Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1904-05-14
CHAPTER XIX.
TIE CASTLE Ole CARTILLON

Two days, four, passed. Serigny had
departed for Dieppe to arm and equip
ie Dauphin, yet still there was no Off
Cial declaration OF war. | was waiting.
as he had ordered, for the formal dec
laration, on the publication Of which
was to join him on board at once and
we would set sail instantly for Biloxi.
Another anxious day, during which
l vaCillated between an ignoble love
n q noble duty. Then, late in the
evening, the whole court was famed
into a blaze destined to spread
throughout Europe and America, by
the announcement that the war had
been formally decided upon.
Men may long look forward to a
crushing calamity, and when It comes
be surprised II unprepared. So,
though | well knew l must leave
France with all speed, and possibly
never see her shores again, l put IT
from me as persistently as men do the
certainty of death. Every day did /
ride to SCcauX, by the old wall, and
catch a glimpse of her | loved. When
time for parleying with duty. My
path lay straight and clear before me;
yet for once q soldiers duty and a
soldiers adventure gave me 40 pleas
ure. All my thoughts were other
where.
Hot-foot again to SCeaux again l
rode ON my way to Dieppe. and from
the same embrasure at the wall where
my horses had trampled down the TO-
liage many times, l watched her COM
ing. 1t was not for long. More hur-
riedly than was her custom she glided,
q glorifed young creature, in and out
amongst the s~hrubbery, until the en-
vious chapel door hid her from my
sight. No living thing was in view.
M 800 "a - Itaaa,1., 80 r,G,A IrAISa
the holy peace OF God. Temptation
came never to our first erring mother
in more insidious guise than this.
Where was the harm, | reasoned, 1t
was but for an instant's speech with
her, ere the bounding seas would roll
between us. So with nervous haste l
tumbled from my horse and tethered
him Stoutly to a tree. over the wall
and to the chapel door took another
she knelt. | paused, as a sinner might,
hesitating to mar with heart profane
the devotions of a saint. My foot struck
a cracking board in, the entry, n
drew her glance toward me. She
sprang up as l entered, with a swift
cry of surprise, and, as | fancied, some
whit OF %gladness in the tone.
you, monsieur? You here? /
thought you away from SceauX."
Yes, madame, true; but l returned
to speak with you before l leave Naance
forever. ! came here toto" I
could not tell her why; my heart, so
full, Clogged my u~tterance. But m
ever understand.
AS | cast about me for a word, we
had drawn closer, and taking the hand
which half-hid in the folds of her
dress, CLEANED more white and pure, l
would have raised it to my lips. Even
al such a time l noted the device upon
q ring she wore, a device grown so
familiar: A VOLTS head, sable.
AN old thing of my mothers" h
explained, Charles has one, and L.
l eagerly seized upon a subject which
might so naturally prolong u Inter-
view.
AYE, l know the device well; are
you of the d'Artins?"
Eyes, my mother was; there are now
none of the race. The last is Il wan
derer; l know not if he lives
Il know, p~erchance, of such a man,
madame; would you tell me more of
him, of YOURSELF
Il never saw him, my mothers ia
ther. Her marriage displeased him
greatly. When her first child was
born, u girl, she sent it to him for his
blessing. He denied it, saying he want
ed no more of m The child died
infancy. OF my sisters birth and
mine he was never told. Then he went
away, where, none know"
1t thrilled me with a new hope. Who
could guess but my relations with Col
onel d'Ortez might throw me again In
her way. / took her hand again, max
ing pretense to examine the ring more
curiously. She made slight demur,
and l pressed my first fervent kiss up
on the hand of oma Mans forti-
tude could stand no more. Tossing
honor. discretion, duty to the winds, I
folded her close, closer yet, and kissed
her brow, her hair, her eyes-her lips,
she struggling like a frightened nest
ling all the while. 1t was done.
Ashamed but impenitent-it was too
new, too sweet to wish ~undone--I
luosed her gently, and kissed her hand
but ono again, then left her standing