Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-01-23

set the table before the open door, SO
that they may see the garden. So.
And tell the cook that we shall dine
at II, and madam and mademoiselle
will descend"
"Ohe! But NJ lie Captaine order
the dinner for half past eleven?"
1T must be advanced then; and
mark you, my friend, If 1t is not ready
when madam comes down, you will
suffer, and the cook too"
When he was gone on his errand,
| looked round. What else was lack
ing? The sun shone cheerily on the
polished floor; the air. freshened by
the rain which had fallen III the night,
entered freely through the open door
way. A few bees lingering with the
summer hummed outside The fire
cracked bravely; an old hound, blind
and past work, lay warming its hide
on the hearth. l could think of moth
ing more, and stood and watched the
man set out the table and spread the
cloth. For how many Monsieur" he
asked in a scared tone.
For five" I answered; and I could
not help smiling at myself. What
would zaton's say could it see Berault
turned housewife! There was a white
glazed CUBAN old-fashioned piece of
the second Henry's Understanding on
a shelf. | took 1t down and put some
late flowers in 1t, and set it in the mid
dle OF the table, and stood off myself
to look at 1t. But moment later.
thinking heard them coming, | hur
rled 1t away in kind of panic, feeling
on sudden ashamed of the thing.
The alarm proved to be false. however:
and then again, taking another turn. I
set the piece back. had done moth
ing so foolish for-for more years than
| liked to count.
But when madam and mademoiselle
came, they had eyes neither for the
mowers nor the room. They had heard
that the captain was out beating the
village and the woods for the fugi-
'uYe, and where 1 had looked for a
comedy found a tragedy. Madam's
lace was so red with weeping that all
her beauty was gone. She started and
shook at the slightest sound, and. I'M
able to find any words to answer nv
greeting, could only sink into chair
and sit crying silently.
Mademoiselle was in mood scarcely
more cheerful. She did not weep, but
her manner was hard and fierce. She
spoke aDsently and answered fretfullv.
her eyes glittered and she had the air
OF strain1ng her ears continually to
catch some dreaded sound. sThere is
no news, Monsieur?" she said, as she
took her seat And she shot a swif+
look at me-
None. Mademoiselle."
They are searching the villageo"
II believe So"
Where is Clon?" This in a lower
voice and with kind of shrinking in
her face.
l shook my head. 81 believe they
have him confined somewhere. And
Louis. too" said. But l have not
seen either of them"
And where are? 1 thought these
people would be- here" she muttered.
And she glanced askance at the two
vacant places. The servant had
brought in the meal
'"They will be here presently" I said
coolly. Let us make the most of the
time. A little wine and food will do
madam good"
She smiled rather sadly II think we
have changed Places" she said; "and.
that you have turned host and we
guests"
"Let it ESQ., said cheerfully. g.
recommend some of this ragout. Come,
Mademoiselle; fasting can aid no one
A full meal has saved many mans
life"
1t was clun1sily said perhaps, for she
shuddered and looked at me with a
CHASTITY smile. But she persuaded
her sister 10 taste something; and she
took something on her own plate
and raised her fork to her lips. But in
a moment she laid it down again. Il
connot." she murmured. 81 cannot
swallow. Oh, my God at this moment
they may be taking him!"
thought that she was about to
burst into passion of tears and re-
pented that I had induced her to
descend. But her self control was not
yet exhausted. BY an effort painful to
see, she recovered her composure. She
took up her fork and ate with fierce
undertook. II want to see Cron," she
whispered feverishly. The man who
waited on us had left the room.
He knows?" I said.
She nodded, her beautiful face
strangely disfgured. Her closed teeth
showed between her lips. Two red
spots burned i'll her white cheeks and
she breathed quickly. felt, as
looked at her, sudden pain at my
heart; and shuddering fear, such as
man awaling to find himself falling
over a precipice, might feel. How
these women loved the man!
For moment could not sneak