Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-02-18
~ THE G'ss Rao
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How the witch of La Balme Was
Avenged.

SS$SSS$SS$%%$$$S$
TOWARD the close Of day the sno'
/ ceased falling, the wind suddenl
veered into the north, and its gust
cut like blows from switch. Nigh
fell; the silver light Of the white
moon flooded the sky, lit up the or
mine helmets of the Vabre and O
Baffignac, and was reflected from tn
ice-covered rocks Of the gorge whicl
0verhung the raging Agout
Just as the door of a wayside I'M
opened with great rafting Of chains
and the landlady stepped out on thu
threshold, horseman rode around Q
turn In the road, and stopped In front
of the door of the village inn, his
horse snorting with terror. The wo-
man hastily summoned q servant,
while the traveller, dismounting, ex-
claimed, brusQuely: Halo! Here's
Joue-en-Fleur! Wine and fire, my
good woman! Tell your boy to give
my horse bountiful supper, and to
see whether he is not wounded In the
flank"
"Holy Mother!" cried Thiebaude;
"what plight you are In, seigneur!
Your corselet and sleeves and even the
knot on your sword-hilt, are dyed with
blood and dirtl'
MAY Astaroth choke every beast Of
AhaV,1Ip obn,,tad A Yalrin tHrhay have
ruined my best doublet look more
horrible than the Vabre butcher!"
Angry and crestfallen, the relster
laid his heavy gun on the table, and
sat down before the roaring fire-a
genuine Christmas blaze. Half
dozen carousers sitting at one end of
the room, resumed their interrupted
game of cards, whispering timidly to
each other, as If they stood In awe of
the newcomer: When his steaming
drink was set before him. Amalric |
related his adventure to the hostess.
1T is bright night, to be sure,
on account OF the moon. But what a
road, ventre de lezard--chasms, tor
rents, precipices, snowdrifts, and, In
the ravines, all the wolves In &C.
venues, tlercer and stubborner than
the Calvinists! After left Vabre,
they contented themselves with fol-
lowing me, watching for a misstep Of
my horse. Near Therondel, / had to
slacken my speed little, as 1t would
have been suicide to travel fast. Then
/ famished creature leaped on Argant's
back and | had trouble in getting him
,ff; had to use my dagger. And look
1t the tourteaux on my doublet! At a
one would take me for Gull
aume de Montpellier's herald"
Some Of the players, leaving the
game, had drawn near the Preside.
)ne OF them even ventured to raise his
Toice and question the formidable
'eister
''Monseigneur, do you think 1t would
10 unsafe to go to Albignier to-night%
"You would certainly never reach the
md OF your journey, whether you trav-
lied on foot or horseback. Stay here,
I you value your rustic hides; Joue-en-
fleur can say your midnight mass for !
1ou."
isn't your lordship going to order
battue soon for the famished beasts?'
"The first one will be called before '
be Epiphany; all the wolf hunters of 8
he neighborhood will then be sum- {
noned" Il
but II monseigneur would conde-
cend to put himself at the head of our n
abatteurs tomorrow" e
Silence, knave! hunt with you? v
Ice those eowardly faces, Joue-en- v
'leur!" exclaimed Amalric, with In II
hitting contempt us there man here h
tho could pass the Red Gibbet at night t.
'ithout dying with fear?" r II
A thrill OF terror passed over the o.
ndlence; heads dropped; no one re- Il
lied u
''The Red Gibbet!" exclaimed the II
ostess, crossing herself; "but It is"
Occupied know that very we'll! h,
was about week ago-wasn't it, &C
lat we hung the old witch Of La a
alme, that old bag who practiced Ia
itchcraft and howled every ones for sv
me at him."
'LArmassiereT' queried Joue-en- or
eur. crossing herself again, and on
aneing furtively at the door, which &C
d Just opened and closed noiselessly.
"ExaetlyI At this season she will vi
ep for long time, and will serve as tn
scarecrow on the Ferrieres road. d,
'sterday Arsant shie4 and nearly on
rev me into the Agout under the III
] hag's hooked nose" be
'Seigneur Captain" a trembling voice m,
Is now heard to say. Il dare 20 TO mi
E Red Gibbet!" m,
The reister started In surprise. and rpl
med hercely upon the speaker; he res
q a youth, almost 3 child, WHOSE Ia
'ee, dark eyea shone out from his 30,
le face with an expression Of perfect the
Flsuanesa. Hers = vhelp Of dan Sos
Ious sorti" cried the captain Does II,
cone here often. Mistress The The
der Nv