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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (May 19, 1904)
g. —"■■■: . ......rrp [^6e^Black^i|! Wolf’s Breed Copyright J899 By Htvtrls Dickson V«..——■»... . Gaston's distress was pitiful; as his ■sate eyes now and again sought mine, I could not find It in my heart to cen snra him. Having distanced my poorly saoaatod pursuers I stopped to water my horse at the spring before riding tta flew hundred yards to the gates of OhrUUon. While yet waiting by the I was horrified to see men ling on top of the great tower, fight was brief and decisive, of them, one being Maurice my trusted man at arms, were violently to the courtyard bo s'. Of the others some were killed, •sen* overpowered and carried below egsit. An of this took only an Instant, for IK appeared but the end of a desperate •■saunter which had been raging etse wherv. The time, however, was long oaougb for me to see that those of the iMgor party wore the white snsh and ■pose which distinguished my assail ants in Rouen. “God In heaven, what murder's work ■ave we at Cartlllon?” I cried aloud !■ my misery. Then one who could an swer came running toward me from tbo castle, gashed, with snapped sword in band. “Ob. roaster, master, the Catholics, Kb* Catholics,” was all he could speak •art before he fell a senseless muss at ■nr horse's feet. Qt-rtillon was not now a refuge. ■©mediately the distant sound of |»>f beats came loud and louder yet, MB the direction of Rouen. Ortez «M coming. “Qnslck, Gaston, we must fly.” Mir overtaxed horse failed me now. YMrcng the rein he only sank slowly •» bto knees, and after a few spas ■MSUo twitches, stiffened out forever •■am the rocky road. I stood erect a Moment, child In arms, Irresolute, flora was short shrift to think. My blood! rebelled at flight. “Here, Gaston, take the boy; hide In Kba wood. Carry him to the Abbot of Vausx. and conjure the good priest, by ■cur fathers’ love and ours, to save my h*by.“ Gaston had hardly passed from sight among the trees before a dozen well aumtod horsemen, bearing the same wMte crosa in their caps, spurred aoandi a curve in the forest road, coin lag suddenly upon me beside my fallen •tool. Sword In hand, I fronted them, 4*termlned, come what would, to fly no Krtrthor. The evil face of Ortez shone •rttb gratification at so unexpectedly finding me alone. “Now, yield thee, sirrah," he cried, •a hla risen surrounded me. A quick thrust through the body of his horse, brought him to the ground. “toot yet, thou slayer of women; here ■poo equal footing, thy life shall pay &ar those of wife and child.” I verily believed the Almighty ven reee was In my blade, and doubt not auld have slain him despite his ■©opera, but for a crushing pfke blow •rtr the he ad, so swiftly did it all come ■bout. My brain reeled; the eword dropped •Mnfflng from my nerveless hand. When X recovered, I found myaelf bound upon a horse behind one of the men “On with him, men, to Cartlllon; tbeie> we rest this night In the king's ■ante.” In this wise we rode along; Ortez apeniy exultant, I silent and scornful. “Aba, my fine brother," he spoke low at my saddle, “thy father’s son has the* tn his power now. And shall I not revenge thee the wrong our father did my mother for thine? Didst know the starf’f" X made no reply, but he went on un cminiifttL T® my mother he gave hi* love, but dared not give his name; to thy mother he gave his name but. could never give his love. Bo thou art the proud lord of Cartillon, aad I the outcast soldier of fortune, Ut» nameless adventurer, slayer of essun—what thou wilt. But things tn changed now. Before many hours X will he the Count d'Artln, and thou a dishonored corpse, sweet brother." “Thou. Thou my brother?" X turned upon him a look of Incredu lous contempt, yet, for I had heard AMDS such tale of my father's youth, I “Thy mother was— T” “Nanon Esculas, whom thy father abducted In Spain to desert In France." “Xijr heart sunk; I had seen the wom a% and knew her son for one of the saost courageous and unprincipled ad essilii 11 who hung about the court bad bald their swords for hire. When nl noisy troop rode up to the gates of tjartBion their lsader paused, a head AMAared upon the battlements. TXulse," cried Ortes, giving the watchword of that day of slaughter. Tbs drawbridge lowered, and open Wrung the gates, “Welcome to Cartillon, d'Artln," Or •aa bowed. "Here at last we find rest and. refreshment. Let a feast be »*ad In the great hall, ransack the ce for good cheer. We've done brave Work this glorious day, my lads, and a ferry ending we’ll have before the ■labt Is gone.” everywhere in the courtyard were AftMences of bloody conflict Blngly, In ®BA*fe>e, In hideous, crimson-splashed gllaa lay Catholics and Huguenots to ■ gather, peaceful enough in death. “»y my faith, and a gallant set of »A«stlemen we have here, laughed Or L mm. "What think you, brother mine?” Ami as he spoke he leaned from his Saddle to strike dottn a, half dying WMtbh who lifted hie head from among flteAlaln. “Perez." he called to his sergeant rld ta# behind him, "dispose of these bod ies. Throw the heretic dogs Into the «M well yonder. Give our martyred nrtecds Christian burial.” Ate eat on his horse Idly toying with Bde dagger, and forced me to watch my •ervanta, the wounded and the dead, being cast Into the yawning darkness at the well. “Ood's blood! here Is our sweet NA"t Philip. What, not yet dead! Why. It matters not, cast him In." This fez answer to a questioning look from Mb* more merciful Perez. The men at arms had extricated from . • hasp of slain the limp body of my brother, a boy of 20, his pallid > gaping open from a cut across the He lifted his eyes languidly to i, brother, you are come. Some _', water," he murmured. “Throw him In, men,” Ortez inter sected. Peres yet hesitated. “Shall we not first dispatch him, steer* “No. I would not harm my gentle .Brother, throw him lea Be not slow r- --1- - -- ■ - * about It, either, thou chicken-hearted bullies; pitch him In.” The men started to obey this savage order. "Hound of hell!” I screamed, tor tured beyond endurance, and strug gling at my bonds. Ortez slapped me in the face with hls gauntlet, then laying hls hand upon my shoulder said with assumed gen tleness; "Calm yourself, my dear brother; think of your unbandaged wounds; they may bleed afresh.” Philip was conscious as the men bore him to the edge of the well, but power less to resist four stout fellows who cast him headlong amongst the dead and dying to mingle hls groans and blood with theirs. Oh, that God should permit men to such deeds, and grant that men should witness them! When the Inst body had been disposed of, Ortez led the way to the banquet hall, Inviting nil Ills rabble to Join the feast. The banquet hall, used as It was to scenes of turbulence, never perhaps had looked upon such a throng as that. I occupied the head of my own table, strapped helpless In my seat. On either side were vacant chairs. Ortez sat at the foot. Between, the soldiery ranged themselves as they pleased. One of the troopers coming In late would have taken hls place beside me, but hls cap- j tain stopped him: "Not there, Gardier; we have other and fairer guests for whom those seats are kept.” Almost as he spoke the chairs on either side of me were slipped away, and after awhile as silently returned to their places. Sacrament of passion! In one of them was bound the mutilated corpse of my queenly wife, her fingers hacked off and her ears torn out for the gems which had decked thorn. Upon my left sat little Celia. But for one lurid stripe of crimson across her girlish breast she might well have been asleep, so lightly death had touched her. Behind them I saw a tall, gaunt woman, wearing a man's helm and carrying a pike. She directed the men. This was a woman's hellish work. Ortez rose with studied politeness: "Your wife and child, d’Artln; our charming family reunion would be in complete without them.” And the woman laughed aloud. My brain burned; something seemed to strain and give way. I lost all sense of pain, all capacity to suffer. How long this lasted I know not. When the revelry was at Its height, when the wine had dulled every human Instinct In these rough "soldiers of the church,” Ortez raised his voice above the tumult; he knew hls men were in the humor for a diversion he was about to propose. “Now comrades,” he said, "for the orownlng joy of this most blessed day, now for our last sacred duty to mother church.” He came round the table and taking a cord from the hands of one of his men he threw the noose over my head. With feet bound together, hands free, I stood amongst them, this throng of butchers, each with the white cross of Christ in his cap, the white scarf of Guise upon hls arm, drunk and eager for blood. “Henri Francois Placide d'Artin, what hast thou to say why we shall not declare thy blood attainted, thy name dishonored, thy estate forfeited, why we shall not hang thee for a Huguenot dog, traitor to king and church? Speak.” All the defiance of my race burned fearless In tny eyes; I felt my face flush an Instant at the shame of such a death, but replied as steadily as might be: "Not a word to you, thou Infamous one. thou baseborn coward, murderer of the helpless; not to you!” The cool, polite manner cf Ortez fell from him like a mask. He seized the cord with his own hand, Jerking me prone upon the floor and commenced to drag me from the hall. A dozen willing hands lent ntd. I clutched Instinctively at everything which came In my way, being torn from each hold by the ruth less vllllans at the rope. Desperate I grasped the leg of a trooper, but a savage kick In the face wrenched him free, and down the stair they started for the open court. At the end of the cord came tumbling, rolling, bumping down the stone steps this al most senseless heap which was yet a man. Arrived beside the well, whose great overhanging sweep offered a con venient scaffold. Ortez paused to look at his victim. My breath came slow, I could hardly hear their words. "Think you his senses will return?" “Possibly, sire,” replied the man to whom this was addressed. "Then we will wait; my sweet brother would weep to miss so brave a spectacle as his own hanging." He sat there upon the edge of the well, whence came the groans of the dying, the hot, fresh odors of the dead, and waited, fiendish In the patient ferocity of his more than mortal hate. After a little I opened my eyes and stared about me, scarcely comprehend ing where I was or what had hap pened. Ortez called upon his men to raise me. Being placed erect the cord was drawn Just taut enough to sustain me standing. Now the ghastly woman I had seen In the hall pushed her way through the crowd. “Her son." she hissed, and savagely struck me In the mouth until blood fol lowed the blow. The cord Instantly tightened and I felt myself swing across the well. First only a dizziness and a parched mouth. Then the tu multuous blood surged to my throat, beating, struggling, gurgling like some pent-up mountain stream against the rocks. I threw both hands up to grasp the rope—heard a laugh, not a human laugh, yet it sounded so far, so very far away, away back upon the earth. A gigantic merciful hand seemed to take my head within Its gripe and press out all pain. Fiery circles swam before my eyes; great crimson blotches floated about In restless clouds of flame; then dreams, dreams, long delicious dreams. And out of the endless years of rhythmic music, the laughter of low voiced women, and many colored lights cama at length oblivion. Thus the tale ended. It was the same I had heard In far away Louisi ana, told again with all the grim ear nestness of desperate truth. I stood In the great courtyard again, beside the ancient well, drinking ea gerly every Inspired syllable. When the speaker had done, he shrank back Into the darkness, and was gone. It was as though I witnessed in my own person the wretched death of Henri d'Artin, and stood withlu his — Ml i ■■■ ■ l«l.H I II ■■ ■—«—■». - — ■■ ■■ 1,- , -BT castle’s court when the ruthless deed was done. Verily man Knoweth not the rebellious vagaries of an unhinged brain; knoweth not what be but un meaning phantasies, or what be solemn revelations from the very lips of God. In the deep gloom the ruined castle loomed darkly, a ghastly monument of evil deeds. I looked about for the mad man but saw him not. The weirdness of the place, the horror of Its secret, crept Into my blood. I became afraid. Down the bleak road I picked my way, glancing fearsomely over my shoulder. I fain would have fled as had the lad. I found my horse re-equipped. Still shuddering I mounted, scarce daring to look backwards at the cursed pile. Then, with the madman’s story surging in my brain, I dug savage spurs into my steed and galloped desperately on ward through the night. CHAPTER XX. FROM THE PATH OF DUTY. It was about 10 o’clock when 1 reached Dieppe. Soon thereafter I was well aboard le Dauphin, Serigny him self meeting me at the vessel's side. "Hullo, Flacide,” he cried. ‘‘All goeth well, and the passing night gives promise to us of a brighter day.” Later in his own cabin, he told of a brief meeting he haif with Louis. "For the time we are safe. The king is restless about the safety of the prov ince, and he trusts Bienville as a sol dier. The Spanish intrigue keeps our enemies so busy they have not time to disturb us. The king has no man who can take Bienville's place. Well it’s all happily over, and I am as delighted as a child to be at sea again. We would sail at once, now that you are come, were it not for de la Mora; he, with his wife and another lady, are to bear us company. The chevalier is a thorough soldier, and I welcome him, but like not the presence of the la dies. We may have rough work be times.” I knew my face grew pale, and thanked the half-light for conceal ment, or he must have noted. Who that "other lady” was, possessed for me no interest, and I never asked. De la Mora. This wuts terrible, and so unforseen. Full well I knew I could not spend five long weeks in daily contact with Agnes and give no be traying sign. I must needs have time to think, and that right speedily. "When do they come, sire?” "Any moment; they left—or should have done so—the same time as your self. His orders were the same.” Rapidly as a man could think, so thought I. "How long will you wait for them?” “Until dawn, no longer. Then we sail.” A glimmer of hope—de la Mora might be delayed. Without any clear ly defined purpose I went on and care fully gave Serigny every detail of in formation which could be valuable touching the expected trouble in the colonies. Of this my hands should, in any event, be clean. I even handed him the kings’ new commission direct ed to Bienville, whereof I (vas so proud to be the bearer. Whilst ridding my mind of these matters, I could not have said what course I meditated. A boat grating against the vessel’s side set me all tremble, but it was only a letter of instructions. Making some poor excuses to Serigny for the moment I entered the yawl as it left the ship to go ashore. A well-known voice hailed us ere we made the land. “Ahoy there, the boat," and through the shadows I made out the form of him I dreaded most to see. "Boatman, can put three of us aboard yonder^ vessel ?” "Aye, sir, it is from her I have Just come.” "Is thy craft a fit one to carry la dles?” > This dashed down the hope he had left his wife behind. “Aye, sir, it is a safe craft, but not a fine ladies’ barge. We can go with care and run into no danger. The wind is low." " ’Twill serve.” I Jumped ashore and would have slipped by without speaking had ha not recognized me. “By my soul, de Mouret, it is you; and we are to be companions on the voyage. Bravo.” He approached me frankly, with out stretched hand and hearty greeting. I would fain avoided touching his honest palm, but there was no way out of !t "I see you are surprised. Yes? I was suddenly ordered to sail in le Dau phin, and report to your good Govern or, Bienville. A most sturdy soldier from all report. Heaven send us a Bharp campaign, I am weary of these puny quarrels. We will have brave days in the colonies." The open-hearted way about him struck a new terror to my heart; I could face his sword but not lil« confi dence. His cheeks glowed with mar tial enthusiasm and I almost caught again the hot lust of battle. "And Agnes, with her little sister, is at the inn. Yes," he continued, noting me step back a pace in protest, "it is a rude life enough for tender women, but they come of stock that fears no dan ger, and it’s better there than at ths court of Louis.” (Continued Next Week.) Wholesale and Retail. New York Times: President Dabnev of the University of Tennessee, when in New York, told about the reply of a sinner to a clergyman of his acquaint ance, who was a Calvinist with the most severe notions of future punish ment. While this Calvinist was walk ing along the street of his native town he met a man whose tongue had been loosened by too liberal potations. The fellow seemed to be greatly displeased with somebody, for in his stammering talk the minister heard over and over again the phrase, “Damn you." doing up to the man lie took him by the shoulder and said: “My man, don’t you know it’s very wrong to use such profanity?" “Don’t talk to me, sir?” responded the drunkard; “I’m only damning only one man, and every Sunday you damn two-thirds of the human race.” Says Her Father Ate Sand. New York Herald; Mrs. Susan M. Stuart, former British consul here, but now in the insane asylum at Waverley, was a sensational witness at the hear ing on the will of her father. Arioch Wentworth, who left millions of dol lars to public institutions and whose will is now being contested by the heirs. Mrs. Stuart testified that during the last few years of his life her father had shown mental weakness in buying and using all kinds of patent medicines, eating sand to cure indigestion; was careless of his personal appearance and ; went about the house singing, 'Broad i Is the Way That Leads to Death,’’ and “Yankee Doodle.” The change in her father was noticed after her hus band got into financial difflculUes. Witnesses of the will said Mr. Went worth was sane when he signed It. Newspaper Combination. Cleveland Plain Dealer: in the triple consolidation of the Times, the News and the Bee. all of Toledo, the management has a chance to combine the names of the three Into "The News Betimes"—which j is a decidedly practical grouping. PANTOMIME FAIRIES. How They Learn the Difficult Task of Ballet Dancing in London. London Mall: Nobody has the least Idea of what training for pantomime means until a visit has been paid to Mme. Lanner's school of ballet danc ing. There dancers ranging in age from sweet-faced tiny mites of 6 to beautiful women whose age one will not be ungallant enough to think about, dally and patiently go through a course of training, acquiring steps and de portment that later on will be seen at the Garrick, Vaudeville, Empire, Al hambra and elsewhere. Mme. Morris, one of Mme. Lanner’s teachers, told the writer that a finished dancer Is the product of many years' strenuous work. A child of 6 can learn to dance well in a few months, but to acquire the grace and agility of the finest Spanish dancers now performing In London requires twenty years of un remitting practice. There are very few boys ever trained as pantomime dan cers. The reason is that the male sex Is awkward, their Joints are hopelessly stiff, and they can never hope to aspire to anything of a higher grade than step dancing. It Is one of the prettiest sights on earth to watch a score or so of little girls assemble In the dimly lit room where Mme. Lanner’s classes are held. Huge mirrors are arranged round the walls, a piano stands In a corner, but seldom gets played, because for a long time the novice has to practice nothing but steps to a monotonous “one. two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, hop!" spoken by the teacher. “All ze girls please togazier!” com mands mudame, and promptly tiny tots of 6 and graceful young women of 16 or so, all garbed to a girl in short w^hlte muslin skirts, pink sashes and eights, grip with one hand a rail fixed to the wall, extend the other arm on a level with their shoulders and deftly kick their hands seven times in succession. Watch the children and one sees that they thoroughly enjoy the training. Every movement of the first, second, third and fourth positions, under which headings the various steps are grouped, has been studied by the little ones, and each member of the class endeavors to give her individual rendering harmo nious movement of the whole body. Many of the little dancers can stand on their toes and pirouette like tops, and then, with modesty, elegance and ease go down until their knees almost touch the ground, rising up again with a graceful wave of the hand and a sunny smile. To give suppleness to the limbs a series of -exe.cises are gone through with first one leg, while the whole weight of the body rests on the other. The positions are reversed every few minutes, and in this manner both limbs receive equal attention and ob tain equal suppleness. A watering can plays a prominent part In a ballet class room. It would seem that the thousands of steps Indulged In have a tendency to raise the dust and bring about an epi demic of coughing. Therefore, a little Judicious sprinkling at intervals has the effect of allaying this. Half of those who attend church ser vices regularly in Boston are Cathodes. Mrs. Winslow’s booTHnro sybop ror Children teething; softens the gums, rednoee Inflammation, al um pain, cures wind oollc. 25 cent: a bottle. It is a great misfortune not to have enough wit to speak well or not enough ludgment to keep silent. PLOWING to let, $1.50 per acre. J. Mul hall, 306Vi Pierce St., Sioux City, la. Don’t brood over the Jiast nor aream of the future, but seize the instant and set your lesson in the hour. FOUR seven-room houses, clear, at Elk Point, S. D., to exchange for a farm or stock of merchandise. J. Mulhall, S06JA Pierce St., Sioux City, la. "" ..— —".1 —.. ■- ■!■■■■ .^ ” ^ “I Have Every Reason to Praise Pe-ru-aa,” WRITES MRS. KANE, OF CHICAGO. S I/GRACE. EDWARD, MYRTLE. GEORGE «n> REEVES KAU£.j% 172 JcbcrSt, Chicago* 1 la- / ? Mrs. K. Kane, 172 Sebor Street, j t Chicago, 111., writes: < ( “Peruna has been used so long in f S our family that / do not know how S ) to get along without It. I have > s given It to all of my children at t > different times when they suffered ) t with croup, colds and the many ail- < 5 ments that children are subject to, > ( and am pleased to say that It has f S kept them in splendid health. I s ; have also used It for a catarrhal / '! difficulty of tong standing and it s I cured me in a short time, so I have > '! every reason to praise Peruna."— < ! Mrs. K. Kane. J Pe-ru-na Protects the Entire House hold Against Catarrhal Diseases. One of the greatest foes with which every family has to contend is our changeable climate. To protect the family from colds and coughs is always a serious problem, and often impossible. Sooner or later it is the inevitable fate of every one to catch cold. Care in avoiding exposure and the use of proper clothing will protect from the frequency and perhaps the severity of colds, but with the greatest of precautions they will come. This is a settled fact of human experience. Everybody must expect to be caught somewhere or some how. Perhaps it will be wet feet, or a draught, or damp clothes, or it may be one of a thousand other little mishaps, but no one is shrewd enough to always avoid the inevitable catching cold. There is no fact of medical science better known than thnt Peruna cures catarrh wherever located. Thousands of families in all parts of the United States are protected from colds and catarrh by Peruna. Once in the family Peruna always stays. No home can spare Peruna after the first trial of it. We have on file many thousand testi ♦ ANTI-TOBAC. Positively cures the tobacco habit, or money refunded. Harmless, yet effective; enables you to stop at once or regulate the amount used. Send 60c for box by mall postpaid. Antl-Tobac Co., P. O. Box 109, Pueblo, Colorado. FOR SALE—Chautauqua hand corn plant ers; all metal; the best there are; guar anteed. Every corn grower needs one or more. Special price of 75 cents. 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