Rocky Ford enterprise., 1904-12-23

Hold. Monsieur ie BaToa." ne said.
distinctly and calmly, = have the
fighI 10 tell yoa that yoa cannot thus
assert yonF authority in my presence,
RisERs. as once before. released
Jean. AMI turned To face the speaker.
I" whom the hoy no9 rushed. cling
ihs 10 him with a storm of passionate
sobs. coming partly from anger. and
partly from y bruised heart,
MarsOl had drawn nearer 10 his
side: and. hs Jeans sobs ceased. tho
three e6hiFonisd Etisnas. sho nos
burst into a Loud. derisiSs laugh.
What can a bastard. and the
friends and champions Of a bastard.
expect betl.fs" b. demanded. nSs
speaking deliberately. his pale face
distorted by u.aiie..
MaFg0t started Indignantly. an
aagry nams sprinsins tito her eyes:
AMI the lieutenant said In los tone.
whose VsTy ealmnsss vas a menace.
1T is scarcely III. act of a gentleman
10 ssult the dsfens.iess and the
dead
Insult" cried Eii.nn.. nov letting
loose all tn. yiais of his hatred and
malisnlty. ''P-st-. How can he be
other than call him. when his mother
~as no ~ii.g'
"-ris faisc." declared Marsot. for
getting everything lii. habiluai re-
speet.
1T is not" EIionnc rc,or,ed: -and
you are liar when you say other.
wise"
Jean. with paiIns face. his burning
cges fastened upon his brother.
seemed stunned.
1T Ia not" E,i.nn. repeated less
vchcncntiy. "ah Per. Huot could tell
you. II you asked him. Ny mother.
the late harona.. died but three years
ago. In. regret to say. u madhouHc.
al Paris. Hut mad. or sane. she was
tn, baronnc: and that other woman.
the mother OF your youn. ~help there.
was no wife OF my fathers. nn you
must now admit. The church would
never recognize her aE his wife. he
being n true Catholic. and no priest
performing tho marriage ceremony
between him and that cursed Hu.uc-
not"
E,Icnnc uttered an cpithct too viic
for rcpc,itlon-an cpi,hct that siuns
to madness the listening boy. who.
with cry Of rage. such M might
come from new Cain wakcncd to
life. anatchcd n dagger from brica'
hrac Aircwn upon nearby table. and.
sprlnsins upon Etlcnnc. drove the
rustcd blade into his aide.
The slight form rcclcd and fell. n
crumpicd heap. upon the floor. while
Margoi. with shrek that brought
the soldier flying from his post In
tho hall. fell upon her knees, and
tried. with her apron. 10 s,anch the
flowing blood.
Jean had turned TO fee: but an iron
grip on his shoulder held him. and,
looking UP. he fell to trembling and
shiverinR. as ho met the stern eyes OF
his friend. looking as he had never
before seen them.
Where would you go?" inquired n
low voice. whose measured calm
matched the look Of the eyes.
The boy stood silent.
The lieutenant. still holding him
fast. moved to where Margot and the
soldier were kncellng beside Eticnne.
and Jean met the wild.eyed regard OF
the wounded man. from whose whitc
lips now poured n flood OF profanity.
mingled with threats of vengeance
against the boy. whom he ordered to
leave the apartment.
The lieutenant turned away with n
scornful laugh, half.suppressed. but
which Jean heard: and. taking heart.
the lad looked beseechingly upward.
as II asking pardon for his mad act.
Come away-come away, my De
Soto" whispered the officer: and
bending he kissed the tear.wet cheek.
"He has n venomous nature, truly, and
one cannot be greatly blamed for
treating dog as he deserves"
Then, gathering up the papers at
which he had been looking. he thrust
them into his pocket. and motioned
Jean to follow him from the room.
Here Margot Joined them. on her
way to summon Tatro. that he might
assist the soldier in getting Etienne
to his own apartments.
Early next morning the household
was astir-all save Etienne. who. al
though his wound proved to be but
slight. kent to his bed, with Tatro in
attendance; and before noon all but
these two had left the chateau and
set out upon their various routes
Margot with Jean and Perry, for Tou
lon, in company with the soldier Gre.
loire, sent by the lieutenant to escort
them.
At fork in the highway, where
their roads parted, Jean turned in his
| saddle to look after the slender fig
ure riding away at the head of his
| men.
Turning his head, as If he felt the
boys longing eyes. the lieutenant
smiled and waved his hand. Then,
putting spurs to his horse, he rode