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Show BY OARY gEVEREVX tVtTH ILLUSTRATIONS BV DON C. WILSON OtyyrfrA. ISCO, fy iilf. &vnrt Com?) 'm chapter ii. B . Through tho weeks of tho Into sum- mer, old Tatro, tho butler, had been Bi attending tho meetings held by tho peasants. Dut, being a firm believer Bf In the old regime, ho had reported B faithfully to Monsieur lo Baron nil m that had transpired at these gatherings, gather-ings, telling him of tho vicious speeches made by Fauchel, and of tho letter's evident determination to influence in-fluence tho peasants against tho peo- . Jile of tho chateau. On n certain September morning, miter one of these reports from Tatro, "the baron said, "Find Margot, and end her to me." When tho faithful old servant had .3cft the room his master looked out 'of the window toward tho pnrk; but f his darkly circled eyes saw something quite different from tho trees silhouetted silhouet-ted against tho cloudless bluo of tho fky. They snw tho pale, angry face of 'Tomas Fauchel, tho young schoolmaster, schoolmas-ter, who, meeting tho baron as ho camo from tho magistrate's door with the pretty, sixteen-year-old daughter -of the Huguenot minister clinging to lilt, arm, had said, as ho barred tholr way, "To-day, Monsieur lo Baron, you have won, and have, taken for wlfo her whom her dead father gavo to mo when ho refused you, a Papist. But I warn you ta bowaro of tho day when Fhall seek my rovengo!" i The baron, In the strength of his vigorous manhood, and in tho happy dreams of his passionate lovo, had 'liughca at tho molodramatlc threat cf his humble rlvnl. And to-day, whlte-hnlrcd and lonely, ho smiled Disdainfully ns ho recalled it But tho smile died softly In a sigh that was almost a moan, as thought of tho narrow mound ho had looked upon tho spring before, banked with violets and snowdrops, In tho old fchurchynrd by tho Loire, near tho -cottage whero ho had known a brief .year's dream of happiness. "Is it thou, my beloved Plzarro?" But ho now roused himself as Mar-got Mar-got entered, and bade her to bo seat-cd. seat-cd. "Margot, I havo sent for thoo that I may unburden my mind somewhat as to matters which have been weighing weigh-ing heavily upon mo for many months past," ho began. J Margot looked at him In sllont wonder won-der mingled with somo alarm, as sho could seo no reason for his words, nor (or tho mood which seemed to inspire hem. jk "These aro troublous tluios," be resumed re-sumed more calmly, and dropping tho I familiar mannor of speech ho had previously pre-viously used; "times when but a fow hours 8ufllco to turn affairs from apparent ap-parent security Into confusion and danger. I wish, thorofore, to placo a conBldcrnblo sum of money in your caro, for I feol that perhaps It may bo nafor with you than with mo. It Is all I havo of my own to glvo Jean; and It will relievo mo to know that, no matter what may como to mo, or however how-ever Etionno may seek to rob tho boy, my Jean will never know actual want." Tho baron was now standing by tho aide of his desk; and pressing tho edge of a panel In tho oaken wainscoting, wain-scoting, it flow opon, disclosing a small rccoss, wherein wore a small I metal box and a number of llttlo canvas can-vas bags. "Como hero," ho said, turning to look at Margot over his shouldor. Sho camo to his side "Stfo," ho oxplalnod; "you do so, and so," showing her how to manipulate , tho secrot spring. Thon, after closing tho panol, ho added, "Seo now If you can open It." She did so, and tho panel opened k aBin. J "Ah, that Is well. Now you know a -whero tho boy's fortune is hidden, and I trust you to guard it for him. Tho bngs contain gold coin, and tho uox holds a fow Jewels, that aro his, ns thoy woro his mother's; also somo papers, for which tho future may show neod, should any ono seek to doprtvo him of his rights ns my son. I shall leavo It to your discretion as to when ami whero you will take thorn from tholr prosont hidlng-placo. no-membor, no-membor, Margot, I charge you sol-' sol-' emnly, that whon I nm not horo, If I u I am taken away, I trust you, abovo all others, to protect my boy's future, and provldo for his welfare." "That will I do with my llfol" Margot Mar-got declared fervently. It was toward sunset that same day when Jean camo running In to announce an-nounce that ho had seen soldiers riding rid-ing up tho winding roadway that led through tho park. Bidding tho boy keep out of sight until tho cause of such a visit could bo ascertained, Monsieur lo Baron descended de-scended to the recoption-room, whero tho officer In command of tho soldiers sol-diers soon presented himself, and delivered de-livered a letter from Couthon, In which tho baron's hospitality was requested re-quested for tho bearer and his escort. Tho fact was that Etlenne, recently angered by his father's refusal to Increase In-crease his already liberal allowance, had, with characteristic vlllany, lot fall somo Insinuations Impeaching tho lattcr's loyalty to tho Hovolutlonary cause; and tho ofllcer, who had been ordered upon a mission which would tako him several leagues beyond tho chateau, was Instructed to stop thcro upon his return, tho object being that tho Committco might, from tho manner man-ner in which tho baron received his uninvited guests, form a hotter idea as to his true sentiments. Jean did not deom it wlso to pro-sent pro-sent himself until the dinner hour should arrive, but had passed tho tlmo in questioning Margot and Tatro as to tho probablo meaning of this strange Invasion of tho chateau's privacy. pri-vacy. Then, going in to tho dining-room dining-room with an unusually subdued air, although I1I3 heart was fluttering with cxcltomcnt, tho lad's shyness evaporated evapo-rated In a glad shout at sight of tho ofllcer standing beforo tho flreplaco, whero burning logs raado cheerful tho apartment and warmed tho chill evening even-ing air. "Aha!" ho cried, precipitating himself him-self upon his father's guest, whoso 1 arms went quickly around tho boy ish form. "Is it thou, my boloved Pizarro?" "Truly it is. llttlo Mon3leur do Soto," So-to," answored Lieutenant Bonaparte, laughing as ho kissed Jean's flushed cheeks, while tho baron looked on with amazement, and old Tatro paused In tho report ho was making as to tho soldier's dinner in tho outer hall, to Btaro with equal surpriso at these demonstrations of affection bo-twoen bo-twoen the stranger and his master's son. When they woro seated tho officer oxplalned to Monsieur lo Baron although al-though In a way not to bring in tho name of Etionno how ho had como to know tho boy; and Jean, now qulto In his oloment, and entirely at ease, rattled on after a fashion that rcllovod his fathor from any extra offort in entertaining en-tertaining his guest. It was ncarlng ton o'clock. Tho officer of-ficer and his host were seated in tho drawing-room, having a garao of choss, with Jean, very proud and correspondingly correspond-ingly sleepy, because of sitting up so long beyond his usunl bod-tlme, watching watch-ing thorn from a near-by divan, when Tatro, his faco and volco showing tho greatest alarm, rushed Into tho room and exclaimed, "Mon Dlou, MoiiBlour lo Bnron! Tho peasants! A great crowd of them aro coming up tho avo-nuo! avo-nuo! Hark you can henr tholr shouts!" Tho chessmen and board fell to tho floor ns both players sprang from tholr chairs; and Jean, all sleepiness banished from his eyes, stood beside them. "Call my soldiers at onco," ordered Bonnparto, speaking to Tatro. "Monsieur "Mon-sieur lo Baron," ho added, turning to hlra, "wo will do all In our power for your protection." Tho dozen Boldlors upponred, nnd wero ordorod to post themsolves In tho hall, whero thoy stood, with ready arms, bohlifd tholr commander nnd tho baron, who woro nearer the stoutly stout-ly barred door, listening to tho wild hubbub of voices now close to tho chateau. Tho lloutonant waited until thero was a lull In tho nolco; thon, raising his volco, ho called out, "Havo a caro what you do, for tho baron Is not without with-out protectors. I am an ofllcer of tho Assombly; and In Its namo I bid you dlsporso." There was sllcnco, as If thdse out' sldo wero surprised at signs of an , unexpected resistance. There woro moro than fifty men outside; out-side; with them wcro somo women; nnd Tomas Fauchel was their leader. "Monsieur lo Baron, wLU you permit per-mit mo to arrange tho defence ns I see fit?" Inquired tho yo-ing officer, turning to his host. "Most assuredly, sir; Tor I havo full I confidence In your ability," was tho reply. I "Then extinguish every light in this hall, and close all tho doors leading from it, so that all hero will bo in darkness," Bald tho lloutonant, now speaking authoritatively. "And do you, Orelolro," looking townrd hls soldiers sol-diers "with Murlor and Lcboeuf, stnnd here beside Monsieur lo Baron. Watch that broken window, and put a ball into ovcry head that appears thero." Orelolro saluted silently, and tho of; fleer continued: "If Tatro will act as guide, to pilot myself and tho others out through somo unobserved way, wo will mako n detour, and treat our friends to an attack in tho flank." Somo of th.o hurlcd-ln torches had lit tho hall for a moment; but they wero quickly extinguished by tho bnron. A moment later tho discharge of musketry outside told that tho lieutenant lieu-tenant and his men had como upon tho scene. Then tho air was rent by moro yells and imprecations, but with a sound In them bespeaking dismay on tho part of tho surprlned marauders. maraud-ers. A second volley rang out, and tho officer's volco was heard. "Steady, my men. Load and fire at will, or club your muskets. Teach these peoplo a lesson ono in tho name of the Assembly." As-sembly." Those in tho hall now saw a flaming flam-ing torch thrust through tho window. It was hold by Tomas Fauchel, who waved it wildly as ho shouted, "Show thyself, thou craven baron, for nolther man nor devil shall forco mo from this placo until I havo kept my oath, and killed thoo!" Tho light of his torch fell upon tho uplifted faco white and stern of tho baron, who said, laying bis hand upon tno musket with which Leboeuf was taking aim at tho half-crazed fanatic, "Do him no harm, let him live." Fauchel, who had heard the word 3, answored them with a mocking laugh, and quickly extending his other hand, pulled tho trigger of a pistol, as ho tossed his torch into tho hall and yelled, "Die, thou damnablo Papist, and tako to hell with thco no thanks of mlno for sparing my life." Tho baron reeled, for ho was struck fairly in tho forehead. But ho was caught by Lcboeuf, and his dead form was not laid upon tho floor beforo Orelolro Ore-lolro had planted a musket-ball la Fauchel's head, and tumblod him from tho laddor dead as tho man ho had assassinated. His followers, terrified by the lieu-, tenant's unexpected attack, wero now flying llko scared sheep; and tho fight was ended. An hour later tho sllcnco that wrapped tho chateau would havo repelled re-pelled tho thought of such an uproar having raged within it so recently. Tho dead had been laid In upper rooms, nnd Mnrgot had gono to her own part of tho houso, leaving Jean in tho drawing-room with tho lieutenant, lieuten-ant, who was now walking up nnd. down, and now sitting on tho divan, besldo tho passionately grlovlng boy, to whom ho spoke words of tonderost sympathy, stroking tho dark hair, or holding tho burning hands In a cool claBp that was infinitely soothing. Somo of tho soldiers took turns at mounting guard in tho lowor hall, for fear of a possible ronowal of tho attack. at-tack. But tho peasants' outburst was ovldently spont, for tho present, at least, as nothing happened to disturb the sllenco of tho succeeding hours. (To be continued.) |