Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-09-10

eral minutes followed; and then the
gates rolled slowly open, and two BY
two we passed under the arch. Those
gates might have belonged 10 fortress
or a prison, dungeon or palace, for
all knew.
They led, however, to none Of these,
but to an open space, dirty and Uttered
with rubbish, marked by hundred
ruts and tracks, and fringed with dis
orderly cabins and makeshift booths.
And beyond this-oh, We godsl the joy
Of it-beyond this, which we crossed at
q rapid trot, lay the open countryl
The transition and relief were 10 won.
derful that shall never forget them.
l gazed on the wide landscape before
me, lying quiet and peaceful in the
sunlight, and could scarce believe in
my happiness. drew the fresh air
into my lungs l threw up my sheathed
sword and caught it again in o frenzy
Of delight, while the gloomy men about
the smiled at my enthusiasm. felt
the horse beneath me move once more
like thing Of life. No enchanter with
his wand, not Merlin nor Virgil, could
have made greater change in my
world than had the captain Of the gate
with his simple keyl Or so it seemed
to me in the first moments Of freedom,
and escape-of removal from those
loathsome streets.
looked back at Paris-at the cloud
Of smoke which hung over the towers
and roofs; and it seemed to me the
canopy Of hell itself. Ifancied that my
head still rang with the cries and
screams and curses, the sounds Of death.
In very fact, ! could hear the dull re-
ports Of firearms near the Louvre, and
the jingle Of the bells. Country folk
were congregated at the crossroads,
and in the villages, listening and gaz-
ing; asking timid questions Of the
more good-natured among us, and
showing that the rumor Of the dread
full work doing in the town had some
how spread abroad. And this though
| learned afterwards that the keys OF
the city had been taken the night be-
fore to the king, and that, except q
party with the duke Of Guise. who had
left At eight in pursuit of Montgomery
and some Of the observation-disclosures,
happily for themselves, in the Eau
bourg St. Germain-no one had left
the town before ourselves.
While | am speaking OF our departure
from Paris, may say what ! have to say
Of the dreadful excuses Of those days.
ay. and Of the following days; excuses
Of which France is NOW ashamed. and
for which she blushed even before the
accession Of his late majesty. am
sometimes asked, as one who witnessed
them, what | think, and answer that
1t was not our country that was 10
blame. A something besides Queen
Catherine de Medici had been brought
from Italy 40 years before, a something
invisible but very powerful; a spirit OF
cruelty and treachery. In italy II had
done some small harm, But grated on
French daring and recklessness, andt the
rougher and more soidierly manners Of
the north, this spirit Of intrigue proved
capable Of very dreadful things. For a
time. until it wore itself out, it was the
curse Of France. Two dukes Of Guse.
Francis and Henry; cardinal Of Guise.
the prince OF Condo. Admiral CcIigny.
King Henry III.-all Of these the fore
most men Of their day-died by assas-
sination within little more than quar-
ter Of century, to say nothing Of the
prince Of Orange and King Henry the
Great.
Then mark--a most curious thing
the extreme youth of those who were
in the business, France, subject to the
queen-mother, Of course, was ruled at
the time by boys scarce out of their
tutors hands. They were mere lads,
hot-bbooled, reckless mobiles, ready for
any wild brawl, without forethought
Or prudence. OF the four Frenchmen
who il Is thought took the leading
parts, one, the king, was 22; monsieur,
his brother, was only 20; the duke Of
Guise was q. Only Marshal de Tavan-
mes was Of mature age. For the other
for the queen-mother,
for her advisers Retz and Nevers and
Birague, they were Italians; and Italy [
may answer for them if Florence, Man. !
tua and Milan care to raise the glove. !
To return to our journey. A league |
from the town we halted at lhrge inn,
md some of us dismounted. Horses
were brought out to fill the places Of
those lost or left behind, and Bure had
food served to u.s. We were famished
md exhausted, and ate ravenously, as
Il we could never have enough.
The vidame sat his horse apart, served
by his page. l stole glance at him,
and it struck me that even on his iron
nature the events OF the night had
made some impression. ] read, or
thought l read, in his countenance,
signs of emotions not quite in accord
,nce with what l knew Of him-emo-
lions strange and varied. could a.
most have sworn that as he looked at
US flicker Of kindness lit up his stern
md cruel gloom; could almost have
sworn he smiledwith curious sadness.
As for Louis riding with squad who
stood in different part Of the yard, I
ne did not see us; had not yet seen us
II Il l. A.. 4,,-~.s.l krxr rJo |