The Light That Lures

. They had perchance returned along the road to make certain that their work was complete, and, finding their victim gone, were

ats who were safe across the frontier, and he might fully deserve all the punishment which had been meted out to him, but for the moment he was unab

e had formed no plan when he entered the room. He believed that actions must always be controlled by the circumstances of the moment, that it was general

friend and I are not the on

oncentrated upon Seth, who sat in a corner, apparently half asleep. In fact, having jus

ent swagger by reason of the authority which had been thrust upon them. They were armed, blatantly so, and displayed the tri-colored cockade. In some society, at any

ou could gain admittance?" asked one. Of the

d before the d

turned with an oath. "This is the day of

Barrington answered. "It is a good mo

r it?" asked the

eeing nothing unusual in the man's manner or his question, but quite conscio

so suspicious," said the man, step

armed, as I see you are. We may join forces against a common

ight, and tricked out just as you are," he sai

t and useful occupatio

"an attempt to throw dust into eyes far too sharp to be blinde

riosity, as meeting travelers m

nk whichever

tier, if that is what you wan

you to answer," said the man, and it was evi

y to question me?"

hing his coat, "and this." His ha

re. It is the

is pocket with a pistol in i

for quarrel. Your eyes must be sharp indeed if you can discover an aristocrat in me. I was for freedom and the people before you had struck a blow for

ful, and wine was an attraction. He held out his hand with an air that the welcome of France was

name would not appeal. We may drown our mistake in wine, th

the wine and departed

ed slowly to us in Virginia, and things here have moved quickly

he aristocrat who had become the darling of the rabble, the "little mother" of the fisher-wives, the hope of even the King himself, was silent. Mirabeau was dead. In fear the King had fled from Paris only to be stopped at Varennes and brought back ignominiously to the capital. The Legislative Assembly took the place of the Constituent Assembly, three parties in it struggling fiercely for the mastery, one party, that high-seated crowd called the

et spinning on a mad career when the Bastille fell, was moving too slowly again. There had been a good beginning, truly something had been done since, but why not make a good end of it? Mirabeau, yes, he had done something,

e blood of all aristocrats, no matter what they promise, what they pretend. From t

ufficient for all thi

ay? Things go forward quickly at times. A

d ending," sa

irony, he only h

and as freely spilt," and he jerked the remains of the win

ieur de Lafayette, Sieur Motier," Barrington sugg

that Motier has long been at the crossroads. He is, or was, an honest man, I hardly know which he is now, and even honest men must suffer for the

ring if such a man as Lafayette could have heard of

rth, but he may have been recalled. He must obey like

rest, but we shall

r in Paris," and the man swaggered out

eparture. It was not advisable that they should be alone with

through the village, but

discover anything?" Sabatier a

of them was too much like

y be dealt with there. Wha

no sign

must have passed him on the road. He

an they he

o allow ourselves to be distur

stion the landlord o

There are some in the neighborhood who have tasted blood in burning a chateau, whisper that there are aristocrats in Trémont. They shall find me by that farm yonder, snatching an ho

o full for settled times of rest. In his little sphere he was a man of consequence, not of such importance as he imagined, but, nevertheless, before his fellows. He had been at the storming of the Bastille, that gave him prestige; he had a truculent swagger which counte

allowance of wine. At daybreak he was still slumbering, and the little crowd of men who presently found

nd for an instant there was a loo

for us,"

There's work for us in the village yonder. Rats

one of approval

ing at the closed door of the tavern, and shouting to the

" he said sleepily, "but you

d man, and had been oppressed so long that he had become used to it.

tocrats?" hissed a

of yours," s

left last night. It was a surprise

ry movement towa

r. "He is probably a

should make a dash for freedom. Certainly there was a guest here still, b

" Sabatie

it," was the

at way. And why delay for the key? Not a very strong lock this, a blow from a man's heel coul

n was the head in the pillows, very thin looked the form stretched under the coarse blanket. Sabatier touched him and then looked swif

this?"

lord did

he face with the back of his hand, a heavy

e road, they said. He seemed to get better when one of them bound him up. When they came to look at him after you had gon

the coat asid

ur's business," he sa

," said one man, pointing to the l

shortly, as he strode out of

d him, but he

I know n

abatier paid no heed. He went into the room below, knocked the neck off a w

rushed down the stair

n was starting after her. "Maybe she'

tairs, ripe for deviltry; but for the moment here was w

ft, a woman came r

e in!" she cried.

ad, or will be soon enough. Our work is thorough, and this might be a chateau instead of a wine shop b

died as they marched and danced out of Trémont when there was a smell of burning in the air, and first smoke, then flame burst from the tavern, quickly reducing it to a heap of ashe

ising in the morning sky, Richard Barrington

journey?" Seth

nnot

might b

ed. "The man is dead; there remains my oath. Somewhere before