Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-29

II knew nothing Of this" Maurice said,
remorseful that he had not delivered his
papers upon the previous night, you will
remember hat / am a stranger among
you and knew not to whom to intrust my
message. Further than that I have moth
Ing to repfoach myself with. 1 came with
all imaginable haste through an entirely
hostile country
The young Camissrd waived his hand.
II know-I know" he said, the fault
does not lie with you, but in the difieulty
OF the country through which you have
had to come"
Maurice noted the deep cogitation Of
his bearing. He knew the signs, and could
not help being reminded by this peasant
boy Of the first general 'of his age when
be had an important problem to study. an
irrevocable decision to take. Both NAL
borough and he had the same hurried
walk 10 and fro, the same knitted brows,
the same deep vertical spade-cut between
the brows, the mark royal Of men Of
thought.
In Ave minutes Jean Cavalier had made
his plans, had cast the lots, and there re-
NAMED nothing save to carry out his de-
cislons.
You will give me your note Of hand"
he said, addressing Maurice Rath, Stating
day and hour at which these instructions
came in my hand. You will remain here
with a sufloient garrison In charge Of the
town. They will accept you as my lieu
tenant upon my bare word. l will take
the English Genevan pastor with me to
Interpret, and with 200 mounted men strike
southwark to the Gardiole above Front
lyman, whence with a glass one may read
the sea for twenty miles all about, clear
rs II we're q printed book"
And when do you start7" said Maurice,
the thoughts working like yeast within
him.
Now" said Cavalier, his lips com
pressed to a mere line, and his eyes far
away, now get your weapons and be ready
to take the command Of La Cavalerie in
half an hour. / leave Catinat with you.
He is brave and stupid and will obey you
to the last breath of his body. But you
must not mind his talk, or you will be
deafeneds"s f
The next moment there was the hurried
noise Of footsteps upon the stair. Jean
Cavalier was gone. Three days to reach
the point designated by Marlborough was
quite enough had the road been clear. But
at any moment, who knewl the 200 Cam
lsards might not run into an entire d.
vision Of royal troops. Yet for the time
being this did not trouble either Cavalier
or that young aide-de-car3p Of Mare
borough, who was learning to be proud OF
being named Lieutenant to such a man. He
went across the sleeping village, where
the watch, kept aware and alert by the
zeal of Cavalier, swung a curious lantern
In his face and demanded his name and
business.
Then a trumpet blew three or four stir
.tur 49,, -oA..tna ek.t NJ
And instantly windows were thrown open
everywhere. Men came tumbling out upon
the street. There was a glitter Of arms,
the padding Of many feet, from opened
Eroundsfoor doors the stamping of the
feet OF horses. "A raidl" said some.
THE emeny upon usl'' cried others.
:" It's only to prove us-he is always at
bis tricks-this bakers boy" growled a
third OF the ~strictest sect Of the Phar-
lsees.
But the trumpet rang out again, full
and round and clear.
Mounted, men, and In hastei The
enemy must be upon usi" was now the
Snly word. And instantly there arose the
sound Of a mighty stamping in all the
stables Of the town, and especially IN
hose Of Martin Foy, whittier the newly
appointed commandant Of La Cavalerie
aad gone to obtain his weapons. which he
lad let in the care Of Billy Marshall and
ais spouse.
For many reasons It had been in the
mind Of Maurice to resume upon this oc-
sasion his proper uniform Of a British Of
icer. He told himself that It would be
he proper thing. as marking the right
le had to give orders and the support
shich was being extended TO the rebel
so.~. ~ an anlad nOutaro Really ]
aowever, his reasons were quite other
md much simpler. But on the other hand,
4 occurred to him, first, that he had no
orders from my Lord Marlborough for any
mch display; secondly. that the fact OF a
British ofhcer In uniform being In the
,amp of the Camisards would spread like
Eildnre through all France aud make the
snemies Of the poor hill folk ten times
more bitter thar before. and lastly. that
ae might need his disguise Of wagner to
Enable him to get out Of the country when
ais mission should be finished.
So with a single rather reluctant glance
It the rough packing or mating which
contained his stan uniform Tor at least
aad contained It when the wagons were
.ansacked) Maurice Raith took his sword
md pistols from the reluctant Billy, who
wished to go over them for the last time
VII the least bit drap d sweet OIL an
/ kennin' o. Eag."
"And o, Capt. mean master, be sure
hat We keep DOT O. the wat, for thae wee
,ernIcketty pistols o. yours are just a
aeart-break to clean when the damp gets
n ABBOTT the trlkkers!"
But the one warm, delicious thought
which thrilled him like wine was that
,e would be left in the defensed village
II La Cavalerie alone-or as good as alone
with Frances Wildwood. His rival, or the
nan whom he had looked upon as his
ival, would be gone upon a mission which
must lat the Ieast) last a full week. her
lather also accompanying the expedition
~ interpreter.
II was. indeed. a thought to make the
head swim. She would In some sort be
ander his protection. AS the man left In
,ommend Of the village and its defenses,
her father could not avoid asking him to
Keep an eye upon the lonely girl.
The world seemed suddenly hlled with a
warm sweet scent OF dew-wet wallhower.
The breaths OF summer orchards and the
aome meadows OF Castle Raith seemed 20
blow across him as he buckied his sword
md thrust pistol In belt before going out
With a new and reliable swagger into the
light.
The whole force OF the Camisards, in so
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