The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1903-10-08
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| The COntIabandISt; .F;:' E;:s 5:
-=oR-= THE
One Life'S Secret! ,ssSs. ,Ss;H Z;
CHAPTER vi.

to leave the chateau at the expiration OF
a month. 1t went by, but still he fingered
and, as he had no pressing business else
where. he said to himself that the sum
mer might wear away as well here as in |
places where he might not like so well 10
stay. So he was in no hurry to depart.
Time passed very pleasantly at the
chateau. A great portion Of his days was
passed indoors, In the society of his un-
Gle and his beautiful cousin Helen; and
the remainder was spent in the open air,
In the pursuit of his fayorite amuse-
ments. Louis was as fond Of sketching
as ever, and nearly every morning ne
might have been seen rowing about the
nelghborhood In search Of food for his
pencil, as we have already seen him, re-
turning at noon, to display to Mademol-
selle Montauban the result OF his labor;
though, on the first occasion OF this KIND,
It must be allowed that the exhibition OF
his sketches was subjected to some slight
reserve, the picture Of Rose and her
dwelling being withheld. For what rea-
son, however, he himself, perhaps, scarce
ly knew at the time.
He had seen Rose two or three times
since that visit, both at the chateau and
at the cottage, where he had met her
father also. The admiration Of Louis
for our pretty heroine certainly was by
no means on the decrease; while Hugh
Lamonte was an enigma to him. The pc
culiarity of this mans appearance and
manners was a matter of no little per-
plexity to him as to others. The gravity
and reserve of Hugh were so many sub
jects Of mystery. But II was mystery
mot likely soon to be solved. Nobody
knew anything concerning him previous
to the time Of his coming to occupy his
present abode His former place of res
idence was unknown. Conjecture had
done her best, and the mystery remained
a mystery still.
Louis often spoke with his uncle on
this subject. The good marquis could
only shake his head In perplexity.
HE Is a strange man, that Is all
can say, my dear boy" said he; "and
yet there Is something about him which
attracts me. That lofty sternness which
he sometimes wears strikes one most
strangely. l never observe 1t without
thinking Of"
"Of what, monsieur2' asked Louis.
"Of my-of Henri-your uncle, my boy
We Quarreled once, he and |, and he
wore Just that look and manner after
ward. You never saw him, Louis" And
the good marquis sighed.
what was the reason Of the quarrel
uncleT asked Louis.
"It Is a long story. l cannot tell yor
now" was the answer; "but, some day
perhaps, will relate 1t to you"
II was no uncommon thing now fol
Louis to encounter Jacques Leroux now
In his usual strolls about the neighbor
hood. They often met; and the youni
count, feeling an interest In this rough
but evidently honest-hearted fellow, VIII
had taken pains to render him service
spent many an hour In conversation wit
him while reclining on the banks of tn
valley stream, engaged In angling o
roaming over wood and hill, with his be
loved portfolio, for Louis was an unweaI
led artist.
And all this time Gasparde was away
Hugh and Jacques alone knew where
for the former, Hugh Lamonte, uneas
at q neghborhod so little to be desired
had dispatched him to manage the affair
Of that portion Of the horde engaged
the contraband trade, well reasoning tina
being as far distant as the coast itsel
he had nothing unpleasant to apprehen
from him. Gasparde as may be guessed
had been no little dissatisfied with tn
arrangement, and resolved to return, s.
cretly, as soon as an opportunity pr
sented itself.
It was one day when Louis had bee
rambling about during the whole morl
ing that, wearied out he threw himse
beneath the shadow of tree to rest,
the midst Of small grove half way b
tween the chateau and the cottage. 4
had book with him, and opening 1t, soc
became deeply engaged In Its perusa
Perhaps he might have passed half q
hour thus. At the end of that time, hoy
ever, he closed 1t, and taking up h
gun, which he had thrown on the tu
beside him, he took his way towards Il
road, which was not many steps distan
But he had hardly reached 1t, ere bU
let whistled through the air, struck
left arm, ploughing up the flesh as
went, and continuing its course till
lodged in the trunk of large tree by Il
roadside.
1t had evidently proceeded from son
place very near the spot which he hi
left; but he had no time to look for d
source of the compliment, for the war
blood already poured down his arm, 50
uratng completely the sleeve which co
cred it. Fastening on, he sat down
the trunk OF the tree which had recei
ed the bullet, and taking his handkerchi
out. folded 1t into a bandage. At tn
moment, raising his eyes, he behe
Jacques Leroux coming along the rol
from the village. He called to him, al
the man ran up.
"What's the matter now, Monsie
IouisF" he asked, In some surprii
"Shot In the arm2 Winged like = vi
fowl! Why, what" He glanced
the gun that the count had again Ia
down, and Louis recognized the lmpr
sion which he entertained.
"Well, my good fellow" he said. ligl
", despite the slight faintness he I
from the loss of blood, you DO not thi
| would commit Intentional suicide
youl and IL did, | should certainly
iect surer spot than this. But l
glad you are here. This one-handed VIC
is rather awkward. Just fasten the bar
age about 1t tightly, IL you please
That Is II. Be sure the knot Is fast"
And during this time Louis had c,
cludsd. since Jacques had drawn his o
differences, to let him keep them, and
him nothing concerning the actual st
Of the matter; for a thought had 8
denly occurred to lin, as he endeavo
to account for the case himself, VII
made him resolve to trust his own d
terity In finding out the truth, and X
silent on the subject until them.
whoever had fred this shot at him '
an enemy, since he could not bring b
self to believe the deed unintentiol
And what enemy had be besides G
psrdei
Louis passed several days In deep ref
tion. A double object occupied his
tention. which was, In part, the disc
arv oF the nrasent wherpa houtS Of d