Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1903-10-08
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| One Life's Secret! !! ,.$$.. ,S$$. 4
CHAPTER VI.

A month passed. Louis had Intended
to leave the chateau at the expiration OF
q month. II went by, but still be 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 ia
places where he might not like 80 well Il
stay 30 he was In no hurry 10 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 favorlte amuse-
| ments. Louis was as fond OF sketehlng
~ ever, and nearly every morning be
might have been seen rowing about the
neighboPhood In search OF food for his
pencil, as we have already seen him, re.
turning At noon, to display TO Mademoi'
selle Montauban the result OF his labor;
though, on the first occasion OF this kind,
II 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
cullarity OF this mans appearance and
manners was matter OF no little per.
plexity TO him as TO others. The gravity
and reserve Of Hugh were 10 many sub.
jects Of mystery. But It was a mystery
not 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 perplexlty.
HE is strange man, that is all I
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 ono most
strangely. ! never observe II without
thinking Of"
"of what. monsieur asked Louis.
"Of my--of Henri-your uncle, my boy.
We quarreled once, he and l, and be
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.
at Is a long story. / cannot tell you
now," was the answer; "but, some day,
perhaps, will relate 1t to you"
II was no uncommon thing now for
Louis to encounter Jacques Leroux now,
In his usual strolls about the neighbor-
hood. They often met; and the young
count, feeling an interest In this rough,
but evidently honest-hearted fellow, who
had taken pains to render him service,
spent many an hour In conversation with
him while reclining on the banks OF the
valley stream, engaged in angling, or
roaming over wood and hill, with his be-
loved portfolio, for Louis was an unwear-
led artist.
And all this time Gasparde was away.
Hugh and Jacques alone knew where;
for the former, Hugh Lamonte, uneasy
at neighborhod so little to be desired,
had dispatched him to manage the affairs
Of that portion OF the horde engaged In
the contraband trade, well reasoning that,
being as far distant as the coast itself,
he had nothing unpleasant to apprehend
from him. Gasparde, as may be guessed.
had been no little dissatisfied with this
arrangement, and resolved to return, Sc.
cretly, as soon as an opportunity pre-
sented itself. =
1t was one day when Louis had been
rambling about during the whole morn
ing that, wearled out, he threw himself
beneath the shadow of a tree to rest In
the midst of small grove half way be-
tween the chateau and the cottage. He
had book with him, and opening 1t, soon
became deeply engaged In Its perusal.
Perhaps he might have passed half an
hour thus. At the end Of that time, how
ever, he closed 1t, and taking up his
gun, which he had thrown on the turf
beside him, he took his way towards the
road, which was not many steps distant.
But he had hardly reached it, ere a bull
let whistled through the air, struck his
left arm, ploughing up the flesh as it
went, and continuing It's course till it
lodged in the trunk OF large tree by the
roadside.
1t had evidently proceeded from some
place very near the spot which he had
left; but he had no time to look for the
source Of the compliment, for the warm
blood already poured down his arm, sat
urating completely the sleeve which COW
cred It. Fastening on, he sat down by
the trunk Of the tree which had receiv-
ed the bullet, and taking his handkerchief
out, folded 1t into a bandage. At that
moment, raising his eyes, he beheld
Jacques Leroux coming along the road
from the village. He called to him, and
the man ran up.
whats the matter now, Monsieur
Louis2" he asked, In some surprise
"Shot in the arm? Winged like a wild
fowll Why, what" He glanced at
the gun that the count had again laid
down, and Louis recognized the impress
sion which he entertained.
swell, my good fellow" he said, light
ly, despite the slight faiptness he felt
from the loss of blood. "you do not think
I would commit Intentional suicide--do
your and IL | did, should certainly se-
lect surer spot than this. But am
glad you are here. This one-handed work
is rather awkward. Just fasten the band
age about 1t tightly, IL you please--so.
That is 1t. Be sure the knot is fast"
And during this time Louis had con-
cluded, since Jacques had drawn his own
differences, to let him keep them, and tell
him, nothing concerning the actual state
of the matter; for thought had sud-
denly occurred to him, as he endeayored