The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-03-15
CoOpJrasht ls'A, bs Stanley j woyman-l
CHAPTER Iu.-CoSrrSuED.

Then ne hung up the lanthorn on a
nail. took the bowl and rag and in
vited me to SIT down.
| was 10th to let MIN touch me; but
he continued 90 stand over me. point
ing and grinpipg with dark persistence,
and. rather thar stand on a trifie, sat
down at last Srd gave him his way.
He bathed py asad carefully enough
and dare say cid It good; but un9er-
stood. knew that his only desire was
20 learn whether the cut was real or a
pretense I began to fear him more
and more. sue, until he was gone from
the room. dared scarcely lift my face.
lest ne should read 20 much in II.
Alone. even, felt uncomfortable.
This seemed so sinister a business,
and so M begun. was in the house
and the dumb mans eyes. full OF sus-
picion and menace. When presently
got up and tried my door. I found It
locked. The room smelled dank and
close-Ilke a vault. could not see
thrs.gh the barred window; but
could hear the bougks sweep II In
Ehostiy fashion; and I guessed that
Il looked out where the wood grew
close to the walls OF the house; and
that evea in the day the sun Pever
peepsd through it.
Nevertheless. tired and worn out,
slept at last. When | awoke the room
was full OF gray light. the door stood
open, and Louis. looking ashamed OF
himself. waited by my pallet with a
cup of wine Ia his hand. and some
bread and fruit on a platter.
'Wii Monsieur be good enough to
rise?" he said. ut Is eight O'Clock"
'WilIingiy," answered tartly.
Now that the door is unlocked"
He turned red. 1t was an over
sight" he stammered. "Clon is accus-
toned to lock the door. and he did
It inadvertently. forgetting that there
was any one"
."Inside!" said dryly.
Precisely. Monsieur"
"Ahi" I replied. We'll. do not
think the oversight would please Ma
dam de Cocheforet. IL she heard Of
it?"
"If Monsieur would have the kind
ness not to"
Mention Il, my good fellow"
answered. looking at him with mean
ing, as l rose. mo; but Il must not
occur again"
saw that this man was not like
Clon. He had the instincts OF ,ne
family servant, and freed from the in
fiuence Of darkness. felt ashamed of his
conduct. While he arranged my
clothes he looked around the room
with an alp of distaste and muttered
once OF twice that the furniture Of
the principal chambers was packed
away.
M. de Cocheforet is abroad, I
think?" I said. as dressed.
"And likely to remain there" the
man answered careIessiy. Struggling
his shoulders. Monsieur will coubt-
less have heard that he Is in trou-
ole. In the meantime the house is
triste, and Monsieur mus overlook
much. II he stays. Madam lives re-
tired. and the roads are ill-made and
visitors few"
when the lion was i'll the jackaIs
left him." said.
Louis nodded. 1T is true" he an
swered simply. lie made NO boast or
brag of his own account. noticed;
and II came home 10 me that he was
a faithful fellow. such as love.
questioned him discreetly, and learned
that no and Cion aud an older nan
who lived over the stables were the
only male servants left of a great
household Madam, her sister-in-law.
and three women completed the fam
fly.
IL lock me some time to repair my /
wardrobe, so that ! dare say II was
nearly tcn when left my dismal little
room. found Louis waiting In the
corridor, and he told me thaS Madam
de Coo atforet and mademoiselle were
in the Sose-garden. and would be
pleased u receive me. nodded, and
he guided me through several dim pas
sages &c 4 parlor with an open door,
through which the sun shone gaily.
Cheered ~ the morning air and this
sudden cksuge to pleasantness and life,
! stepped ghuy out
The two ladies were walking up and
down a vile path which bisected the
garden. The weeds grew randy in
the gravel underfoot, the rose-bushes
which bordered the walk thrust their
branches here and there in untrained
freedom, a dark yew hedge which
formed the background briItled with
rough shoots and sadly needed trim
ming But lid not see any OF these
things then. The grace. the noble air,
the distinction of the two Somen who
pace slowly To meet me-and who
shared these qualities greatly as they
differed in others-left no power TO no
tice trileS
Mademoiselle was a head shorter
than Ter belle soedr IA slender woman
and petite. with a beautiful face and
q faif complexion. She walked with
dignity, but beside madam's stately
fRuEa she seemed almost childish, And