The Light That Lures

the top of a long, ascending valley which twists its way upward from the Swiss frontier into the hills, a rough and weary road to travel, yet with a new vista of beauty

seems to have an habitation, and time to be a thing of naught. The changing seasons may come and go, storm and tempest may spend their rage, and summer heat and winter frost work their will, yet that rocky height shall still climb into cloudland, and those green pastures shall flourish. Centuries ago, eyes long blinded by the dust of death looked upon this fair scene and

through a gateway of solid stone, flanked by towers pierced for defense, and the wall through which this gate gives entrance remains, broken in places, lichen-covered, yet still eloquent of its former strength and purpose. Within the gate the village widens into an open square rising toward the chateau, and this square is surrounded by old houses picturesque and with histories. Many a time Beauvais has stood siege, its lord holding it against some neighbor stirred by pride or love tragedy to deadly feud. In these ancient houses his retainers lived, his only so long as he was strong enough to make himself feared, fierce men gathered from all points of the compass, soldiers of fortune holding their own lives and the lives of others cheaply. From such men, brilliant in arms, have sprung descendants who have made their mark in a politer epoch, men and women who have become courtiers, companions of kings, leader

rupulously, it was said, bought Beauvais, restored it, added to it and tried to forget that it had ever passed out of the hands of his ancestors. In due time his granddaughter inherited it, and after that terrible day at Versailles when the mob had stormed the palace, when many of the nobility foresaw disaster and made haste to flee from it

of master or lackey, and the sleepy square was alive with men and women who had intrigued and danced at Versailles, who had played pastoral games with Marie Antoinette at the Trianon, whose names were famous. Idlers were many in Beauvais, exiles awaiting the hour for return, for revenge upon the rabble, yet doing nothing to

le," the Marquise had said, an

avel-stained, rode late one afternoon, and came to a halt before the inn. They passed almost

lady, who still seemed flurried with so much busine

ery house is full," she said. "All the world has c

in the same predicament, but we have found a corner. I believe there is room of sorts still

y good," sai

s though it were modest and shrinking from observation, or desirous of keeping a secret. Its

ess than he expects, and pay dearly for it; but

to mind much where I

which the canaille must som

guide and his friend, was all the space available, but it was better than

them to the house, departed, hoping for their further acquaintance prese

nge place, Master Richard,"

ones before we see Virgin

er see Virginia again," said Seth. "I took the precaution to s

e future. A wise man never buys his own cof

uck. It was to help the people we came, and here we are at Beauvais to serve

woman to h

llent schemes a woman h

to get audience with this woman? The question has puzzled me upon the journey. We are met with the n

go to th

ts it. Every one in Beauvais must be able to give me some descriptio

uth is very wonde

gs," Barrington returned. "You have not

omes off Chesapeake Bay to that of these hills, and there

t are at the bottom of your croaking. W

that you think more of the readiness of

t representatives of the people with whom he had come in contact at Trémont had in no way disillusioned him. Refuse must needs be cast on the wave crests of a revolution; but there was also Lafayette. He was the people's true representative, and Barrington longed to be at his side to help him. He had promised to deliver a message, believing that he was undertaking a comparatively small matter, and just when he learned that a journey into Switzerland was involved, interruption had come and th

Monsieur le C

said. "This is my friend, like myself an e

an aristocrat, and wondered by what name he might best deceive them. Se

t words saved him a

ay be. We shall not all wish to maintain the friendships made in exile when we return to France. Here's to your safe arrival, Monsieur, and to our speedy return. The sen

ded for such an

ing. That need not deter you, Monsieur, and if you have no opportunity of apprising the Marquise of your arrival, I believe ther

personally acquainted with th

have an invitation in the mornin

e with courtesy,

evening I may have the opportunity

o her

ir? That is as Monsie

derstand you

many who crave presentation to Made

g but h

flat and heavy; a figure that is no figure, all its lines pressed from within out of place and which shakes as she walks; a voice whose whisper is raucous

you exag

friend, "and yet she has admirers. He

story which fate had called him to assist, and certainly he w

er, Monsieur," he said, "and since the wine is finished, you w

at his companion when t

has not the honor of knowing Madame la Marquise and h

ew was a little too

tion as promised. It will cost a few louis, and we are none too rich. W

you are a genius," l

Comte knocked softly at the

was no

cked l

I have the

ere was

he dead," he murmured, and

him, looking into his face and muttering together. Again, he was in a crowd, a dancing, noisy crowd, searching for a great woman who shook as she walked. It was madness to seek her here, they were all pigmies, and he turned away; another moment they were all big, all the women had raven hair, large hands and feet; he would never be able to find the woman he sought. Then this scene faded and there came others, some horrible, all fantastic; and always there came, sooner or later, a