Middletown transcript., 1904-08-06

rose-sprays tapped fitfully against the
windows.
Never had man prettier day for bis
funeral than Hidden behind clumI
of trees near the desolate cemetery, ad'
mitted as much to myself, and whispered
it to the armed men waiting my word,
who grinned and echoed it among them
selves.
The cortege seemed long in coming, but
it arrived at last, with the faithful maid
woman Of forty years, masquerading as
her mistress and weeping quite energet-
ically under her long veil.
The little band, Chiefly women and
old men, gathered dacoronsIy around the
yawning grave, and al the word Of the
priest the stone-fiiled coffin was duly low
cred and the clods thrown OH. ! had
been through so much that the service af-
fected me not at all; was filled with a
mocking anticipation of the Baron's ar
rival, which he wisely timed for the very
moment the mourners were turning from
the grave.
Patiently bided my time. saw him
seize the maids gloyed hand. l heard,
while she in vain tried to wrench it away
Il heard the senesehel cry "shame" on
him, and order him to lose the lady.
waited till the insolent lover had hidden
the old servant to seek new mistress in
hell, for that Alix was his, under the
marriage ceremony or not as he might
choose, and then | burst from the thicket.
The Baron was tall man and hard
ened one, but he went white at the sight
of me, whom his own trusted servants
had shown him quite dead. Behind him
| saw the gaping and dismayed features
OF the worthy Gratien and his familiar,
both utterly startled out of their former
smooth sell possession. And well they
might be, for Gratien knew the deadly
power ofthe drug he thought | had taken.
To do the Baron justice, he was a brave
man. He wasted no words on the situa-
ton, for it was well known how the Vi
comte loved his sister and hated her i'm
pudent suitor.
His sword was out of its sheath on the
instant, and without giving Inc time to
arrange the duel with which expected to
settle the affair, he shouted at Jules to
guard the lady, to the remainder of his
men command to ''scatter the Lorraine
hounds" and as brisk scuffle followed
IS one might desire to see, for he had
fair-sized following with him, and | as
many men for myself.
But he went down, cursing and bias
pheming. His lips, which had made so
many false promises, were red with his
'wn lifetblood rising from the fatal sword
thrust 7 gave him, and as he fell his
'wn men turned and fed-all but the too
ieshy Gratien, who tripped over twisted |
'ine on low grave and was promptly laid !
,y the heels. His master died damning
lin for miserable traitor, but Gratien
ave scant heed to the awful words Of the
nan lie had served. For he was too busy |
rawling at my feet, begging for life, life |
Inder any conditions, SO that lie might |
'ut live, All the happy philosophy lie |
lad exercised over my supposed death |
lad totally disappeared, and his baggy
heeks were pasty white as he babbled
Or mercy. /
Monsieur cannot forget" he besought, |
ringing his fat fingers, with what dis
inction treated monsieur when he hon.
red my poor inn! Monsieur seems 1
mazed, but surely he recalls how lie was
rraved in new clothes at my own ex-
ense, how respectfully all his requests
Fere complied with, even though that pig
Jules, who never appreciates the true
ristocracy, grew villainously impatient.
forget the poison? Oh, surely, monsieur
id not really think that was poison, that
etit verre which was but intended to
eep monsieur out Of harms way until
g could make this so grand denouement
YER that paryenu, the Baron, for whom
Q one could have any regretr'
] nearly laughed outright; then, remem-
sring what | had endured, especially
ow much Of that same petit yerre had
me down my windpipe, drew one Of
y s'-s.--a aaaaalad i at my former
ost.
81 shall be sorry to perforate you,"