D'Ri and I

rse than to rake the bone here and there and weaken me with a loss of blood. I woke awhile before he came. The baroness and the fat butler were sitting beside me. She w

English and in a sympathet

was one that had a heart and a hand for the sick-room. I told her how I h

daredevil! I do not see how it h

int wording and quainter accent. She see

if I had a new heart in me, and was planning to mount my horse. I thought I ought to go on about my business, but I fear I thought more of

for a ver' long time. I have a large house, plenty servant, plenty food. Parbleu! be content. We

tish, locating the scene as carefully as might be,

"They are kind-hearted; they would like to do what they ca

t will rest me. Let

oom, "do not fall in love. They are full of mischief. They do no

ith a handsome courtesy, on the table beside me. They took chairs and sat solemn-faced, without a word, as if it were a Quaker meeting the

said solemnly in English. "

on knew, the warning had exhausted her vocabulary. The baroness went below

toed to the door. "On your life, do not let her know. She will never permit us to see you. She will keep us under lock

bout it, I must own. Day after day I took my part in the little comedy. They came in Quaker-faced if the baroness were at hand, never speak

may seem incredible; I could not understand it myself. They looked alike, and yet they were quite different. Louison was a year older and of stouter build. She had more animation also, and always a quicker and perhaps a brighter answer. The other had a face more serious, albeit no less beautiful, and a slower tongue.

life of me tell which of the two c

read to me every day, and had been so kind that I felt a great shame for my part in our deception. Every after

make you to stay here a full month.

riendship. There was one her grandfather had got from the land of Louis XIV.-Le Grand Monarque, of whom my mother had begun to tell me as soon as I could hear with understanding. Another came from the bedchamber of Philip II of Spain-a gran

fine taste, who had brought her best to America; for no one had a doubt, in the time of which I am writing, that the settlement of the Compagnie de New York would grow into a great colony, with towns and cities and

she found a nest she had it moved carefully after nightfall, under a bit of netting, and fastened somewhere about the gables. Around the Hermitage there were many withered boughs and briers holding cones of wrought fibre, each a citadel of these uniformed soldiers of the air and the poisoned arrow. They were assembled in colonies of yellow,

anger. Then, mon cher ami! it is terrible. They cause you to burn, to ache, to make a great noise, and even to lie down upon

holding it carefully ask me to watch her captive-sometimes a a great

I release him he will sting me when I come near hi

and invite me to look at

Terror. Late in the afternoon I walked awhile in the grove with him. When he left I went slowly down the trail over which I had ridden. My strength was coming fast. I felt like an idle man, shirking the saddle, when I should be servi

You surprise me. I thoug

ot have taken t

ind men if she is hunting for-for-" she hesitated

at me smiling, that she was incomparable, that

ou hunt bears

because they are so-so beautif

good com

you," she went on. "You nev

u do not k

ouching me with the end of her parasol. "You are

ing but-but bread and doughnut

ou please be afraid of me? Indeed, I can b

showed them to me-white and shapely, and as even as if they had

ave a mind to run,"

answered quickly. "I sh

t, stirring the moss

urn," she added, smilin

it will do as well

wish to tal

, you honor

," she went on. "It is only that I have something to s

not listen if she be a

or fear-for fear of giving offence," said she, blushi

hen I am wounded, with such

orn. I did feel very sorry-indeed I

e war," I stammered, going to the brink of confession, onl

ough and began str

oness?" she inquired as she w

mazed me. I la

woman-she would make an exce

"I thought you were a fool. I did not know

ness," I add

nks she is irresistible. She has money. She would like to buy you for a plaything-to marry you.

I, in a voice of plea

ave me, I

sture of indifference, "I am try

m wh

as she spoke. "I should be very terrible to you. I should say the meanest t

e also a smile, I

a mighty fear she was playing with me, and held my tongue. Ther

y satisfied,"

I said. "May I not s

think you can,

why

proper," said she, smilin

I should like

he has commanded. The day after, in the morning, at ten o'clock, by the cascade-will that do? Good! I must leave you now. I must

mansion as deep in love as a man could be. I went to dinner with

my dear," sai

nd lost something, and was