Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-11-17
CHAPTER I.

stamped SpanlSn learner, where the family might recline and have an eye from behind the curtains on all that was going forward in the busy world beneath them. Two of them sat there now, a man and woman. but their backs were turned to the spectacle and their faces to the large and richly fur nished room. From time to time they stole a glance at each other, and their eyes told that they needed no other sight to make them happy.
 Nor was it to be wondered at, for they were we'll favored pair. She was very young, twenty at the most, with a face which was pale. indeed, and yet of brilliant pallor, which was 50 clear and fresh and carried with it such a suggestion of purity and inno- cence that one would not wish its maiden grace to be marred by an in trusion of color. In her whole expres- sion there was something quiet and subdued, which was accentuated by her simple dress of black taffeta. Such was Adele Catinat, the only daughter of the famous Huguenot cloth mer- chant
 But if her dress was somber 1t was atoned for by the magni6cence of her companion. He was man who might have been ten years her senior, with keen soldier face, small well marked features, a carefully trimmed black mustache and a dark hazel eye which might harden to command a man or soften to supplicate woman and be successful at either. Any Frenchman would have recognized his uniform as being that of an officer in the famous Blue guard of Louis XIV. A trim, dashing soldier he looked. with his curling black hair and well poised head. Such he had proved himself be- fore now in the field, too, until the name of Amory de Catinat had become conspicuous among the thousands of the valiant lesser noblesse who had Hocked into the service of the king.
 They were first cousins, these two, and there was just sufficient resem- blapce in the clear cut features to re- call the relationship. De Catinat was sprung from noble Huguenot family, but. having lost his parents early, he had joined the army and had worked his way without influence and against all odds to his present position. His fathers younger brother, however, find ing every path to fortune barred to him through the persecution to which men of his faith were already subject ed. had dropped the de" which implied his noble descent and had taken to trade In the city of Paris, with such success that he was now one of the richest and most prominent citizens of the town. NY --
 "Tell me, Adele" said he, why do you look troubled?"
 You leave me this evening"
 But only to return tomorrow"
 And must you really. really go to- night?'
 Tt would be as much as my comnis- sion is worth to be absent. Why, am on duty tomorrow morning outside the kings bedroom, After chapel time Major de Brissac will take my place, and then 1 am free once more. But still that line upon your brow. dear est"
 T was wishing that father would re- turn"
 And why? Are you so lonely, then?"
 Her pale face lit up with a quick smile. 'T shall not be lonely until to- night. But I am always uneasy when he is away. One hears so much now of the persecution of our poor brethren"
 Tut, my uncle can defy them"
 He has gone 10 the provost Of the Mercer guild about this notice of the Quartering of the dragons"
 "Ah, you have not told me of that"
 Here it is" She rose and took up slip of blue paper with a red seal dan giing from it which lay upon the table. His strong black brows knitted to- gether as he glanced at it.
 Take notice." it ran. that you. The ophile Catinat. cloth mercer of the Rue St. Martin. are hereby required to give shelter and rations to twenty men of the Languedoc Blue dragons. under Captain Dalbert, until such. time as you receive a further notice. tSignedl De Beaupre. commissioner of the king"
 De Catinat knew well how this meth cd of annoying Huguenots had been practiced all over France. but he had fiattered himself that his own position at court would have insured hIs kins- man from such an outrage He threw the paper down with an exclamation of anger.
 When do they comeT
 Father said tonight"
 Then they shall not be here long. Tomorrow I shall have an order to re- move them. But the sun has sunk be- hind St Martins church. and I should already be upon my way"
 -No. no: you must not go yet"
 T would that I could give you Into TOUT fathers charge first for fear to leave you alone when these troopers may come And yet ns excuse will avail me if I am not at Versailles But see: a horseuan has stopped be- fore the door. He is not in unifsrm- Perhaps he is . nessenzer.-
 The girl ran eagerly 10 the window and peered out.
 An she cried T had forgotten II is the man from America. Father said that be would come today
 The man from Auerica- repeated