The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1910-06-10
CHAPTER XII.

M1m living IN q WAY, dt Ill SfSut os LII
uncomfortable, though, Of course. not
In keeping with the wealth that he
| knew him to possess; but he was
| greatly astonished to find that the re-
atty even exceeded her expectations.
They reached the station at Goucy
about four o'clock in the afternoon.
The day continued to be gray and
very ugly. Fortunately, it did not
| actually rain, but dark clouds
chased each other overhead, and not
a CLEAN of sunshine appeared to well
come them.
Arthurs spirits, however, rose with
the prospect of seeing new country,
and life under an altogether new as
pect. He jumped out Of the train
with alacrity. Perhaps we shall find
Monsieur Rigaud himself come to
meet you, he said, cheerily.
He would hardly know me If he
did, ">she answered; Il have not seen
him for six years. "
Ait That, then, is the reason that
he continues to carry about an image
of his daughter in his mind in q
school girls short frock and pina-
fore. he said, gaily. Come, Madem-
,oiselle Rigaud, will you get out? !
! will see to the luggage.
There was no sign Of Monsieur
Rigaud outside. However, when
they came out Of the station, and
when Arthur asked If no carriage had
been sent from Mon Repos to meet
them, the porter in loose blouse
laughed and pointed to the road. An
toinette gave him little glance, half
sad, half arch, as the vehicle which
had been sent to meet them drew up.
1t was neither more nor less than
a bakers van. drawn by quaint,
white horse, with jingling bells on Its
brass ornamented harness. The driv-
er was big, rough fellow. attired in
p dirty sheepskin coat, and huge
wooden sabots on his feet. He greet
ed Mademoiselle Rigaud with q
friendly nod, but added, with a kind
Of jocose familiarity which made AR
thur feel unreasonably angry:
Your father asked me last Sunday
IL would fetch you for some sous
less than the diligence from La Pie
Blanche. Dame! but he drives q
hard bargain, your papa! He would
not even throw in a bottle of cider OF
three sous; but matters were ar
ranged at last. Only be quick, my
little demoiselle, for / have vet two
commissions TO do in the town, and
your papa doubtless awaits you with
impatience. j
They clambered in with some din
Guilty. The springs of the cart might
or might not have existed; Arthur
suspected their existence, and the
seats consisted Of broad leather bands
about a foot wide stretched across.
He made Antoinette as comfortable
as circumstances would admit Of,
with their travelling bags and rugs to
lean against, and seated himself be-
side her.
Goucy appeared to be much larg-
er place than Arthur had anticipated,
and he leaned forward. looking about
him with eager curiosity as they
threaded the steep. narrow streets.
The driver cracked his whip loudly
and used it Justify, with many an odd
/ guttecal noise. to make his lean
beast go showily through the streets
| and sweep clamorously round the corr
ner into the Grande Place.
This was square of some preten-
sions, Ranked by the Church and Ho-
/ tel de Vile. Trees were planted
round 1t. and carefully pruned into
the conventional green wigs so dear
to French landscape gardeners, and
/ little tables and innumerable painted
iron chairs were set out under them.
There is La Pie Blanche, said
| the driver, whose name he told them
was Mounier. 4All les Messieurs' Of
the town dine there daily at table
d'hote. And yonder. Mademoiselie.
/ do you remember that house?"
Yes said Antoinette, II fancy I
do. What a picturesque old house.
Could it have been there my grand
father lived?"
.sMaison Rouge, yes. The Doctor
4 Aymar lived there. and your sainted
mother was born there. Heaven rest
! her soulis
Now they dashed through the Place
with a grand show and clatter and
began to leave the town behind them
Once out of the streets, Mounier
pulled up his horse and allowed it to
suDside into a slow, heavy trot.
The road seemed interminable, for
the settled trot Of the white mare was
little faster than the walk of most
horses, a slow heavy jog.
Arthur turned round presently to
address his companion and was
shocked to see how pale she had be-
come, and how she was shiyering
from time to time.
+ "You are chilled. he said. anxious
| ~. = 1t is this miserable cart. How
wish could do more for YOU He
unsclded the rug on her knees and
tried to euvelop her more completely
in It.