South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-07-03

sun shone bright and warm across the Winter
OF Lucie's discomfort She did not think 10
mention the fact Of her clandestine meeting TO
her aunt. who was looking more worried than
ever. 1t was clear. too. that madame
anxious to have Lucie away from the precincts
of the house the girl to be away from
the old place. SO day by day she and Lieuten-
ant Joseph Borreau met in the sheltered corner
of the woods. Outside the shuddering winds
of Winter cut and stabbed but here protected
by the trees, leahess as they were. all was still
and calm.
One night. long time after Lucie had re-
turned to the house, and after their meagre
supper had been cleared away there came a
violent pulling a the gate bell. Madame
looked across at Lucie
Some one" she whispered. and waited as
though frozen. All the house seemed to wait
expectantly while old Marthe. crippled with
rheumatism, hurried across the hall and ran
out In the darkness of the willow-lined ave
nue.. When she returned she was accompanied
BY bigframed man enveloped in dark cloak
AS he entered the room both madame and
Iucie perceived that he was the able. He
stood there blinking in the light his rat-like
eyes dancing wickedly
News! You have news?" gasped Therese
valannes. starting up, utterly forgetful Of
AYE, madame. | have news Nor of the
best" The able strobe into the room and
madame stood leaning against chair staring
at him. Georges Cadoudal has failed, The
plot has failed! The First Consul still lives.
and the Royahst cause was never in a worse
plight"
Mon Dieu!" gasped Therese de la Valannes.
sinking back with her hands TO her CHASTITY
face. this will kill Suddenly she stopped.
Monster Table slowed his small. darling eyes
did also. on the face of Lucie. Then Therese
gave vent 10 a nervous laugh
THE child knows nothing of such secrets.
But / was foolish TO forget" she muttered
apologetically TO the priest, who stood glover
ing down upon her.
Lucie was asked to retire and leave them to-
gether. and with a sense of offended dignity
she did so. She went to her own room 1t was
cold up there and the chill winds of March
swept the exposed end of the house in which
her room was situated She lighted her candle
and crouched there shivering. She had begun
TO wonder now what was the secret of this
house known to the country folk the house
with the gray shutters She wondered why
they called il that, seeing that most OF the
houses in the neighborhood had, more or less,
all gray shutters, and she decided that it
because the jalousies of many windows were
never opened. II remained always with that
forsaken, closed-up look. Now she began to
wonder to herself what 1t was that made
Therese always listen so intently. Had il
something to do with those strange, disquieting
noises she sometimes heard in the night time?
And what was this news that caused madame
to go so pale-that even brought monsieur
Table over from his parish on a wild evening
like this?
But all roads led nowhither and at last she
crept into bed and fell into light sleep. She
was aroused suddenly by steathy step out
side her door, then the handle ratified. and
Lucie, staring wide-eyed over her coverlet to-
ward the door, was thankful TO the caution
that had made her turn the key in the lock
The rattle became more and more vicious, until
the fury Of the person without broke bounds
and rained torrent of blows upon the stout
wood. At the same time Lucie heard shrill
quavering cries of Spy! SPY" then the
woodwork gave way her senses left her
When she came to Madame Therese was
bending over her ministering to her with hands
that trembled. Lucie poured out her broken
story, and madame soothed her and took her
of to another room. She made the excuse that
one Of the farm hands had broken In whilst
drunk, but Lucie was looking up into her eyes
she spoke. and she the tragic fear that
was mirrored there Therefore she said moth
ing. but allowed the distraught woman to ar
range another apartment closer TO her own
The following morning Madame de la Va
lannes stopped the girl her way out of the
house.
You will say nothing of what happened last
night petite? l ask it for-for your loves sake
and the honor Of the house of Valannes. You
will not speak," There was anxiety in the
elder woman's tones.
Lucie hesitated; she had meant to pour all
her troubles into Joseph's willing ears; knew.
too, that he would give her the strong tender
sympathy that her lonely heart was craving
But she bowed her head slowly.
Il shall not speak o. II, Aunt Therese, - she
said, and went out
But that morning the lieutenant was not at
their trusting place And in the new hurt and
chagrin OF this development Lucie forgot her
other terrors And then when she reached the
house again she learned that Madame de la
Valannes had been taken suddenly very I'll and
was obliged 10 remain in her bed. So the
duties OF the house devolved upon the girl A
week went by two weeks Still madame was
I'll, and Lucie had not been able to 20 near
the sheltered spot in the wood where she and
the lieutenant were accustomed to meet. The