Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-12-02

 man, wearing cloak, the other, thought, woman's, in sheeny white dress-when laundering rap on the door of my garret made me spring back a yard from the lattice, and lie down hurridly on my couch. The noise was repeated.
 ssWell'?" I cried, cursing the untime- ly interruption. was burning with anxiety to see more. What is 1t? l What is the matter?"
 The trap door was lifted a foot or more. The landlord thrust up his head.
 "You called, did you not?" he asked. He held up a rushlight, which illun1in- ated half the room and lit up his grim ming face.
 "Called-at this hour of the night, l you fool?' I answered angrily. No! 1 I did not call Go to bed, man!"
 But he remained on the ladder, gap ing stupidly.
 q heard you," he said.
 1 GO to bed! You are drunk!" an swered, sitting up. T tell you I did not call"
 "Oh. very we'll" he answered slowly. "And you do not want anything?"
 .sNothing-except to be left alone!" replied sourly.
 "Umph! he said. Goodnight! "Good-night! Goodnight" I an- swered, with what patience might. The tramp of the horses hoofs as it was led out of the stable was in my ear at the moment. Goodnight" continued feverishly, hoping he would still retire in time, and have chance 1 to look out. T want to sleep" | Good" he said, with broad grin. "But it is early yet, and you have plenty of time." And then, at last, he slowly let down the trapdoor and I 1 heard him chuckle as he1went down the i ladder.
 Before he reached the bottom I was at the window. The woman whom I I had seen still stood below, in the same place; and beside her man in peas ants dress, holding lanthorn. But ] the man, the man wanted to see was no longer there. And it was evident that he was gone, it was evident that the others no longer feared me, for while gazed the landlord came out to them with another lanthorn, and said something to the lady and she looked up at my window and laughed.
 It was warm night and she wore nothing over ber white dress. could see her tall, shapely figure and shining eyes and the firm contour of her beau tiful face; which, if any fault might be found with it, erred in being too regu- lar. She looked like woman formed by nature to meet dangers and difficult ties; and even here, at midnight, in the midst of these desperate men, she seemed in place. It was possible that under her queenly exterior, and behind the contemptuous laugh with which she heard the landlords story, there lurked woman's soul capable of folly and tenderness. But no outward sign betrayed it's presence.
 scanned her very carefully; and secretly, if the truth be told, was glad to find Madam de Cocheforet such a woman. I was glad that she had laughed as she had-that she was not little, tender, child-like woman, to be crushed by the first pinch of etrouble. For if I succeeded in my task, if I-but, pish! Women, I said, were all alike. She would find consolation quickly enough.
 I watched until the group broke up, and madam, with one of the men, went her way round the corner of the inn and out of my sight. Then re- tired to bed again, feeling more than ever preplexed what course l should adopt. It was clear that, to succeed, must obtain admission to the house. This was garrisoned, unless my in structions erred, by two or three old men-servants only, and as many women; since madam, to disguise her husbands visits the more easily, lived, and gave out that she lived, in great retirement. To seize her husband at home, therefore, might be no impossi- bIe task; though here, in the heart of the village, a troop or horse might make the attempt and fall.
 But how was to gain admission to the house-a house guarded by quick witted women, and hedged in with all the precautions love could devise? That was the question; and dawn found me still debating it, still as far as ever from an answer With the first light was glad to get up. I thought that the fresh air might inspire me and was tired, besides. of my stuffy closet. T crept stealthily down the ladder and managed to pass unseen through the lower room, in which several per sons were snoring heavily. The outer door was not fastened. and in hand turn I stood in the street
 It was still SO early that the trees stood up black against the reckoning sky, but the bough upon the post be- fore the door was growing green, and in a few minutes the gray light would be everywhere. Already even in the roadway there was a glimmering of it; and as I stood at the corner of the house-where could command both the front and the side on which the stable opened-looking greedily for any trace of the midnight departure. my eyes detected something light-eolored lying on the ground. It was not more