The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-05-13
CHAPTER XIX.
THE CASTLE OF CARTuI,O,

THE CASTLE OF CARTILLON.
Two days, four. passed. Serigny had
departed for Dieppe to arm and equip
lie Dauphin, yet still there was no Off
ella declaration of war. 1 was waiting,
as he had ordered. for the formal dec
was to join him on board at once and
we would set sail instantly for Biloxi.
Another anxious day. during which
l vac1llated between an ignoble love
and a noble duty. Then, late in the
evening. the whole court was famed
into a blaze destined to spread
throughout Europe and America, by
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 1 must leave
France with all speed, and possibly
never see her shores again. l put it
from me as persistently as men do the
certainty of death. Every day did 1
ride to Sceaux, by the old wall, and
catch a glimpse of her l 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 a
soldiers adventure gave me no pleas
ure. All my thoughts were other
where.
Hot-foot again to Sceaux again 1
rode on my way to Dieppe, n from
the same embrasure at the wall where
my horses had trampled down the TO-
liage many times, I watched her COM
ing. It was not for long. More hur-
riedly than was her custom she glided,
a glorified young creature, in and out
amongst the s%hrubbery, until the en-
v1ous chapel door hid her from my
sight. No living thing was in view.
The sound of no d%iscordant voice broke
the holy peace of God. Temptation
came eve to our first erring mother
in more insidious guise than this.
Where was the harm, l reasoned, it
was but for an instant's speech with
her, ere the bounding seas would roll
between us. So with v haste I
tumbled from my horse n tethered
him stoutly to a tree. Over the wall
and to the chapel door took another
instant, and there, ~inside,sa a the rail,
she knelt. I paused, as a sinner might,
the 'devotions Of a saint. My foo struck
a cracking board in the entry, and
drew her glance toward me. She
sprang up as I entered, with a swift
cry Of surprise. and, as I fancied, some
whit of gladness in the tone.
you. monsieur? You here? ]
thought you away from Sceaux."
"Yes, madame, true; but I returned
to speak with you before 1 leave France
forever. I came here toto"
could not tell her why; my heart, so
full, clogged my %utterance. But women
ver understand.
AS l cast about me for a word, we
had drawn closer, n taking the hand
which half-hid in the folds of her
+ dress, cleaned more white and pure, l
would have. raised it to my lips. Even
at such a time 1 noted the device upon
a ring she Wore, a device grown sc
familiar: A VOLTS head, sable.
IAN old thing Of my mother's," she
explained, Charles has one, and l."
I eagerly seized upon a subject which
migii. so naturally prolong u inter-
view.
"Aye, 1 know the device well: are
you of the d'Artins?"
Yes, my mother was; there are nov
none Of the race. The last is a wan
derer; I know not If he lives"
II know, perchance, of such a nan
madame; would o tell me more o.
him, of yourself?"
81 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 it. saying he want.
ed no more of women. The child dice
In Infancy. OF my sisters birth anc