The Light That Lures

t in hedge or ditch; some plague might have swept across the land, leaving it stricken and desolate, even the cottages here and there showed no lights and appeared to be deserted. The

an passion and anger beat in it with quick, hammering strokes, and men and women, looking into one another's eyes

ached at all hazards, yet at a casual glance it would appear that they could have little in common. One was an elderly man with grizzled hair, face deeply lined, sharp eyes which were screwed up and half closed as if he were constantly trying to focus things at a distance. He was tall, chiefly accounted for by his length of leg, and as thin as a healthy man well

his keeping which no man might know. Like his comrade, there was little that escaped his keen observation, but at times there was a far-off look in his eyes, as though the present had less interest for him than the future. He sat his horse as

whether we shall see Paris to-night," he said present

for an hour past, Master

almost forgotten the name. Born in Louisiana, he believed he had French blood in him, and spoke the language easily. He had gone with

each the city to-night?"

lanned t

ough well-merited punishment might follow, and the boy was father to the man. Save in years and experience, this w

" said Seth. "I reckon that we

ights since we landed-ruined homes, small and great, burned and desolated by the peasants; and in the last few hours we have h

hard," he s

es

nsidered how usel

, and know

courage and determination, yet just because he is only one is pow

by the time the lion was dead, and a less

aying it isn't a right one, but I'm thinki

ich, in the gathering darkness, his companion could hardly

with me. In the old days you have been nurse and physician to me. I should have drowned in the pond beyond the orchard had you not been at hand to pull me out; I should have broken my skull

efore all those advent

as that

ember there was wailing among the plantation hands, and Gadman the overseer had to use his whip to keep 'em quiet. We others were just dumb and waited. Then came the morning I speak of. The mistress was out before the house again for the first time. I chanced to be by, and she called me. You were lyin

he had even wondered whether he wanted to return to it. Broadmead could never be the same place to him again. His father had died five years since, and that had been a terrible and sincere grief to him, but he had his mother, and had to fill his father's place as well as he could. The work on the estate gave him much to do, and if the news from France which found its way to Bro

. How could Broadmead eve

say anything more to you a

ng you from the bull, th

ing m

aw you lying on her knee. 'See that he comes to no harm, Seth.' She sent for me the night befo

nded his attention. They had traversed the long stretch of straight road, and were passing by a thin wood of you

nly focused on the ground, and then he dismounted quickly. "It's

ith soothing words, and dismou

bent over him; and as if to endorse his

t leave

h returned. "Didn't they tell us we should p

," said

njuries here, but if you could help to get him over the saddle

tavern which stood at one end of the village, a rough and not attractive house of ent

re, Master Richard, refreshing the

s of repentance, then. Stay in the

e landlord. He had to call twice before an old man shuffled alon

dgings for tr

except by children and invalids. All in Paris, m

but must rest

'll do our best, but it's poor fa

o travelers

for these

tor of a

-day, and they curs

and a wounded man. We fo

he landlord, and he turned

the wounded man in, the landl

?" asked Barr

l tell you when you've got

a doctor i

unless he's gone to Paris with the rest, bu

er Richard," said Seth. "I helped the doctors a

impressed with Seth's methods. He was never inten

morrow," said Seth, as he presently

for the frugality, but

ungry," said Barrington. "You saw

ok little note of what they said, for every one is full of important business in these days, monsieur, but the man who lies upstairs presently rode past. I saw him from this window, and my

him a little l

em so," said

that you have a wounded man in the h

the coins Barrington

ou may depend upon it t

tient again, and returned in a fe

nd him, and he wants to

st be wonderfully

answer; "but the man's in a bad way.

the room, and when he spoke his words came sl

d, monsieur; they wer

they at

rrying a

hey stole it?"

. It was not s

was the

ds of the rabble, and only she can save him. For the love

name?" Barr

selle St

have it. How shall I

e gold star, her gift to him. Say Rouzet gave it to you because he could travel no farther. She wi

I find Mademois

uvais, hard by Lausann

e! Switz

andlord had closed for the night, and when it was not opened immediately, angry curses and a threat to break it down

veler," said Barrington. "And,

tand just now that a journey to Beauvais was impossible. He waited a few minutes to see if the man would rouse again, but he did not, and seeing that an expla

nd cursed my wine," he whispere