The midland journal., 1910-05-20

l. -
ed me. Therefore, l wish to recall
j you. You can doubtless content yours
self with the peaceful pleasures and
occupations of country life which
was sufficient for your mother, and
! your presence viii be both useful and
consolation to your attached father.
PAUL RIGAUD,"
@That will do" said the old man,
reading 1t through. "And now must
write to Denstone to find me an es-
cort for her. Lai la! how everything
costs money. But this time I will
not. hesitate. desire the presence of
my daughter. I wish had . stall
wart young fellow like that Arthur
Denstone attached to my service.
Bah! he would eat out of all reason;
but he is honest-honest to stupid
ity."
He sealed the letter and then pro-
ceeded to indite another to Mr.. Dem
stone at Liverpool.
Monsieur Rigaud felt better when
these duties were DONE
/ That night the wild March winds
arose and howled through the forest.
The old house seemed to rock under
it's influence Within his thick dou-
! BILE doors old Rigaud lay, and recked
little Of the storm. Yet he could not
sleep. He sat up in his hard, mar
row bed, clasping his bony hands
round his knees, and drawing the old
sheet round him closely, and he wait
Cd fnr% a ~ or,A a1o k<1
Suddenly, quite suddenly, came a
sound through all the din of the
! tempest which drove the color from
| his haggard cheeks, leaving him livid.
1t was the report Of a gnn, followed
by loud, wild, inexpressibly piteous
howl, and then silence.
He scrambled out of bed and stood
painting. listening. breathlessly at the
uoor. ne neard Footsteps, some one
opening the front door, shout from
Battiste, shrill cry from Nanon, no
other voice; and presently his old
servant knocked at his door, exclaim-
ing: Let me in, Monsieur, it is all
right; don't be afraid, the rascals are
gone, whoverer they may be.
= OA eAAS OAS IL 40 eAAA AA6Ats A0
cried, TREMENDOUSLY, undoing the door.
! "Peste! What do you mean by all
right?" and he stepped back terrified
at the spectacle which greeted his
| eyes. The body of the unfortunate
/ dog extended in hideous death at
| his feet
who has done this?" he ex-
claimed. "Who is the rascal? What
! does it mean?"
| 1T means that we. shall all be
| robbed and murdered in our beds!"
cried old Nanon, who stood by in the
| most grotesque of night-gear. "Some
one has shot the miserable ANIMAL!
"But how could they get in? Ras-
! cal! did you not lock the front door?"
cried Monsieur Rigaud. turning upon
his servant.
@Dame!s Yes, locked it," he an
swered, scratching his head. aNu
one has been In, the shot was fred
! through the window" {" and he pointed
to the broken glass that lay scattered
on the ground
There was no more sleep for any
! of the three that night, and they were
thankful when morning came. Their
masters terror had at last infected
the two old servants, and they con.
suited together what should be done.
sThe dog could not have been shot
| for nothing" said Battiste, deliber-
! ately. Some one has designs upon
us"
Monsieur Rigaud's nerves were so
completely shaken that he could only
look at them with kind Of pitable
look. as if asking for protection.
Monsieur" said old Battiste, at
last, speaking in a kind of coaxing,
wheedling way. @If Monsieur would
only hear reason. We are both old,
she and now, and though our cour-
age is as good as ever, we are not as
strong as we were thirty years ago.
Will Monsieur not listen to the voice
of nature? His natural protector is
at hand; Maeemoiselle Louise's only
son, who asks leave to act the part
of a son to Monsieur, to help him
I! even with money. Let me summon
him. Keep him with us, at all events
| for time. Does it not seem as If
Heaven sent him to be our protector
| at this moment?D
"Nanon," said Monsieur Rigaud.
family, what do you say?"
DO not ask me-" she answered,
grufiy. "The world must be strange
ly changed when thieves come after
an empty cupboard.
@But it is not quite empty" said
Monsieur Rigaud. "See, you are my
Oldest friends"-he spoke tremulous-
ly-"in that black box are my little
economies. Not much, my friends,
very little; but preserve them with
care. 1t Is a dot for Antoinette. !"
1 -Ha! ha! said old Nanon. now l
understand. Yes. yes. she exclaimed.
becoming as eager as her husband.
aat all hazards that fnuaf ha nra.