Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-04-04
Copyright, lssA, BY Stanley J. Wsymaa.
CHAPTER IV.-CONrINUED.

coming. The windows remained oh
stinately blind, no figures appeared OF
the terrace, tho garden lay deserted
and without life. My departure hat
not, as I half expected it would, draw
tho secret into light.
watched while. at times cursin{
my own meanness; but the excitement
Of the moment and the quest tided MI
over that. Then l determined to 81
down into the village and see whether
anything was moving there. hat
been down to the inn once and ha(
been received half sulkily, half courte
ously, as a person privileged at thu
great house and therefore to be &C
copted. 1t would not be thought odd il
went again; and after a moments
thought, started down the track.
This, where it ran through the wood
was so densely shaded that the sur
penetrated to it. little. and in patches
only. A squirrel stirred at times, slid
ing round trunk, or scamperins
across the dry leaves Occasionally q
pig grunted and moved farther into
thc wood but the place was very
nuiet and do not know how it was
that surprised Clon instead of being
surprised by him.
He was walking along the path be-
fore nc with his eyes on the ground
walking so slowly and with mis- lean
frame so bent that I might have sup
posed him i'll if had not remarked
the steady movement of his head from
right to left and tho alert touch with
which he now and again displaced a
clod Of earth or cluster Of leaves.
By-and-bye he rose stiffly and looked
round him sllspjciously: but by that
time had slipped behind trunk and
was not to be seen; and after a brief
interval he went back to his task,
stopping over it more closely, II posi-
bic. than before and applying himself
with even greater care.
By that time I had made up my mind
that he was tracking some one. But
whom? I could not make guess at
that. only knew that the plot was
thickening, and began to feel the ca
gerness of the chase. OF course, if tho
matter had not to do with Cocheforet.
It was no affair of mine; but though
It seemed unlikely that anything could
bring him back so soon, he might still
be at the bottom of this. And, besides,
felt a natural curiosity. When Clon
ut last improved his pace, and went
on to the village, took up his task.
called to mind all the wood-lore had
ever known, and scanned trodden
mould and crushed leaves with eager
eyes. But in vain. could make moth
ing of it at all, and rose at last with
an aching back and no advantage.
did not go on to the village after
that, but returned to the house, where
found madam pacing the garden. She
looked UP eagerly on hearing my step;
and was mistaken if she was not dis
appointed-if she had not been ex-
pecting some one else. She hid the
feeling bravely, however, and met me
with a careless word; but she turned
to the house more than once while
we talked, and she seemed to be all
the while on the watch, and uneasy.
was not surprised when Clon's figure
presently appeared in the doorway,
and she left me abruptly and went to
him. only felt more certain than
before that there was something
strange on foot. What it was, and
whether 1t had to do with M. de Coch-
eforet, I could not tell. But there 1t
was, and l grew more curious the
longer I remained alone.
She came back to me presently, look
Ing thoughtful and trifle downcast
THAT was Clon, was it not?" said,
studying her face.
YES she answered. She spoke alb
sently, and did not look at me.
How does he talk to you?" asked.
speaking trifle CURLY.
AS l intended, my tone reused her.
"By signs" she said.
lis he's he not little mad?" l
ventured. I wanted to make her talk
and forget herself.
She looked at me with sudden keen
ness, then dropped her eyes.
You do not like him." she said, a
note of challange in her voice. II have
noticed that, Monsieur"
u think he does not like me-" |
replied
He is less trustful than we are"
she answered naively. ut is natural
that he should be. He has seen more
of the world"
That silenced me for moment. but
she did not seem to notice it. II was
looking for him little while ago, and
l could not find him." said. after a
pause.
He has been into the village" she
answered.
longed to pursue the matter far
Their; but though she seemed to enter
tain no suspicion of me, dared not
run the risk. I tried her, instead, on
another tack. "Mademoiselle de Coch-
foret does not seem very we'll to-day ?"
/ said.
mo" she answered carelessly.
well, now you speak of it, I do not
think she is. She is often anxious
about-my husband"
She uttered the last two words with
a little hesitation. and looked at me-
quickly when she had spoken them.
We were sitting at the moment on a
stone seat which had the wall of the
house for back; and, fortunately,
1 was toying With the branch of a
creeping plant that hung over it, so
that she could not see more than the
side OF my face. For I knew that It
altered. Over my voice, however, I had
more control and haetoroa H.