village. The riders drew rein once more, this time in front of the little inn, and as a young ostler in blue blouse and sabots came hurriedly and officiously forward

t gentlemen of such distinguished appearance called at the "Auberge du Grand Dauphin," seeing that Notre Dame de Vaulx lies perdu on the outskirts of the forests of Pel

best wine mine host could put before them. Annette-mine host's dark-eyed daughter-was all a-flutter at sight of these gallant strangers, one of them with such fiery eyes and vivacious ways, and the other so tall a

ld present no difficulty either. Five minutes for it to get really hot, as Annette had made some the previous day for her father who had been on a tiring errand up to La Mure and had

d, and the wind biting . . . but the gentlemen had mantles, and she, Annette, would se

ant to wash again? . . . She, Annette, managed to keep herself quite clean all day, and didn't need to wash more than once a day. . . . But there! strangers had funny ways with th

ow, and she, Annette, firmly believed that if the English could get hold of the Emperor they would kill hi

English for "l'Empereur!" She prattled on very gaily and very volubly, while she dragged a couple of chairs out into

her suggestion to use the pump at the back of the house, since he was so ben

liciously scented cordial. Annette had disappeared into the house in response to a peremptory call from her father. The chapel bell had ceased to ring long ago, and she would

nees before the picture of the Holy Virgin which hung above her bed, after which she went back to her housewifely duty with a light heart; but not before she had decided an important point in her mind-namely, which of those two handsome gentlemen she liked

nt with the soft brown hair and winning smile wa