Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1904-05-12

1t was thus ever afterward remem
bered her.
She made no other sign; withdrew
swiftly as l came. From across the
wall, unobserved, watched her leave
the place. downcast of eye and slow OF
mood rode away.
Though. the relish In my task was
done, l made. all, haste toward Dieppe
Scarcely stopping for food, changing
horses as often as I could, pushed
on without adventure until I reached
the Chateau Cartillon, then a formlesa
ruin.
Here my saddle girth broke and ]
was nearly thrown to the ground.
scrambled off, walked to the little inn
where I inquired how far had yet to
go.
Three leagues yet to Dieppe," the
host replied, but monsieur cannot &c
on tonight; he must walt the morrow;
he can go with comfort in the morn
ing"
and found it would take quite an hour
to procure one from the village.
Probably monsieur would visit the
castle upon the hill there" persisted
the landlord, pointing across the way
ut is worth his while. 1t Is said to have
been destroyed by the Great Henry in
his wars with the duke of Mayenne
True 1t is that sounds of battle and
screams are yet heard there on stormy
nights. Probably monsieur would rest
here several days"
/ essayed to silence the fellow, for
was in no mood to listen to his chat
ter. Yet there was something in his
eulogy of the locality. which he gave
as a hawker crying his wares, that
fixed my unwilling attention.
And, monsieur, perchance YOU may
see old Mad Michael. What! you know
naught of him? Country folk do say
the count, and that it sent her feeble
mind awandering. Her child through
all her life did fancy herself the count,
and made strange speeches to the peo-
pies fear. And now this grandson of
hers has grown old in frenzy like his
mother and grandam. possessed of an
evil spirit which speaks through him
betimes-it is curse of the blood.
monsieur, grieveous curse of the
blood"
1t aroused something of a curiosity
within me. vet was loath to pause
upon my journey. Forced, though, to
wait an hour, thought to walk over to
the chateau, q couple of hundred yards
distant. Taking lad who lounged
about the inn. to shcw me the way. I
sauntered up the path. pausinR a while
at long disused spring, and idly
plucked an apple from a branch which
overhung 1t. A little further up. and
mounting the steep activity, l stood
within the ancient fortress.
This castle, since rebuilded, YOU my
children, are of course familiar with,
for you were all born here At that
date the great central tower alone
stood erect amid the universal de-
struction. A black VOLTS head reared
itself high above the portcullis. The
moat was filled with drift of crumbling
years, and the walls. fallen in many
places, ran hither and thither in aim
less curves and angles, much as they
do today.
Up to this hour my chronicle has
been only of such adventures az might
befall soldier upon any enterprise.
but now strange thing happened.
Until that moment had never seen
the Chateau Cartillon, still there was
not q corner or passage that did not
seem we'll known to me. seemed to
know intuitively what each building
was for, and even imagined most vivid
ly scenes which had transpired there.
The whole place had the most intense
personal interest for me, why I knew
not.
l am not superstitious, but the ruin
oppressed me, made me restless and un-
easy: vet l was loath to leave. The
loneliness of 1t all filled me with grave
approximations as / picked my way
across the grass-encumhered court
yard toward the road again. A thou
sand haunting fancies Of half familiar
things thronged from out each dis
mant!ed doorway. Faces / all but req
ognized peered at me through the
broken easements: voices 1 almost
knew called to me from many q silent
corner Yet all was still, all was soil
tude. Heartily she1ned at my quick
ening step ] hurried on and having
consumed a quarter OF my hour sat
down by the spring mentioned before,
Just beyond the castles utmost bound
airy.
The haze of late afternoon had deep
ened into night upon the peaceful
meadows and lazy sweep Of river. A
distant peasants song came family
from .he fields
While sitting there beside the spring,
gazing listlessly into its placid depths,
an uncunny figure made it's way
through breach in the bastion, and
stood before me. At first l confess /
bent and decrepit. with hair Of long and
tangled gray. fiery sunken eyes, seemed
born OF another world than this. He
bent his gaze with searching scrutiny
full upon me.
The lad whispered: IT'S old Mad
Michael: he lives up there" pointing
to tumbled down tower. "and be-
lieves himself the count-the count
and him long dead lying yonder in the
we'll"
The boy shuddered and crossed him.
self.
The old man gazed steadily at me for
some moments then bowling low, he
cried:
Hail! Son of d'Artin! Hast come to
view thine own again? Let US into the
walls.'
Let US go, monsieur, quick" urged
the lad, tugging at my coat, ut is
late"
The dusk in fact was coming on
apace and climbing shadows crept
round the grotesque masonry. I'm
needing the lads fear, was strongly
impelled to talk with the daft creature
1t was All impulse born not wholly OF
idle curiosity. l felt strangely moved
What do you want of me, old man.?
1 asked.
II am Henri d'Artin. by murders
hand laid low; I would tell you much. -
LET us go, monsieur, Leu us go. He
speaks Of unholy things" the boy
pleaded fearfully. Meeting no response
he turned and filed down the slope
away in the twilight beneath the trees
'Dost hear the clanking arms. the
rolling drums of war? List unto thu
shouts the cries within. Dost not
know it is the day after the feast OF TIN
most blessed saint Bartholomew"
The mans wild earnestness fixed {
spell upon me. and to the end of his
narrative listened until the tale was
done. cannot hope to set down here
as 1 heard 1T what the madman said
nor to have any lines breathe forth the
vigor of his speech. Carried beyond
mortal energy by his frenzy, overmas-
tered by some mysterious power Of
which we men know naught, he threw