The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-21
The Hounds.
By GERTRUDE POTTER DANIELS.

caught her breath. See, Godfrey" she
whispered.
What sweetheart"
1.-THE moon. 1t is set in the very cen
ter of an Easter cross"
For moment Clifford's eyes left her
face. Against the blve-black famed a
cross, opalescent, almost transparent,
moving with the moon.
1T is good omen, my Jeanne-fOr the
future" he said thrilling with the joy
that flashed through his body.
She chung to him, her face a little pale,
tears trimming in her dark eyes.
You are not afraid of our future,
dear?" he asked, gently, remembering
all at once jeans story.
mo, Godfrey, not now. I think I am
afraid of nothing with you"
His arm went tight about her, all his
love for her leapng to the surface. His
head bent lower and lower until his lips
met hers What were curses or legends
now-now that she was his, all his.
Spring passed; then summer. The whole
landscape became a flaming iridescence
Of red, orange and yellow. The life Of
the Cliffords had already settled into a
definite routine Jean had closed his lit
tie cottage and taken his belongings to
the chateau. All morning long the two
men trailed through the forest with in
finite enjoyment, driving up the game
birds, chasing miles after frightened rab-
bits. In the afternoon Jeanne joined
them, the three driving or walking or
staying indoors, Jean reading aloud while
his sister sewed, and Clifford, close be-
side her and smoked, his cOntentment SUI
preme.
But there came an afternoon, early IN
the new year, when Clifford, late to lun-
cheon, missed Jeanne He hunted every
where, running up the stairs, breathless,
hurrying from room to room. There was
no one to be found In the dining room
their luncheon lay untouched. The man
called repeatedly:
Jeanne, dear. Oh, Jeanne!' Then he
stood listening alert in every faculty
for some reply. What had happened? She
never went away like this. The man ran
from the house. He passed Jean near the
stables and sent him off towards the riv-
er. He made his way across the lawn
towards the woods. Before he had gone
a dozen yards Jeanne appeared, coming
toward him, walking rapidly. Even at
that distance he saw that her face was
fearfully white.
wave of almost sickening relief surg
ed through him. Jeanne" he cried She
came to hon. quickly calling out in a
trembling voice, II did not mean 10 be
gone so long, but had to find out about
it. 1 made up my mind that L would
find omething-anything II
could
What do you mean, dear?"
THAT sound, Godfrey That terrible,
terrible sound. 1t is so real, yet l sup
pose it isn't real. l could not find any
thing.
Clifford glanced at her anxiously, not
understanding, but he asked no more
questions. He took her home and put
her on the couch in his den, with pill
lows all about her, and himself brought
in her luncheon. He talked necessarily,
while she slipped her tea.
After little Jean appeared. Warned
by CHfford's look, the brother asked
nothing of what had happened, and all
over one Of Geoffrey's jokes, when a
strange thing happened.
From just outside the window there
came a prolonged baying Of a dog. II
was so unexpected, so weirdly unnatural
that the two men rose on the instant,
looking at each other their merriment
stilled. The effect on Jeanne was start
ling. For a moment she gaZed bewild-
cred at her husband; then with cry
she sprang to her feet, her face ivid,
her eyes terrified.
You heard-too?" she gasped looking
sharply over her shoulder.
Certainly, Jeanne, why not?' asked
Clifford, calmly.
But it comes from nothing. mat cry
that dog-it does not exist. That's what
I hunted for The cry haunts me night
and day. I cannot get rid Of 1t, yet the
animal will never be found for-Geofrey,
1t is the phantom dog"
"Pn find the brute and shoot IT,, he
whispered to Jean, and left the room on
tip-toe.
Clifford rode crafty, desperately. He
made great circuits of the country, but
there was nothing. At times the baying
would come from under the very feet Of
the horse he rode; minute later the
sound rose like a hooking echo from the
far distance. Stranger than this, the cry
loud, haunting, as it was, never came tc
the ears of any save these three, Jeanne
Jean and Clifford.
Jeanne weakened daily For hours
at a time the only peace she had was
when she lay unconscious. At every
| lucid interval she moaned of the phan-
| tom dog, rolling her head from side Il
side as she spoke. her hands clenched
/ her teeth set.
J Unless We can convince her there 4