A Night on the Borders of the Black Forest

of All-Sa

their marriage. Workmen from Paris had been decorating the rooms; a dignitary of the church was invited to perform the ceremony; and all the nobility for miles around were invited to the fête. Even the Baron de Pradines, mortally offended as he

foliage, and the snow has encroached half-way down the sides of the mountains. The raw north-east wind rushes howling through the passes and along the valley, carrying with it at sunrise and sunset driftin

e morning and is momentarily expected at the chateau. He has been to the notary's in the neighbouring town respecting the marriage-settlements, and has promised to return in time for the great supper of All-Saints' Eve. The Baro

iantly lighted reception-room blazing with chandeliers and mirrors, furnished with exquisite taste, garlanded with evergreens, and cro

he Commander de Fontane, cousin of the bridegroom, in a rich court dress redolent of Versailles; the Lieutenant of Police; the Seigneur de Rochevert, who owned the adjoining estate; several officers, a cabinet minister, some

the sound of many voices could drown that silvery reverberation, however, for her listening ears. Her impatience became intolerable, for the Chevalier should have returned full three hours before. At last she rose and slipped quietly out of the roo

ence was profound; not a sound was audible from the noisy salon; not a sound from the distant forest. All around lay deep shadow and spectral moonlight; and upon all the scene a stillness as of dea

r support against the window-frame; "what Christian

wolves startled in their lair-came up from the valley. Then th

ed the windows hastily, and was glad once

uis de Morac to his partner at ombre. "She is anx

id his companion-

f Hussars, going up to her with a profound

" stammered the Countess, as she sank

ant of Police. "That is somewhat s

ed by-by a second,

l!" muttered t

he Commander de Fontane, with a gay laugh. "The days of banditti are past. Do not be ala

re some hours ago, Mons

n was thrown open, and the Majordom

cried the Marquis de Florac. "Monsieur le Chevali

t arrived; and how could we take our places at table without his presence on All-Saints' Eve? We must wait awhile for the three miss

th a good horse it would not take more than five minutes to go and return. If you co

id the Countess, smiling; "

ered into the salon. He looked strangely white and w

é!" said the Countess, as

r le Curé!" repea

cuisine would have committed suicide for grief at the ruin of the rago?ts,

ollow voice, staring round him upon t

ood Abbé," said Madame de Peyrelade. "Come to the f

ordomo for the second time, with an

ing. "The former will doubtless be here before supper is over; and the Baron de Pradines is possibly detaine

u. Wine and jests went round. Even the Countess recover

l tell these gentlemen, if they arrive, that

and deserve pity rather than reproof. Who knows? Perhaps my cousin and the Baron have agre

est, casting a terrified g

t, but there was a pretty girl in question, and so I rode through the rain, and arrived just at the right time, but wet to the skin. These gentlemen would either of them unde

orbid!" crie

mander, as he filled the priest's glass and his own. "The health

m the farther end of the hall. "When I am a little

riding, and radiant with happiness, came ha

?" cried the lady beside whom he took his seat; "

which a handkerchief was bound; "a tussle with a wolf, who would fain have supped off of y

!" exclaimed

d pale, and murmured a pr

valier, and congratulated him upon his victory. The

rrival," said Marguerite. "I trust he

ps, like my cousin Eugène, he may come upon us at the

Baron de Pradines!"

exclaimed a lady. "He never opened his

dumb with c

makers. "We can have no abstinence to-nig

nes!" said the priest in a hollow voic

emen, rattling their glasses, by way of app

ing blows upon the outer gate startled

or a hundred crowns!" cri

turned paler

rre," she said to a servant behind her ch

d, pale and speechless. A con

re?" asked

ering voice, "doubtless it is one of the gue

rose from table, struck

The Countess recognising the body of her brother, uttered a piercing cry and hid her face in her hands. Silent and terror-stricken, the

d purse of the Baron are untouched. He has been shot in the tem

ne s

s the bod

al, with M. le Baron's horse standing beside

M. le Baron may have had in this neigh

ron de Pradines had very few friends in these parts, but

Baron had any difference or q

more than one glance was directe

uiry. "I-I know of only one person, Monsi

Père Jacques arrested the words u

hat pe

eutenant, but-but

" said the officer, "in

de Fontanel!" gasped

utenant. "What answer do you make? Have

faltered the young man in

our dress is disordered; your apparel is blood-stained, and your hand is wounded. I