The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1904-01-16

to reach the residence or MS uncle UaJ
or two before the wedding ceremony
which was to take place on the hrst DAY
Of the ensuing month.
It was a wild, dark, stormy night When
the carriage of the marquis approached
once more the neighborhood of the Cha-
teau Montauban. The tempest raged
with terrible fury; the darkness was that
of the murkiest midnight All along the
forest road, the giant trees skirting the
way creaked and groaned as if almost
with human agony, and the tossing OF
their mighty arms, unseen in the GLOOM
was yet heard with dreadful distinct
ness; while, to add to the impression OF
| awe that kept each of our travellers Silent
| the deep and mournful wailing Of the I'M
chained winds almost took the sound OF
human voices shrieking in despair. An
| inward horror seized Helen Montauban.
| Those voices seemed to utter her name
| to wall forth upon the night the awful
secret over which she brooded; to de-
nounce her with the tones of tiends, anu
declare her guilty-a murderess!
A hand, small and trembling, and icy
| cold, was laid on hers. With faint,
shuddering cry upon her lips, she started,
and then sank back again, almost faint
ing. 1t was no spirits touch, but the
touch of poor little Rose herself, who,
cold with terror, nestled up to her COM
panion, and sought the friendly clasp of
her hand, to re-assure her own sinking
heart.
"Ah, dear Helen, what is ibid l
brighten youY anxiously asked the young
girl.
"What is it-what is it," uttered the
rest, eagerly.
Angered at her own weakness and want
Of self-command, even while she still
shuddered from head to foot Mademol-
selIe Montauban made some hasty apollo
gy, and relapsed into silence again. Won
dering at her strange manner, Rose, too,
shraRk within herself once more.
And the tempest raved more wildly yet
Onward pressed the drenched horses,
over the rough, uneven road, that threat
ened every moment, with Jagged ruts
and scattered stumps and rocks, which
could not be avoided for the darkness, to
overturn the carriage. 1t jolted fearfully.
| The utmost care was insufficient to guard
against danger If the rain had not pour
ed so violently, all would have preferred
walking the remainder Of the distance to
remaining in the carriage. They proceed
ed slowly and with difficulty.
Helen" the marquis said, kindly, IL
think we are almost at home now. Rose,
my poor little darling, you are sadly
alarmed, l fear!' And he took her little,
cold hand in his own. How cold you
are! Francis, hand me my cloak, which
is somewhere beside you. That is it" He
wrapped it tenderly about her, drawing
the immense and heavy folds closely to-
gether.
But the words were arrested upon her
lips by a fearful sound that drew the
attention of all. Torn by the force Of the
tempest from their trunks, the sturdy
limbs of the overhanging trees were
thrown with furious force along theil
path, striking the carriage, and falling
upon the frightened beasts, who. mad
dened with pain and terror, sprang for
ward, leaping wildly over the obstacles
in their way and dashing the vehicle from
side to side with a violence that every in
slant threatened destruction to those
within. The reins were torn from the
hands of the parayzed driver, and drag
ged about the feet Of the terrified ami
mails, over whom there was no longel
control. Still the carriage swayed tt
and fro, and death seemed to all the 81
lent, stricken party within at every mo
) ment inevitable. The moment was on
Of awful suspense; but that suspense
was not destined to be prolonged. Sud
denly, in their blind course, the horse
stumbled the carriage swung on one side
: and was dashed to the earth.
"Heen-Rose-my childrenw called tn
voice of the marquis, "are you hurtY'
There was no answer The voices o
the Count de Clairville and Francis Eg
3 erton alone were heard.
s "Adee!' cried the count to his wife
: Il cannot see you; speak to me-tell m
that you are uninjured!'
{ "Ah, my wrist-it is broken, believe!
uttered the countess, in a tone of pair
I but that is nothing; where are thos
{ dear children? If one could but see!'
Y "Helen-Rose" called the marqui
I again, in agony. "Ah for lights"
With the utmost difficulty and DANCE
as well, from their close neighborhood t
3 the hoofs of the struggling and kickin
= horses, the gentlemen extricated thei
companions and themselves from the W
I hicle in the darkness. Furiously the raj
t poured down, drenching them to the ski
l. in an instant. All, however, were foun
T. to be safe, excepting Mademoiselle Mol
g tauban and Rose, neither of whom b.
> trayed the least sign of consciousness.
was too dark to distinguish their fei
u lures.
, A faint sigh breathed from the lips
" Helen. Supported by the arm of Lol
y Egerton, she endeavored to rise to h
le feet. An almost inaudible thanksgivr
d. escaped from him. She was safe. D
= not this woman repent, in that momen
N when her own life was spared, the vic
S ed design that she had entertained? \
% never for a single moment
~ ~ where is Rose?" she ased, hoarsei
-, and with a strange, unnatural voice.
~ wild hope darted through her brain. HI
- death anticipated her?
!" Poor child! lying senseless in the arr
~ Of the marquis, no sound reached h
- now. Alike insensibe to the pain of tn
-, hour, or to the falling rain that saturat
- her clothing yet failed to revive her, s.
~; lay there moveless and silent.
Go be continued.l
u Neels Must.
at Mrs. Upton-I saw Mr.. Newton boz