Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-03-28

that the government regards us already
with an evil eye and that very small
thing would lead them to garrison the
village and perhaps Dust us from the
little the wars have left us. You should
have known this and considered it,"
she continued. "Wh ereas-I do not
say that you are braggart, M. de
Barthe. But on this one occasion you
seem to have played the part of one."
MADAM, did not think?" STAN
mered
want of thought causes much evil"
she answered, smiling. However, l
have spoken and we trust that while
you stay with us you will be more care.
full. For the rest, Monsieur" she con-
t1nued graciously, raising her hand to
prevent me speaking. Eve do not
know why you are here, or what plans
you are pursuing. And we do not wish
to know. 1t is enough that you are of
our side. This house Is at your service
as long as you please to use it, And
If we can aid you in any other way we
will do So"
Madam" I exclaimed; and there
stopped. I could not say any more
The rose-garden, with it's air of neglect,
the shadow Of the quiet house that fell
across it, the great yew hedge which
backed 1t, and was the pattern Of one
under which had played in childhood
all ihad points that pricked me. But
the womcn's kindness, their unques-
tioning confidence, the noble air of
hospitality which moved them! Against
these and their placid beauty in its
peaceful frame 1 had no shield. I
turned away and feigned to be over
come by gratitude. II have no words
to thank you!" I muttered presently.
II am a little shaken this morning. l.
pardon me-"
1--WE will leave you for WHILE"
Mademoiselle de Cocheforet said, In
gentle, plying tones. "The air will
revive You. Louis shall call you when
We go to dinner, NJ. de Barthe. Come,
Elise
bowed low to hide my face and they
nodded pleasantly-not looking closely
at meas they walked by me to the
house. I watched the two gracious,
pale-robed figures until the doorway
swallowed them and then I walked
away to a quiet corner where tho
shrubs grew highest and the yew hedge
threw its deepest shadow and stood
to think
They were strange thoughts, I re-
member. II the oak can think at the
moment the wind uproots 1t, or the
gnarled thorn-bush when the landslip
tears it from the slope, they may have
such thoughts. stared at the leaves,
at the rotting blossoms, into the dark
cavities Of the hedge; stared mechan-
ically, dazed and wondering. What
was the purpose for which I was here?
What was the work had come to do:
Above all, how-my God! how was I
to do it in the face of these helpless
women, who trusted me-who opened
their house to me? Clon had not
frightened me, nor the loneliness of
the leagued village, nor the remoteness
of this corner where the dread cardi-
nal seemed name, and the kings
writ ran slowly and the rebellion, long
quenched elsewhere, still smouldered.
But madam's pure faith, the younger
woman's tenderness-how was to face
these?
cursed the cardinal, I cursed the
English fool who brought me to this.
I cursed the years Of plenty and scarce.
ness and the Quarter Marais and Za-
toms, where I had lived like a pig.
and
A touch fell on my arm. turned. It
was Clon. How he had stolen up so
quietly, how long he had been at my
elbow, could not tell. But his eyes
cleaned spitefully in their deep sockets
and he laughed with his fleshless lips:
and I hated him. In the daylight the
man looked more like a death's-head
than ever fancied read in his face
that he knew my secret, and l flashed
into rage at sight Of him.
what is it," cried, with anoth-
er oath. Don't lay your corpse-claws
on met"
He moved at me, and, bowling with
1ronical politeness, pointed to the
house. us madam served?" I said
impatiently, crushing down my anger.
us that what you mean, fool?"
He nodded.
Every WE'LL" retorted. II can find
my way, then. You may go!''
He fell behind, and I strobe back
through the sunshine and flowers, and
along the grass-grown paths, to the
door by which I had come. walked
fast. but mis- shadow kept 1aco with
me, driving CIT the strange thoughts
III which | had been indulging. Slow
~ but surely it darkened my mood
After all, this was a little, little place:
the people who lived here-I shrugged
my shoulders. France, power, pleas
ure, life lay yonder in the city. A boy
might wreck himself here for a fancy;
a man Of the world, never. When
entered the room, where the two Adies
stood waiting for me by the table, I
was myself again.
"Clon made you understand. then?"
the younger woman said kindly.
Eyes Mademoiselle," I answered. On
which / saw the, two smile at one
another, and added: "Ke is strange
creature. woa.,s: You can lear. 10
have him near you"
"Poor mat! You do not know his
stcry?" madam said.
- have head something of it," an-
swered. Louis told me-"
well, do :hrH1ar at him. some
times" she rep::ed. in a low voice. "EJe