Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1908-04-03
CHAPTER II.
A Il s t y n

pells departure Harriet Weldon arose
softly, and, opening the window with
great caution lest it should squeak upon
its iron hinges, looked out again upon
the front of the house. Everything was
enveloped in q food of moonlight The
fine grasses upon the lawn gittered like
spears of ice with the heavily falling
dew drops. The call Of a night bird to
its mate was the only sound that broke |
the stiffness. The beauty Of the night |
touched her deeply. and the song OF the
nightingale more profoundly yet She |
leaned her head against the window frame |
and her slight form shook with suppress
ed sobs. The thought came that every |
minutes delay would make 1t more diff
cult for her lover to escape from the
house. In q few hours the village would
be stirring He would be seen by some
peasant going early afield, as he left the
grounds. She must at once summon him
from his hiding place. In few min
utes he could be gone, and she would
breathe freely again.
Advancing on tiptoe to the door OF the
chamber, she turned the handle softly and
stepped out into the passage The house
was perfectly quiet. In the semi-dark-
ness she crept timidly up the corridor,
feeling her way with the tips OF her fin
gers against the old oaken wainscoting.
At last her foot struck against door
mat. She tried to recoilect what door
mat It was. She stopped and passed her
hand over It. II was an old-fashioned
rag mat Of American make, such as one
sees In the houses of middle class farm
ers In New England 1t had been her
lovers request to have such a thing at
the door Of his room. 1t reminded him
Of his old home across the seas. 1t was
all right This was the apartment she
wanted. She placed her fingers upon the
handle of the door, opened it little way
and called softly:
Charles r.
To her surprise there was no answer.
She opened the door wider yet, and went
in. The moonlight, shining In through
the window streamed over the carpet and
made every portion of the chamber plain
" visible. She glanced quickly around.
To her intense astonishment te room
was empty. Trembling with fear and ex-
element she again issued forth, and stood
once more in the corridor. At the very
moment that she did 30, pistol shot
reverberated loudly through the chateau
And then from all parts OF the house ia
inmates rushed hurriedly.
It was q terror-stricken assemblage o.
men and women, aroused In the dead o.
the night by that sharp, Ominous appail
ing sound, In the supreme quiet OF th'
chateau the pistol shot had rung out VIII
terrible distinctness. Though terrihe'
beyond measure in the almost certain
knowledge that some dreadful TRACED,
had taken place, Harriet Weldon did no
hesitate a moment. Dashing along tn
corridor she flung aside the heavy drap
cries which separated Nine. Roupell'
sleeping apartment from her sitting room
and bravely entered.
Face to face, NJ. Ohabot and her love
were standing. On the hoor betwee
them, lying at full length, her race turi
ed upward, CHASTITY in the dim light OF tn
solitary candle, lay Mime. Roupeil. troi
a bullet wound in her forehead, ntt
blood was slowly oozing on to the noe
and mating with its crimson flood Il
gray, waving and carefully combed hal
The room seemed suddenly to Ill wit
people, all looking through kind OF mis-
A CHASTITY, unwholesome pallor was
each face. The ordinary proprieties
life were set at naught. The CONVEX
tionAIities Of dress were forgotten. Emil
was bending over the PROSTATE woma
her lue features pale as death, but s.
AZ In marble, and showing no trace
tears or womAnly weakness. She SCENE
the only collected one in the room
the rest stood gasping and staring, hel
less. beWildered, frightened group. Emf
eviuced no surprise at seeing Van LII
there so Unexpectedly, as everyone ell
did. With much presence OF mind, she
once turned her attention to the sufert
To see what could be done for her. s
rave orders clearly and rapidly, and wi
a marvellous self-command.
"Ldft her up and place her on the be
Keep her head raised. This pillow
Bring me water, quickly"
She bathed the cold. inanimate fac
abe folded her handkerchief up into
wad and placed it over the fatal sp'
She bound over it as tightly as possit
a long bandage torn from the white &C
erlet. Then she turned to Jean, t
cOachman. who. hearing the disturban
from the adjoining stables, had rush
into the house accompanied by the 81
dener.
ride to the village. Send DIR. Croil
up here: and then keep right straight
into Paris. Here, take this with yOl
She turned to the writing table a
hastily penned the following note:
please come to US Immediately, a
bring with you the best surgeon you c
find. Aunt Ruth has been shot Il
fatally. Come at once, l beg Of you,
you may be too late.
EMILY WELDON
She folded the note and addressed 1t
"Dr. Paul Mason,
"Rue de Reverdy, No. "a.
"HOw long will It take you to deli
thatT' she asked. as she handed 1t
the coachman.
sit Il fourteen miles" replied the m
~I can do It In an hour and a half"
al can cover the distance in half
time" exclaimed Van Lith, eagerly st
ping forward. He had been stand
quietly By Harriet, sndeavoring to c,
fort her. 'GiVe me the note, l will
ct once"
Emily was about to hand It to b
when the voice Of NJ. Chabot was he