The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1904-02-19
kEk THE RED
|cT GIBBET.
~ 100000 100000 !
How the Witch of La Blaine Wa"
Avenged.
T La Blaine Was
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES


TOWARD the close of day the snow
ceased falling, the wind suddenly
yeered into the north, and it's gusts
cut like blows from switch. Night
fell; the silver light of the winter
moon flooded the sky, lit up the er-
mine helmets of the Vabre and of
Baffignac, and was reflected from the
ice-covered rocks of the gorge which
overhung the raging Agout.
Just as the door of wayslde inn
opened with great rafting of chains,
and the landlady stepped out on the
threshold, horseman rode around a
turn in the road, and stopped in front
of the door of the village inn, his
horse snorting with terror. The wo-
man hastily summoned servant,
while the traveller, dismounting, ex-
claimed, brusQuely: Halo! Here s
Joue-en-Fleur! Wine and fire, my
good woman! Tell your boy to give
my horse bountiful supper, and to
see whether he is not wounded in the
flank
holy Mother!" cried Thiebaude;
"'what a plight you are in, seigneur!
Your corselet and sleeves and even the
knot on your sword-hilt, are dyed with
blood and dirt!'
May Astaroth choke every beast OF
them!' shouted Amalric. ''They have
ruined my best doublet. I look more
horrible than the Vabre butcher!"
Angry and crestfallen, the reister
laid his heavy gun on the table, and
sat down before the roaring t1re-a
genuine Christmas blaze. Half a
dozen carousers, sitting at one end of
the room, resumed their interrupted
game of cards, whispering timidly to
each other, as if they stood in awe of
the newcomer When his steaming
drink was set before him. Amalric
related his adventure to the hostess.
1T is a bright night, to be sure,
on account of the moon. But what
road, ventre de leZard-chasms, tor
rents, precipices, snowdrifts, and, in
the ravines, all the wolves in &C.
venues, tiercer and stubborner than
the Calvinists! After I left Vabre,
they contented themselves with fol-
lowing me, watching for misstep of
my horse. Near Therondel, had to
slacken my speed little, as it would
have been suicide to travel fast. Then
a famished creature leaped on Argants
back and had trouble in getting him
off; had to use my dagger. And look
at the tourteaux on my doublet! At
distance, one would take me for Gull
laume de Montpellier's herald!'
Some of the players, leaving the
game, had drawn near the ffreside.
One of them even ventured to raise his
voice and question the formidable
reister.
"Monseigneur do you think it would
be unsafe to go to Albignier Tonight"
"You would certainly never reach the
end of your journey, whether you traV-
eled on foot or horseback. Stay here,
If you value your rustic hides; Joue-en-
Fleur can say your midnight mass for
YOU"
isn't your lordship going to order
battue soon for the famished beasts?'
"The first one will be called before
the Epiphany; all the wolf hunters of
the neighborhood will then be sum-
moned."
"But if monseigneur would conde-
scend to put himself at the head of our
rabatteurs tomorrow
SILENCE, knave! l hunt with you?
See those cowardly faces, Joue-en-
Fleur!" exclaimed Amalric, with in
sulting contempt. els there man here
who could pass the Red Gibbet at night
without dying with fear?"
A thrill of terror passed over the
audience; heads dropped; no one re-
piled.
1.-THE Red Gibbet!" exclaimed the
hostess, crossing herself; "but it is"
occupied! l know that very we'll!
It was about a week ago-wasn't it,
that we hung the old witch of La
Blaine, that old has who practiced
witchcraft and howled every ones for
tune at him."
Z "L'Armassiere?" queried Joue-en-
Fleur, crossing herself again, ard
elancing furtively at the door, which
had just opened and closed noiselessly.
EXACTLY! At this season she will
keep for long time, and will serve as
a scarecrow on the Ferrieres road.
Yesterday Argant SHE'D and nearly
threw me into the Agout under the
old hays hooked nose"
"Seigneur Captain" trembling voice
was now heard to, say. Il 1are 60 to
the Red Gibbet!''