The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-01-07
.:..5; El,Ar1dit

T,c ,,.a-arise de Bcauminois had
n,o:rncd sufficiently for a gouty
and unrcasonably jealous husband.
s.;e had recently laid aside her
weeds and begun neuvaine when
m order from the king enjoined
her to lodge captain and his
SQUADRON, who had been sent to
clear the country Of an audacious
band of brigands.
The young widow submitted with
Good grace. While the dragons
had free access to the pantry, she
d;dsthe honors of her table for their
chief, the Due de Merval. Dom
Marounot, the chaplain of the cha
teau, acted as chaperon.
One evening the duke was talk
inc and drinking in the large vain
scoted room, where he was playing
chess with Dom Maroufot. The
-narQuise, who wore an exception
olly elegant toilet, was asking her
self for the thousandth time that
week, "Do l really love him ?" and,
though she reflected seriously, her
uucstion remained unanswered.
"Ihat Gillou is clever bandit"
-rowled the captain between two
.anlcs. "For two weeks we have
secured the country, and still he
slips through our fingers. I have
decided to search for him tomorrow
with the whole squadron.
"Gillou is not an ordinary brig
and," continued the duke. "They
say he is educated, courteous and
even gallant upon occasions"
AS the marquise drew her chair
nearer to the table where the two
men we're sitting the captain began
to tease her. =
"What q serious countenance,
madamei I fear my stories about
brigands have so frightened you
that YOU will not dare to venture
two steps in the park this evening"
Dom Maroufot looked at the
clock and said: cit is the hour for
YOUR neuvaine, madame. I will
ring for the servants to escort you"
'sNo, no; it is needless" replied
the marquise, piqued by the dukes
sarcasm. 81 shall go to the chapel
alone. I wish to prove to Captain
Merval that women are not such
towards as he believes"
The old chapel was at tho farther
end of the park. Once out Of the
house the marquise began to regret
her bravado. Nine. Beauminois
mind was filed with the stories she
had heard concerning Gillou, "the
man in the mask" as the old wo-
men of the country called him
Under her fine satin corsage her
heart beat 80 loudly she could al
most hear it.
At last she reached the chapel
and, entering, kneeled and said her
prayers u little more quickly than
usual. Then she rose and went to-
ward the door.
Suddenly she stopped and caught
her breath. A masked man was
standing near the holy water vessel.
As she saw that he remained mo-
tionless and in a respectful atti-
tudc she took courage and ad-
vanced.
The man dipped his fingers in the
holy water and held them out to
her. She did not dare to refuse the
strangers offer, and, thanks to a
ray Of moonlight that filtered
through a stained glass window, she
remarked that he had very beau
tiful hand.
A little reassured, she made
sign of the Cross and left the chapel.
She had scarcely taken ten steps
before the unknown man rejoined
her, and she started at hearing. a
voice which she thought she yecog-
nized, although it was singularly
softened.
"Wil you allow me to offer you
my arm, madame2 Some eccident
might befall you alone In this great
park at such an hour"
He had such q courtly bearing
that the marquise felt perfectly
safe.
As they crossed an opening
bathed in moonlight she examined
her companion more closely. His
mask left the lower part Of his face
uncovered. Not only did she believe
that it was not the first time she
had heard this voice, butt it seemed
to her that it was the same blond
mustache which had lightly touched
her hand each evening in a discreet
KISS. The masked man had there
lore almost the same voice, mus
tache and figure as the duke.
He had disguised himself to
Tighten her. This discovery geve
her great desire to laugh, ani she
leaned upon his arm with more con-