Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-12-26

stood looking, also, for half min
ute, perhaps; then the mans eye.
raised for single second to the door
way, met mine, He started, muttered
something to his wife, and, quick as
thought, kicked the light out, leaving
the shed in darkness. Cursing him for
an ill-conditioned fellow, walked back
to the fire laughing. In a twinkling
he followed me, his face dark with
rage.
"Ventre saint gris!' he exclaimed,
thrusting it close to mine. els not
mans house his own?"
"It is. for me-" answered coolly,
Struggling my shoulders. "And his
wife: if she likes to pick dirty rags
at this hour, that is your affair"
Pig of spy!" he cried, foaming
with rage.
was angry enough at bottom, but
l had nothing to gain by quarreling
with this fellow; and CURLY babe him
remember himself 'Your mistress gave
you your ORDERS" said contemptu-
ously. "Obey them!"
lie spat on the floor, but at the same
time he grew calmer. "You are right
there" he answered spitefully. What
matter, after all, since you leave to-
morrow at six? Your horse has been
sent down, and your baggage is above"
Il will go to It," retorted. 81 want
none of your company. Give me a
light, fellow!"
He obeyed reluctantly, and, glad to
turn my back on him, went up the
ladder, still wondering family, in the
midst of my annoyance, what his wife
was about that my chance detection of
her had so enraged him. Even now he
was not quite himself He followed me
with abuse, and, deprived by my de-
parture of any other means Of show
ing his spite, fell to shouting through
the floor, bidding me remember six
o'clock and be stirring; with other
taunts, which did not cease until he
had tired himself out.
The sight of my belongings-which
had left a. few hours before at the
chateau-strewn about the floor of this
garnet, went some way towards firing
me again. But | was worn out The
indignities and mishaps of the even
Ing had, for once, crushed my spirit,
and after swearing an oath or two
began to pack my bags. Vengeance
would have; but the time and man:
ner left for daylight thought. Be,
yond six o'clock in the morning | did
not look forward; and If l longed for
anything it was for a little of the Ar
magnac l had wasted on those louis
of merchants in the kitchen below.
1t might have done me good now.
! had YEARLY strapped up one has
and nearly filled the other, when I
came upon something which did, for
the moment, rouse the devil in me-
This was the tiny orange-colored
sachet which mademoiselle had
dropped the night | first saw her
at the inn. and which it will be re-
membered picked up. Since that night
| had not seen it, and had as good as
forgotten It, Now, as folded up my
other doublet, the one had then been
wearing, it dropped from the pocket.
The sight of 1t recalled ali-that
night, and mademoiselle's face in the
lanthorn light and my fine plans, and
the end of them; and, in fit of child
ish fury, the outcome of long sup
pressed passion, l snatched up the
sachet from the floor and tore 1t across
and across. and flung the pieces down.
AS they fell, a cloud of fine pungent
dust burst from them, and with the
dust something heavier, which tinkled
sharply on the boards. looked down
to see what this was-perhaps l had
already repented of my act-but for
the moment | could see nothing. The
floor was grimy and uninviting, and
the light bad.
In certain moods, however, man Is
obstinate about small things, and /
moved the taper nearer AS | did so,
point of light, flashing sparkle that
shone for second among the dirt and
refuse on the floor, caught my eye. 1t
was gone in a moment, but | had seen
1T. | stared, and moved the.light again,
and the spark flashed out afresh, this
time in a different place. Much puz-
zled knelt, and, in a twinkling, found
a tiny crystal. Hard by lay another
and another; each as large as a fair
sized pea. l took UP the three, and
rose to my feet again, the light in
one hand, the crystals in the palm Of
the other.
They were diamonds! diamonds bf
price! | knew it in a moment. AS
moved the taper to and fro above them,
and watched the fire glow and tremble
in their depths, knew that held that
which would buy the crazy inn and
all it's contents a dozen times over.
They were diamonds! Gems SO fine,
and of so rare water-or had never
seen gems-that my hand trembled as
/ held them, and my head grew hot,
and my heart beat furiously. For a
moment thought dreamed that my
fancy played me some trick; and I
c10Sed INV auec and did not onen ther |