Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-12-12


nail. took the howl and rag and in
vited me to sit down. We
!, was 10th to let him touch me; bit
he continued to stand over me, point
ing and grinning with dark persistence.
and, rather than stand, on trifie, l sat
down at last and gave him mis- way.
He bathed my head carefully enough
and I dare say did it good; but ] under
stood. I knew that his only desire was
to learn whether the cut was real or a
pretense. / began to fear him more
and more. and, until he was gone from
the room. dared scarcely lift my face.
lest he should read too much in it.
Alone, even, felt uncomfortable.
This seemed so sinister business,
and SO Ill begun was In the house
and the dumb mans eyes, full Of sus-
picion and menace When presently
got up and tried my door. found 1t
locked. The room smelled dank and
close-like a. vault. could not see
through the barred window; but
could hear the boughs sweep It In
ghosth fashion; and guessed thar
it looked out where the wood grew
close to the walls Of the house; and
that even in the day the sun never
peeped through 1t.
Nevertheless, tired and worn out,
slept at last. When awoke the ROOM
was full Of gray light, the door stood
open, and Louis, looking ashamed OF
himself, waited by my pallet with
cup of wine in his hand, and some
bread and fruit on platter
"Will Monsieur be good enough to
rise?" he said. ''It is eight o'clock"
Willingly" answered tartly.
"Now that the door is unlocked"
He turned red. ut was an over
sight" he stammered. "Clon is accus-
toned to lock the door, and he did
it inadvertently, forgetting that there
was any one"
"Inside!" said dryly.
Precisely, Monsieur
"Ah!" reAlied. We'll. do not
think the oversight would please Ma
dam de Cocheforet, if she heard of
it?"
"If Monsieur would have the kind
ness not to-"
Mention it, my good fellow?" I
answered, looking at him with mean
ing. as | rose. mo; but it must not
occur again"
l saw that this man was not like
Clon. He had the instincts of the
family servant, and freed from the in
fiuence of darkness. felt ashamed of his
conduct. While he arranged my
clothes he looked around the room
with an air of distaste and muttered
once or twice that the furniture of
the principal chambers was packed
away.
IN. de Cocheforet is abroad,
Think" said, as dressed.
"And likely to remain there" the
man answered carelessly, Struggling
his shoulders. Monsieur will doubt
less have heard that he is in 'trou-
BILE. In the meantime the house is
triste, and Monsieur mus. overlook
much, II he stays. Madam lives re-
tired. and the .-oads arc ill-made ord
visitors few
When the lion was Ill the jaekals
left him." said. - r. u
Louis nodded. cit is true" he an
swered simply. lie made No boast or
brag of his own account, noticed;
and 1t came home to me that he was
a faithful fellow, such as love L
questioned him liscreetly, and learned
that he and Clon and an older man
who lived over the stables were the
only male servants left of a great
household. Madam, her sister-in-law,
and three women completed the fam
lily.
1t took me some time to repair my
wardrobe, so that ! dare say it was
nearly ten when left my dismal little
room. l found Louis waiting in the
corridor, and he told me THAI Madam
de Cocheforet and mademoiselle were
III the rose-garden, and would be
pleased to receive me. nodded, and
he guided me through several dim pas
sages to parlor with an open door,
through which The sun shone gaily.
Cheered by the morning air and this
sudden change to pleasantness and life.
! stepped lightly out. !.
: The two ladies were walking up and
down wide path which bisected the
garden. The weeds grew ranlly in
the gravel underfoot, the rose-bushes>
which. bordered the walk thrust their
branches here and there in unframed
freedom, dark yew hedge which
formed the background bri.;rlcd with
rough shoots and sadly needed trim
ming. But did not see any Of these
things then. The grace, the noble air,
the distinction of the two women who
pacel slowly 10 meet me--and who
shared these qualities greatly as they
differed in others-left no power to no.
tice trifles.
Mademoiselle was head shorter
than Eer belle soeur ii slender woman
and petite, with beautiful face and
fair complexion. She walked with
dignity. but beside madam's stately