Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-01-09


tant. Would Cocheforet, the forest
and the mountain, the gray chateau
and Its mistress seem one day as dim!
And If one bit of life could fade so
quickly at the unrolling Of another,
and seem in moment pale and color
less, would all life some day and some
where and all the things we-But
faugh! was growing foolish. |
sprang up and kicked the wood togeth-
er and taking up the gun began to pace
to and fro under the cliff. Strange
that little moonlight, few stars, a
breath Of solitude should carry man
back to childhood and childish things!
I.
1t was three in the afternoon Of the
next day and the sun lay hot on the
oak groves and the air was full of
warmth as we began to climb the slope
on which the road to Auch shoots out
Of the track. The yellow bracken and
the fallen leaves underfoot seemed to
throw up light of themselves and here
and there patch Of ruddy beech lay
like bloodstain on the hillside. In
front herd of pigs routed among the
mast and grunted lazily: and high
above us a boy lay watching them.
"We part here" said to my compan-
ion 1t was my plan to ride little
way on the road to Auch so as to
blind his eyes; then, leaving my horse
in the forest, would go on foot to the
chateau.
"The sooner the better!'' he an
swered, with snarl. "And hope I
may never see your face again, mon
sieur!'
But when we came to the wooden
cross at the fork of the roads and were
about to part, the boy we had seen
leapt out of the fern and came to meet
US. "Hello!s' he cried, in a sing-song
tone.
"Wellp' my companion answered,
drawing rein impatiently. what is
it?"
There are soldiers in the village %
"Soldiers?" Antoine cried incredu-
lously.
GAY, devils on horseback" the lad
answered, splitting on the ground.
.3Three score Of them! From Auch!"
Antoine turned to me, his face trans
formed with fury. Course you'll" he
cried. "This Is some OF your work!
Now we are all undone! And my mis-
tresses! Sacre! If had that gun /
would shoot you like rat!"
STEADY fool!" l anwered roughly.
Il know no more Of this than you dol"
This was so true that my surprise
was as great as his. The cardinal, who
rarely made a change of front, had sent
me thither that he might not be forced
to send soldiers and run the risk OF
all that might arise from such move
ment. What of this invasion, then,
|. than which nothing could be less con-
sistent with his plans? wondered.
1t was possible, OF course, that the
travelling merchants, before whom
had played at treason, had reported the
facts; and that on this the command
ant at Auch had acted. But 1t seemed
unlikely. He had had his orders, too;
and, under the cardinals rule, there
was small place for individual enter
prise. I could not understand 1t.
One thing was clear, however.
might now enter the village as
pleased. Il am going on to look into
this" l said to Antoine. "Come
my man"
He shrugged his shoulders and stood
still. Not n" he answered, with an
oath. mo soldiers for me! l have lain
out one night and can lie out an
other!"
nodded indifferently, for no longer
wanted him; and we parted. After
this, 20 minutes riding brought me to
the entrance Of the village; and here
the change was great indeed. Not
one of the ordinary dwellers in the
place was to be seen: either they had
shut themselves up in their novels, or
like Antoine they had fled to the woods
Their doors were closed, their windows
shattered. But lounging about the
street were a score of dragons, In
boots and breastplates, whose short.
barrelled muskets, with pouches and
bandoliers attached, were piled near
the inn door. In an open space where
there was a gap in the street, long
row of horses, linked head to head
stood bending their muzzles over bun.
dies of rough forage and on all sides
the cheerful jingle of chains and
brides and the sound of coarse Jokes
and laughter filled the air.
Ito be Continued.)