AN HISTORICAL ROMANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 65, 17 March 1900, Page 6

AN HISTORICAL ROMANCE.

By AMEDEE ACHABD.

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. CHAPTER I.—The Count Gedeon Paul de Monteslruc spuanders the last of his valuable inheritance' at the gaming table at Lectoure, leaving a young wife and his heir, who is about 10 years old, destitute. CHAPTER ll.—While her husband was having his final fling at the gaming table, the Countess, who' all her married life has been practically deserted, in a scene i at the castle, learns that her lover, Count: Jean de Coligny, is returning to Paris, by order of the King. I CHAPTER Hl.—The ruined Count de! Mcntestruc, determined to end his worthless life like a gentleman, and in a man-, m-r that will provide for his widow and; heir, offers the old Duke de Mirepoix; to avenge his daughter, who has been; ruined by a plundering exile, the Baron Saccaraux. The Duke accepts the offer, and the Count finding the Baron, succeeds in killing him, but at the cost of his own life. CHAPTER IV.—The death of the Count and the arrival of his body at the castie correspond almost exactly with the parting meeting of the Countess a/nd Coligny. The Countess, with the young Duke, on finding that the estates are really the property of money lenders, journeys With her* son to the Duke of Mirepoix. CHAPTER V.—The Duke provides her •with a home. The early education of the young Count is very largely in the direction of making him a good swordsman, and one very unpleasant outcome of this is an early encounter with an adventurer named Briquetaille

CHAPTER VI.

THE RED FOX.

About this same epoch Hugues had always at his heels a boy almost of his own age, who was for his youth what Eurgalus had been for Nisus, Pylades for Orestes.

He had found this friend, this companion, this servitor—for the poor Coquelicot was all these for Count Gedeon's son—wandering, over the country, sleeping one night in a barn and the following night upon a haystack living at hazard and fed by poor people who did not wish to let a Christian die of hunger." Coquelicot had never been known to have either father or mother. He had grown up as chance willed, employin^ himself as best he could to render himself useful to those who threw him a rag for clothing himself, a piece of bread for eating, guarding the turkeys and geese, doing commissions, * leading to pasture some sheep, and picking up some fagots of dead wood. He was loved for his softness and his patience. His name came to him from the colour of his

hair, which was red. Hugues had met him and taken him under his protection some twelve years before the time of which we write. The little Coquelicot had proved extremely grateful, and the two had become almost inseparable. Hugues was growing rapidly and began to have the turn of a man. The I)uke Mirepoix, who from time to time paid a visit to La Testere, had given him permission to hunt rabbits in his woods, and Hugues made liberal use of it. It was a great recreation for him; Coquelieot never failed to accompany him on these expeditions. One evening, being on the edge of a forest a gentleman passed along on horseback, followed by a.troOp of men. He was a man of high stature and

grand appearance, who was not more than thirty years of age, ana who passed for having a warm head and a "" quick hand, .proud withal, like an archduke, and not inconveniencing himself for any one. He was called the Marquis St. Ellix, and the princely ■train which he' always had about him had given him a magnificent reputation. Hugues, at the moment of meeting1 him, was slipping into his game sack four.or five rabbits which he had tailed.

The marquis halted, his hand upon

his hip: "How many rabbits stolen?" he said to him.

"None stolen, several taken," replied Hugues raising his head.

"I should not have answered," murmured Coquelicot.

"Is it not the Duke of Mirepoix who has given you jDermission to wander over these lands?" continued the marquis, while Hugues finished closing the sack.

"It is he, and that is why I do not understand why you mix in a thing which does not concern you."

"I believe that the little dog barks! Later on you will see that he wishes to bite!" replied the cavalier with an air of scorn. "It is.a shame to let poach a "ood-for-nothing- fellow like you."

"The shame is with those who place themselves on horseback for insulting people who are on foot, and so arrange it as to be ten against two." "Insolent!" exclaimed St. Ellix. And turning to one of the men who surrounded him: "Go pull this rascal's ear for me," said he.

"Behold, , exactly what I feared!" sighed Coquelicot. And quite low he whispered to his friend: "Fly now." But Hugues, solidly-planted upon his legs, awaited the man who advanced; he let him approach, then, gliding to one side at the moment when the latter raised his arms lo seize him, vvifh a trip, supported by a vigorous blow of the fist, he sent him rolling into a ditch.

"What do you think of it, marquis?" so id he then. "The rascal has teeth!"

"We will break ihem for him!" howled the furious marquis. And drawing- a pistol from his holster, he fired; but Hugues, who was upon hii; guard, avoided the ball by a rapid leap.

"Missed!" he laughingly exclaimed "When I fire, I hit."

Before the marquis could suspect •what he wished to do, he bounded upon a sli.o-hf elevation, and placing- an arj'ow in his cross-bow:

' Por your cap, marquis; I do not assassinate, but' I oblige impolite people to salute me."

The arrow whistled, and as formerly ihc arrow of William Tell dislodged the apple from his son's foreheqd, so that of Hugvies sent whirling (o the ground the scarlet cap which decorated the head of St. Ellix.

The marquis utlered a cry of rage,

j and setting spurs to his steed wished to throw himself upon the young ar- . eher; but Hugues had the advantage of the ground. With a bound he had just reached a thicket situated amonga mass of rocks, where a horse would not have been able to set his feet. Before even St. Ellix had ascended the crest of the bank of turf which separated him from him, the young ar-

Cher had disappeared and rejoined Coquelicot, who had preceded him there, without forgetting- the game bag with the rabbits. In that deep clump of shrubs and undergrowth which the wind made undulate, their flight left no more traces than the passage of two young wolves. The marquis prowled on the. edge of the thicket. Exasperated. at not finding any issue where he could throw himself at a gallop, and struck in the face by the branches of the bushes which he tried to make his way through, blinded by the foliage, torn by the thorns: "We shall see each other again!" he finally cried in a thundering voice. "I hope so!" answered him, a distant voice which the wind carried above the floating waves of the branches. llug'ues and the marquis were destined to meet again. (To be continued.)

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