One day the baroness went away to town with the young ladies. I
was quite alone with the servants. Father Joulin of the chateau
came over and sat awhile with me, and told me how he had escaped
the Parisian mob, a night in the Reign of Terror. Late in the
afternoon I walked awhile in the grove with him. When he left I
went slowly down the trail over which I had ridden. My strength
was coming fast. I felt like an idle man, shirking the saddle,
when I should be serving my country. I must to my horse and make
an end to dallying. With thoughts like these for company, I went
farther than I intended. Returning over the bushy trail I came
suddenly upon--Louison! She was neatly gowned in pink and white.

"Le diable!" said she. "You surprise me. I thought you went
another way."

"Or you would not have taken this one," I said.

"Of course not," said she. "One does not wish to find men if she
is hunting for--for--" she hesitated a moment, blushing--"mon Dieu!
for bears," she added.

I thought then, as her beautiful eyes looked up at me smiling, that
she was incomparable, that I loved her above all others--I felt
sure of it.

"And why do you hunt bears?" I inquired.

"I do not know. I think it is because they are so--so beautiful,
so amiable!" she answered.