband rode ht,ie
In advance. square and erect, his plume
less helmet glittering In the sunlight. but
he never gave one backward glance 10
the window Even IL he thought was
not there he might have done so; he
might have given me the chance. The
men who rode behind him seemed stout.
strong fellows, though their casQues wero
battered and their cuirasses rusty. and rs
the last OF them went out l recognized
lie Coquille. / know / had no right 10
pick and choose for De Lorgnac. but l
would have giveen my right hand not
to have seen that swashbuckler riding
behind my husband. Such men as he
were never employed on honest deeds
With stamp of my foot l turned from
the window and saw Pierre. the old ser
want. waiting patiently near the door
with a huge bunch OF keys on a salver
In his hand AS our eyes met he bowed
10 the ground.
''I did not know II was Nine. de Lor-
gnac who was here until an hour ago"
he said. m. lie Chevalier has directed
that these should be given over to you,
and the household Is outside awaiting
madame's orders"
Half amused, half embarrassed, i took
the keys. | felt sure De Lorgnac had
given no such order. but that this was
the spontaneous outcome OF old Pierre's
politeness. Fastening them In my girdle,
/ said with as gracious yet dignified an
air as | could assume, call In the
people, please"
Pierre bowed once more TO the ground
and vanished 10 reappear I'm two minutes
with we'll grown youth, and the two
stood bolt upright before me. This was
the household of De Lorgnac. then. The
smile died away from my lips as I thought
Of the straits TO which a gallant gentle
man was reduced. Pierre" 1 said, you
must add Mousette, my maid, TO the
household. and see that the good Lalande
is well treated" And I placed a small
purse containing half dozen or so OF
gold crowns that I happened to have
with me in the old mans hands. He
held the little silken bag for a moment,
and then his face began TO flush.
There is no need, madame. We have
enough"
You forget. Pierre. what am giving
you Is M lie Chevalier's, to whom God
grant safe return
He took the money, though I saw
suspicious swimming Of his eyes. and
hastily asked:
And do those men who rode out with
monsieur belong 10 the household too,
Pierre?"
st Blaise--no. madamel They came
here but yesterday morning and, with
their leader have drunk and sworn about
the place ever since. They filled the
lower hall with disorder. but they are
stout fellows, and we had hardly been
able TO help YOU so well last night but
for them They follow NJ. le Chevalier
for a little time only
well knew for what purpose. but
kept silent on that point, saying. And
how far is Lorgnac from herer'
THE town. you mean, madame7"
Precisely"
AT the foot OF the hill 70 the right Of
the chateau. We cannot see II from here
All. II was n fine place until NJ do Gam
ache and his bandits OF Huguenots came
over from la Roche Canillac one fine day
and put the place 10 fire and sword NJ.
le Chevaliershas vowed his death at the
shrine OF our Lady OF Lorgnac All, he
Is n devil. is VI. De Ganache, He II with
the Bearnnois now"
And Is there any news of the Hugue-
nots moving nowf'
None. madame. but Antoine. the ped
dler of Argentat. says that great lady
from Paris Is at the Chateau de Canillac
and that NJ. dc Hurenne and many a high
lord from the south have been visiting
her. They Will be tired OF dancing and
singing soon. those hot bloods. and we
may have 20 look 20 the castle walls"
This evening. then. you must take me
70 Lorgnac." ! said with n view 10 end
the conversation
1T Is mademes order but And he
stopped short for a second and then con-
tinued, Antoine. the peddiers daughter.
who has married Gribot. the woodman OF
Dorgnac. has a COW and calf for sale. and
there is none IN the chateau"
Then buy II OF her. Pierre" And with
another low bow the old man withdrew
with the household" who had evidently
been trained In n severe school by Pierre.
for he had stood bolt upright like n SOL
\ der at attention and never moved a mus
Gle during the whole OF the interview.
SO my business as mistress of Iorgnac
had begun. but there were one or two
things that required immediate atten-
tion from me before I began my house
hold duties. I called Mousette and. going
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