The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-06-07

sister came out of the house-he look
ing white. with bright eyes and a
twitching in his cheek. though through
all he affected jaunty bearing; size
wearing a black mask.
"Mademoiselle accompanies us," I
said formally.
with your permission. Monsieur"
he answered. with grim politeness.
But saw that he was choking with
emotion. | guessed that he had Just
parted from his wife and | turned away.
When we were all mounted no
looked at me. Perhaps. as You have
my parole. you viii permit me 10 ride
alone" he said, with a little hesita
ton. and"
without met" l reioined keeuly
"Assuredly, so far as is possible"
directed the troopers to ride in front
and keep out OF ear-shot; my two
men followed the prisoner at like
distance. with their carbines on their
knees. Last Of all rode myself, with
my eyes open and a pistol loose in my
holster. NJ. de Cocheforet. 4 saw. was
inclined to sneer at so many precau-
tions and the mountain made OF his re-
quest: but I had not done so much
and come so far. had not faced scorn
and insults, 20 be cheated Of my prizs
at last Aware that until we were be-
yond Aucb there must be hourly and
pressing danger OF n rescue. was de-
tegmined that he who would wrest my
prisoner from me should pay dearly
for It. Only pride. and. perhaps. N a
degree also. appetite for a fight, had
prevented me borrowing ten troopers
instead OF two.
We started, and looked with lin
gerlng eve and many memories at The
little bridge. the narrow woodland
path. the first roofs Of the village;
all now familiar. all seen for the last
time. Up the brook party OF soldiers
were dragging for the captains body.
A furlong farther on, a cottage, burned
by some .careiessness In the night, lay
a heap Of black ashes Louis ran be-
side us. weeping; the last brown leaves
huttersd down in showers And be-
tween my eyes and all. the slow, steady
rain fell and fell and Cell. And so
left Cocheforet.
Louis went with us 70 a polut a mile
beyond the village. and there stood
and saw us go. eursing me furiously
as passed. Looking back when We
had ridden on, still saw him stand
ing: aud after a moments hesitation
rode back to him. Listen. fool"
said. cutting him short in the midst
OF his moving and snariing. "and give
this message TO your mistress. Tell
her from me that Il win be with her
husband as IT was with NJ. De Rsgnier.
when he fell into the hands OF his en-
emy--no better and no worse"
"You want TO kill her. too. sup
poser" he answered. giowering az me.
mo fool, want 20 save herr" I
retOrted wrathfully. Tell her that.
lust that and no more. and you Will
500 -tl.c re-ult "
Il shall not" he said sulieEiy. Il
shall not tell her. A message from
yo,I. fndeed." And he spat on the
ground.
Then on your head be itl" I an
swered solemDly And I turned my
horses head and galloped fast after the
others. For. in spite OF hts refusal
I felt sure that ne would report what
I had said-if n were only OF curiosity;
and il would be strange il madam did
not understand the refereace.
And so We began our journey; sadly,
under dripping trees and leaden sky.
The country We had TO traverse was
the same I had trodden on the last
day OF my march southwards, but the
passage OF month had changed the
face OF everything. Green dells. where
springs yelling out of the chalk had
made Of the leafy bottom FAIRIES
home. strewn with delicate ferns and
hung With m0sses-these we're now
swamps into which our horses sank to
the fetlock. Sunny brows, whence !
had viewed the champaign and traced
my forward path, had become bare,
windswept ridges The beech woods.
which had glowed with ruddy light.
were naked now: mere black trunks
and rigid arms pointing to heaven. An
earthly smell filed the air; a hundred
PAGES away a wall Of mist closed ths
view. We plodded on sadly. up hill
and down HILL now fcrding brooks al
ready stained with nood-water, now
crossing barren hcaths.
But up hill or down hill. whatever
the outlook. Twas never permitted 10
forget that ! was the jailer. the ogre.
the villain; that l. riding behind in
my loneliness, was the blight on ALL
the deathspot True. was behind the
others; escaped their eyes. But there
was not aiire Of mademoiselle's droop-
ing figure that did not speak scorn TO
me, not a turn OF her head that did
not seem to say. ooh God. that such
a thing should breathe."
had only speech with her once dur
ling tie day and that was on the last
ridge before we went down into the val
ley to climb up again to Auch. The rain
had ceased: the sun. near its setting,
shown family; and for few moments
We stood on the brow and looked