The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-02

pecting adversary. =.
Lucrece de. Precy was on that evening
in better spirits than usual. The night
was clear and the stars unusually bright.
He had for hours been watching through
his telescope various consultations par
ticularly interesting to him, when sudden.
~ he heard noise in the tower.
1t was close to the entrance. The
tower contained an old wooden staircase,
which led to the platform on its top.
Young Precy listened . moment, and
then he heard tho noise again.
"Who is there !" he shouted down.
I''1s that you, Lucrece de Precy!" ask
ed threatening voice below.
eyes," s f..
II am glad to know that you are there
very clad assure you?''
"But who are you!''
81 am your friend, Charles de Mont.
baisson r.
Young Precy was silent for a few mo-
ments. Then said:
"Of course you are not nv friend,
Monsieur de Montbaisson. But will you
tell me what you want in this tower!
You know 1t is my property, and have
notion to have you punished for intrud-
ing here
"Ha ha hat" laughed Montbaisson.
"By the escutcheon of my ancestors"
cried Precy, stung by the scornful laugh.
ter of the enemy of his house, shall
have you fogged by the game.keeper if
you ever show your face here!''
''Really! really!" replied Montbaisson,
mockingly. what terrible boy you
are! But tell me what the stars, which
you read so often, prophesied you to.
night!''
''Get away from here, impudent fell
low!' cried Precy, now fairly beside him.
self.
''Ah, then, will predict your fate to
you," replied Montbaisson, s'and you will
find that am splendid prophet! -
Precy, struck by the sinister tone of
his unweicomed visitor, listened in silence
to him.
SHOW" continued Charles dc Montbais.
son, 81 predict to you, Lucrcce de Precy,
that this very night you will be slowly
burnt to death in this tower. Unless the
smoke smothers you before the flames be-
gin to burn your flesh, you will be slowly
roasted. You might throw yourself from
the tor of the tower, but you would break
every bone in your body by the fall
"What do you mean!' cried Prccy,
now seriously alarmed.
u mean to build fire under this dry
old wooden Staircase" shouted Mont.
baisson back. II have all the dry wood
need for it here, and ~
| He was interrupted by q piercing cry
for help which young Precy uttered.
"Oh, you need not hope for any assist
| oro,. fro,r, ,r:kLo,,,1 NJ 900 ..~
even though you shouted at the top of
your voice.
''Oh, you cannot intend to murder me
in SO cruel q manner!' cried Precy, in an
imploring tone.
Don't look for mercy on my part" re-
piled Montbaisson. 81 shall put you to
death exactly as said. But listen to me;
have something to say to you first
Precy, wringing his hands in mute dis
pair, bent forward to catch every word
from his infamous adversary.
"You see, Monsieur dc Precy,' pro.
ceeded the latter, ''what am going to do
is perfectly safe for me. When they find
your charred remains here to morrow,
they will think that you yourself had in
cautiously set the wooden staircase on
fire. Now will tell you what shall do
when you are dead. My lawyer has told
me that am your next of kin. So, by
your death, the Precy estate will become
mine, and, in order to kill all sympathy
for you, shall circulate the report that
you are not your fathers son at all, but a
bastard born by your mother to valet
Of your fathers have had document
drawn up to that effect. The world will
point its fingers at your mother, and
your memory will be cursed. All, Mon
sieur de Precy, your brother Veronin one
day called my sister Mathilde volup-
tuous creature; now shall make every.
| body believe that your mother is q wan
ton"
At first Lucrece was perfectly dazed as
these cruel words fell upon his ears; but
suddenly an idea struck him. He looked
up to the flagstaff that was dimly rising
into the air. The top of that flagstaff
was supported by three strong wires fast
ened to blocks Of wood in the ground
below.
Knowing full we'll that Montbaisson
was in dead earnest, he conceived the per.
ilous plan to climb up the flagstaff to the
top, and then lower himself on one of the
wires supporting it to the ground.
But would the flagstaff bear his weight?
Would the wire hold him. if he should
reach the top of the flagstaff?
Would not Montbaisson hear him, and
mercilessly slaughter him!
Still, it was the only chance of escape
remaining to him, and he had to risk It.
He succeeded. But, in years long
afterward, he would tremble and turn
pale when thinking of that perilous