The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-12-29
CHAPTER XIV (Cont'd).

CHAPTER XIV (COnt'd).
ARDILLAC laughed quietly. Il
wish them luck Of their task, -
he said. NO. I take it that
at last they have blown in the
convent door, and a long time they
have been about IT, They will search
/ the convent before they attempt the
/ forest. Marie, either II is getting
| lighter. or my eyes have become accus-
! toned to the darkness. / see you much
more plainly than I did half an hour
/ ago, and l can even recognize what
did not notice in the daylight, that you
are very beautiful, Marie"
! Thank you. monsieur" said the girl
demurely, with A low cUrtsey, but you
are not doing justice TO your own
powers Of observation You did notice
/ Il before. and were kind enough to
mention II. Handsome l think. was
the word you used. and. although you
I diluted your praise with such words
as vixen, 'termagant' and what-not.
/ yet these expressions could not over
come my joy at your appreciation But
you should avoid committing yourself
I further until you have seen me in the
daylight. This darkness which en-
velops us is very deceptive. l am be-
ginning TO see you quite plainly, and
should be convinced by appearances
/ that you are a noble and courteous
young gentleman. did not my expert
ence with you convince me of the con-
/ trary."
Now, Marie Duchamps," cried the
young man. piqued. you let your
tongue run away with you. You are
too fond of hearing yourself talk. Your
mistress should long ago have repressed
this tendency to volubility, and not left
TO me that ungrateful task
"Oh, monsieur, you are much more
capable than she to effect such a trans
formation, because it is well known
that GdsCOny il the province of silence.
IT is as difficult to cause a Gascon TO
speak as 10 provoke him 10 fight"
Marie Duchamps, you are Uncivili
| The Gascons have their good points like
other people"
Monsieur. YOU astonish me. Pray
mention even one OF those good points.
and remove your ban Of silence, that
may proclaim IL TO the world France
will be OVerJOyed at the news
You spiteful little deyil!' muttered
Cardillac with Clenched teeth. Your
folly has almost driven from my head
you. From what direction did that
sound Gomez Stretch forth your hand
and indicate it,
The girl pondered with bowed head.
81 do not know" she said at last.
| The report Of the petard seemed TO
surround us: 10 come from every direc-
ton. All that I can be sure OF Is that
we have not travelled so Tar from the
convent as I had supposed
Cardulac growled his disapproval Of
this inconclusive answer.
IF YOU did not scatter your wits In
talk" he said, out kept them about
mi rh Measure
your company and some assistance in
your suggestions
Marie raised her chin haughtly.
AS You have not spoken word since
we left the convent, perhaps you viii
he so CondcSCending as 70 point out the
direction from which the sound came.
Cardillac gazed around him helplessly,
quite palDablv nOnpluSed.
'Tf I could do that" he said. Il snould
not have needed to ask you.
ITO ask me was perfectly proper
monsieur. but not TO censuTe me be
cause I am unable 10 DO what YOU
Yourself cannot accomplish
True. true, Marie. You are In the
right. and ] beg your pardon. You II"
rrbe oniv reply from the offended girl
was "A contemptuous sniff, head held
very high I'm the air.
1T is strange" muttered Cardillac.
chat so loud a roar In the forest at
pie,bt should give such little Indication
of direction ] suppose true Wool
man could not only point toward inc
euot. but might estimate the distance
as well. ] seem 90 be very TOOL or
4 long deep sigh came from Marie.
"Aat last. at last. she n9 i IN eu'
How cleverly you class yourself.
Al this moment something engaged
CardTlaC's attention, causing nun 10
ignore the uucomplimentary intlmatlon'
and give Utterance 10 cry OF aIIo ,I,t,li
,nent. Look, look, Marie ne Snouleu;
. '~Tbav have set the convent on IRE.
See the red light through the trees;
Ion. wise and excellent guide, What
you see Is merely SISn ' I,1o,,sio ,,I- ig
charge Of a lunatic. That, MONSIEUR ~
the red and risiTg moon / nave WatCh-
ed II from our eastern window these
three nights past. It's ll, Luna: Coi''e W
look after her own monsieur.
'Then indeed is She welcome. lot she
is al least a beautiful lady OF silence.
On Ewes US the east, Marie DuchampS'
and If your guide is muddle-headea,
"iI,-s VIII show as unerringly on our
Il doubt that monsieur When the
moon rises little higher the ray -, -
nor Deuetrate the foliage above MS ana
.,c viii sink into darkness again
..Nousensc. Marie. the forest became
lighter even before the moon appeaIe"
'e ',IIgs6 SiS Whispered the girl Listen.
What was that2' --.,..,
II needed no uecrOuuancer 10 i@'Iloli,
the cause of her alarm, for they HeaI1
hing the SLOW Ilit''s'N'l W.
~ man. not travelling through the
forest. but pacing a hard, high road
and from the east came the distant,
sunlued clatter Of horses feet, also
.u,doubtedly on the same thorouEnIaTe-
C,ardilIac grasped her by the wrist. but
ON tbis occasion his touch was gentle
Now. hv the lead image that Louis
XI worshiped," he said I'm low voice,
I'VE have come within e few yards OF
Numbering upon the patroHed national
road. We've wandered too far south.
30 not breathe a word. Marie, 1 beg or
YOU
The girl shook his hand impstently
from her wrist, and sat down upon
her saddle with her back against the
tree. The horse lying fun length upon
the ground. raised it's head and i'm
,Iiued forward its ears. CardiIlac sank
down beside il, patted it's neck, ran his
hand along its forehead, and muzzled IL
so that II could not whinuv.
The approaching man was whstlinE
the bars of drinking song. When, as
CardilIsc estimated, he was "a dozen
Yards distant wnistliuC and trampnC
ceased there was rattle Of muslle-
toou, and It's butt for a moment touched
tho roads surface. The patrol was
53lyiu- rcadv for the raDidlv uCariurr