The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-04-15
CHAPTER XVII.

IlOQ III WHICH LuSy lOuuu luSlAoCifSS
now, and as the full light of day
streamed in and they looked round
at each other, that fact began to
strike them forcibly. Hitherto the
| strong excitement of the chase had
kept them up without a thought be-
yond the moment; now the reaction
had set in.
Monsieur Tasset was the first TO
speak, and his voice betrayed his un-
easiness. He laid his hand on Ar
thurs arm. Monsieur" he said,
my heart misgives me. Are we not
all acting foolishly? Is not the &C
ton of that unfortunate child the re-
suit of a brain turned mad from the
shock she has undergone? Do you
see where we are going? We are
travelling toward the south, not to-
ward Paris. If, as we fancied, she
seeks her cousin, why do we travel
SOUTH"
The cure shook his head. 1T was
thus with Jacques Aymar," he said;
"and we have gone too far to draw
back now. We must follow to the
end"
Arthur, at the Mayors terrible sug-
gestion, had turned as pale as death,
but he shook off the fear. Patience"
he. said, hoarsely. I'VE shall know
at last; but can any reason stand
such a strain as this? That thought
terrifes me-"
Antoinette had no sooner entered
the train that she leant back and
relapsed into that sort of stupor that
was neither nor sleep; but the
fixed, strained look upon her face
had not relaxed, though Arthur,
shuddering, thanked Heaven that her
wild eyes were closed.
They had been up all night, and
still bore traces of the rough nature
of their wanderings. Monsieur Tas-
set and the cure began to make some
kind of toilette, brushing the dust,
and green from the barks Of trees, off
their clothing, and passing their
hands through their hair. The hor-
rors of the night were over, the sense
of order and conventionality resumed
it's sway.
Gradually fatigue absorbed all 9TH
er thoughts. The two men sat back
| each in his corner and gave them
selves up to sleep.
Arthur never closed his eyes. He
sat by Antoinette. He held n of her
| cold passive hands in both his own,
and watched her with all his soul in
his loving eyes.
Many hours passed. The train was
the fast express, and never stopped
on the way, till at last all were
aroused by a sudden rush of cold air
through the carriage, the door was
thrown open, and a loud, imperative
voice, shouted "Vos billets, Mes
sieurs!"
Tasset at once took the initiative.
He explained to the staring guard
that the reason of their travelling
| without tickets was accidental; that
they had in charge that most unfor-
tunate lady, and he pointed to An
toinette. The man seemed to under
stand, he touched his brow signif-
cantly. The Mayor produced his
purse and paid for all. He had
scarcely done so, and the little knot
of officials who had gathered round
the door were still talking over the
transaction, when Antoinette rose
! sIddenly to her feet, the magnetic
force upon her one again, and she
descended from the train. They fell
back on each side to see her pass.
Arthur could feel rather than hear
the Multiplying, ~half-curious COM
ments of those standing by, on the
beautiful mad girl.
She glided by. They were in a
great and populous city, passing
through crowded, brilliant streets
it was Bordeaux.
Arthur had folded the shawl all
round her, but now it fell from her
all unheeded. Her face had grown
even terribly thin and %haggard; the
eyes were stretched wide, and had in
them something of dumb agony.
On she passed so swiftly that in
the busy whirl Of city life she es-
capped the notice of the rabble.
Arthur walked beside her and
when ~bystanders threw too curious
glances, Tasset mutely touched his
forehead and put his finger to his
lips, giving an impression of danger
Gus insanity that served his purpose
well, and made people hurry away
more rapidly than they had ap-
preached.
They passed thus up the broad
main streets of the town, from one
place to another; then through small
er, humber streets, till darkness
gathered more and more closely and
the evening drew on. At last An
toinette passed.
They were in an obscure part of
the town, a street of tall gray houses
let in apartments to all grades of So
ciety, according to the height OF the
story. A wide door opened on the
common stair, and as they reached
the place the door was somewhat
ajar. In this quiet street they had
not so escaped without notice. Some
Idle boys gathered outside the house.
shouting and talking to each other,
and heads began to look out Of the
various windows.
Antoinette moved forward, it
seemed once more as if the heavy
door fell back at her approach, and
she entered in.
Something unwonted in the noise
without made itself heard as Antoin-