Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-12-09

Answer his question, Jean-Re.
maud" said the marquis sharply.
The old man stared at the two gen.
tlemen In silence.
Answer 1t to me, then"
The lips of the old servant remained
sealed.
"You dog!" shouted the marquis fu.
riously. "How dare you disobey my
orders! And to what end? Your 81
Ilence proves that some one was here
Who was it? Speak, command you!
ion your allegiance, by your faith
by the duty you owe me, I charge
you. wish to know who was here
I will know It! Ten thousand Devils"
he roared, exasperated beyond meas
ure at the mans stubborn silence
"Will you speak, or not? AS God hears
me, If you do not answer immediate
ly, l shall pass my sword through
you!"
"That is as monsieur pleases," an
swered Jean-Renaud sturdily. Mon
sieur Is q gentleman, and ! am only
a Breton peasant, but have my ideas
of honor, too. Serving monsieur and
his son for 80 years in this house
how could 1t be otherwise? And my
honor bids me be silent. Monsieur
may kill me, I am his man, my life
Is his, but monsieur can not make me
lspeak!"
Furious with rage the marquis short
ened his arm and drew back his
sword.
Strike not, de Chabot!" cried de
Kersaint interposing, laying his hand
upon the others arm. What need
IT'S certain some one is here. The 81
lence of the maid, the acquiescence
of mademoiselle, and the refusal OF
this old man to confirm or deny, prove
1t beyond q doubt There Is no exit
from this or the other chamber, II
remember the castle, save by the door
through which we came. The man
or woman must be there. Let US
search. Honor your servant for his an
cient fidelity, de Chabot. He would
not betray q woman. There Is some
one here-some one in the room OF
the woman / love, the woman who is
this night plighted to me. Let us
search. That door, yonder? What room
Is that?"
Monsieur" cried Anne, stepping
across to the door, her face afame
".tis my bed-chamber. You may not
pass within it but over my body"
She had not remembered de Vitre
but she was on fire to protect Grafton
Yet 1t was a desperate, hopeless sit
uation. No matter, she would fight
for him to the end-they should moi
harm him.
"Mademoiselle, assure me on the
honor of a de Rohan that there Is nc
one there and I withdraw"
! She endeavored to speak, vainly
moistening her dry lips, but she could
not, so she stood silent and determined
between him and the door behinC
which Grafton, his sword out, his blood
up, was in readiness to make a dash
for liberty. But his time was moi
yet
Enough, de Kersaint," exclaimed
the marquis, "you may not enter those
sacred precincts, but l, an old man
grandfather to this wayward child
may 60 anywhere. Stand aside, Anne
cr-"
Mercy! mercy" cried the girl
dropping to her knees before the door
Mere de Dieu! Help me, have pit!
upon mel"
"Oh, he is in there, then? A mo-
ment, de Kersaint, and you shall have
him before your sword" cried the mar
quis springing forward.
Grafton thought his hour was come
But no, not yet!
Search no farther" exclaimed {
sharp voice from the other side Of tht
room, as de Vitre, pale IS death, threw
down the screen and revealed himself
He had heard all, OWNED all. Ann,
loved him not. He would sacrific,
himself for her, for her lover, pay bacl
some of the debt he owed to Grafton
"Oh, thank God, thank Cod" criet
Anne, rising to her feet and shrinking
back against the door-frame.
Monsieur de Vitre!" the marquis
called out, in great surprise.
Capt de Vitre, by heaven, what d.
you here" demanded de Kersaint
springing forward threateningly.
"Messieurs, l came here as the right
full betrothed Of Mademoiselle Rohan
as the man who had received her troll
in New France. Resolved to make ON
more appeal to her, left the banque
hall to throw myself at her feet"
did you come by the invitation o
mademoiselle? asked de Kersaint.
mo, monsieur. came unan
nounced."
"You love this man, mademoiselle? :?
"Alas! no, Monsieur de Kersaint,
answered Anne. 81 esteem him. H
sought my hand under peculiar cir
cumstances in New France. con
sented, subject to the acquiescence o
Monsieur lie Marquis, and when tol,
him Of 1t he laughed at me-"
"Twas but boy and girl affair, d
Kersaint, not worth mentioning" an
swered the marquis.
But he came here?"
Eyes, yes, monsieur" cried Anne
"But without an invitation, and, in
deed, unwelcorne. The mystery Is nov
over. Retire, gentlemen, beg of you
This has been too much for me-
The marquis started to speak, Wher
something caught his eye and he
stopped as if petrified. Resisting hts
first impulse to cry out, he slipped
around to the table near the screen
and covering it with his person re-
mained silent, his gaze fixed in colo
suspicion upon MS granddaughter
AS for de Kersaint, he would let him
fight his own battle; afterward he had
other plans. De Kersaint stopped and
thought moment.
! "You came" he said at last to d.
Vitre, who stood pale and haggard witt
folded arms before him, without in
vitation?"
81 have said So"