The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1904-05-12
CHAPTER XIX.
THE CASTLE OF CARTTrTOT

Ctp LIE VI tAlslll.l4ltN.
Two days, four, passed. Serigny had
departed for Dieppe to arm and equip
lie Dauphin, yet still there was no Off
clal declaration OF war. l WaS waiting.
as he had ordered, for the formal dec
laFation, 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
I Vacillated between an ignOble love
n a 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 and unprepared. So,
though I we'll knew | must leave
France with all speed, and possibly
never see her shores again, l put it
from ne as persistentIy as men do the
certainty of death. Every day did l
ride to SCeauX, by the old wall, and
catch a glimpse Of her loved. When
war was at last declared there was no
time for parleying with duty. My
path lay straight and clear before me-;
yet for once a soldiers duty and Il
soldiers adventure gave me no pleas
ure. All my thoughts We're other
where.
Hot-foot again to Sceaux again /
rode on my way to Dieppe, and from
the same embIasure at the wall where
my horses had trampled down the TO-
liage many times, I watched her COM
Ing. 1t was not for long. More hur-
rtedly than was her custom she glided,
g glorifled young creature, in and u
amongst the shrubbery, until the en-
vious chapel door hid her from my
sight. No living thing was in view.
The sound of no discOrdant voice broke
the Goly peace of God. Temptation
came never to u first erring mother
in more insidious guise than this.
Where was the harm, I reasoned, it
was but for al instant's speech with
her, ere the bounding seas would roll
between US, SO with nervous haste I
tumbled from my horse and tethered
him Stoutly to a tree. Over the wall
and to the chapel doOr took another
instant, and there, inside, at the rail,
she knelt. I paused. as a sinner might,
hesitating to mar with heart profane
the devotions Of a saint. My foot struck
q cracking board in the entry, and
drew her glance toward me. She
sprang up as 1 entered, with a swift
cry Of surprise, and. as I fancied, some
whit of g~ladness in the tone.
You, monsieur? You here? l
thought you ava from Sceaux."
Yes, madame, true; but I returned
to speak with you before leave France
forever. l came here Toto" I
could not tell her why; my heart. so
full, clogged my utterance. But women
ever understand.
AS I 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, I
would have raised 1t to my lips. Even
at such a time l noted the device upon
a ring she wore, Il device grown so
familiar: a VOLTS head, sable.
An old thing of my mothers" she
explained, Charles has one, and l."
/ eagerly seized upon Il subject which
might SO naturally prolong our inter
view.
AYE, 1 now the device well; are
you of the d'Artins?"
Yes. my mother was; there are now
none OF the race. The last is a wan
derer; I know not II he lives"
II know, perchance, OF such a man,
madame; would you tell me more Of
him. of yourself?"
Il never saw him. my mothers IA
Their. Her marriage displeased him
greatly. When her first child was
born. a girl, she sent it to him for his
blessing. He denied 1t, sayIng he want
ed no more of women. The child died
Ia Infancy. OF my sisters birth and