The Black Wolf's Breed

a separate coach, traveling the same direction. I thought it strange that they chose to go separately, and that neither had told me of his expecte

ured la belle France as a country of wine, of roses and of happy people. These ravaged fields, these squalid dens of misery, the sullen, despairing faces of the peasantry, all bore silent protest to the extravagances of Versailles. For the wars, the ambition and the mistresses of Louis

though being no philosopher I reasoned not to the cause. Yet this was the real Franc

e foot of a little incline the horses shied violently, and passed beyond the man's control. My driver endeavored in vain to quiet them, and then jumped from his box a

hem seemed to follow the entire population of the hamlet. The old and gray-haired fathers, the mothers, the stalwart children and todd

he-H-u-g-u

not yet stiffened in death. I hardly credited my sight. Before they came abreast of us I inquired of the driver what it all mea

he leader of the procession pause. He

d fellow? what crime

driver, answe

he is a

d their ghastly burden down, having little relis

ade, why do you not cover her

aw," he repl

Among them, unrebuked, were many white-faced children, half afraid and wholly curious. I looked at them all in disgust. They went their way and came to the

wailings to make her way through the guard which surrounded it. They shoved her

r; ah, Holy Virgin, what a stu

could it be possible? My indignation

t un-Christian thin

lves men to stand b

hen sank in the sheer desperation of exhaustion upon the road. As soon as he was quiet the mob, gathering about the more attractive spectacle, left him quite alone. I went up to him, laid my hand upon his shoulder, and spoke to him kindly.

ding so quickly to the desperate energy I had se

ried to go; tried to reach England, America, anywhere but France; they brought us back, put us in prison; she died-died, Monsieur, of cruelty and e

to where his wife

cast himself again towards th

horror of the thing, I made my way t

l law of which yo

ority and anger in it, so th

y flesh could never sleep in holy earth. The bea

her fittingly; h

ng," he sullenly replied. The

t the law," and bowed thei

time in quarrel which was not mine, yet willingly would

uld the hand of charity take

in of

aking through the line of guard, he threw himself upo

he broke through their line. But these staunch upholders of the law would not have it so. They tore him viciously away, and I, sickened,