Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-08-13

trabteu IN gnnStly fashion with the We
low rays Of candles still burning in tn
sconces. The furniture had been hue
died aside or piled into barricade,
chevgux de frise Of chairs and table
stretching across the width Of tn
room, It's intertisces stuffed with, an
its weakness partly screened by, tn
torn-down hangings. Behind this fraI
defense, their backs to a door whic'
seemed to lead to an inner room, stoo
Marie and Croisette. pale and defiant
The former had long pike; the latte
leveled a heavy, bell-mounted argue
buse across the back Of chair, ant
blew up his match as entered. Bot!
had in addition swords. darted lik,
Q rabbit through little tunnel left OF
purpose for me in the rampant, and tool
my stand by them.
us all right?" calculated Croisette,
turning to me nervously.
"All right, think" answered.
was breathlem.s
you are not hurtr'
mot touched"
had just time to draw my sword be-
fore the assailants streamed into the
room. a dozen ruffians. reeking and
tattered. with flushed faces and
greedy, staring eyes. Once inride,
however. suddenly-so suddenly that
an idle spectator might have found the
change ludicrous-they came to stop.
Their wild cries ceased. and tumbling
over one another with curses and oaths
they halted, surveying us in muddled
surprise; seeing what was before
them, and not liking it. Their leader
to be tall butcher, with a
pole-ax on his half-naked shoulder;
but there were among them two or
three soldiers in the royal livery and
carrying pixies. They had looked for
victims only, having met with no re-
sistance at the gate, and the foremost
recoiled now on finding themselves
confronted by the muzzle of the
arquebuse and the lighted match.
seized the occasion. | knew, in
deed, that the pause presented our only
chance, and sprang on chair and
waived my hand for silence. The in
;tinct of obedience for the moment as
serted itself; there was a stiffness in
The room.
"Beware!" cried. loudly-as loudly
md confidently as could. considering
hat there was quavcr at my heart rs
looked on those savage faces, which
net and yet avoided my eye. BE
ware of what you do! We are Catho-
les one and all like yourselves, and
God sons OF the church. Ay. and
'ood subjects. too! vive lie roi. gen
lemenl God save the king. | say"
md | struck the barricade with my
word until the metal rang again.
God save the king"
Cry vive la Messed" shouted one.
Certainly, gentlemen" l replied,
18th politeness. with all my heart
i've la Messed vive IA Messed"
This took the butcher, who, luckily.
las still sober, utterly aback. He had
ever thought Of this. He stared at
s as il the OK he had been about to
I'll had opened its mouth and spoken,
nd, grievously at loss, he looked for
clip to his companions.
Later in the day, some Catholics
ere killed by the mob. But their
eaths as far as could be learned after
ards were due to private feuds. Save
such cases-and they were few--the
y of Vive la Messe! always obtained
least respite; more easily, of
purse, in the earlier hours of the
orning when the mob were scarce at
Use in their liberty to kill, while kill
G still seemed murder, and men were
ot yet drunk with bloodshed.
| read the hesitation of the gang in
leir faces; and when one asked rough
who we were, replied with greater
oldness: 81 am Anne de Caylus,
,phew Of the Vicomte de Caylus, gov
nor, under the king, of Bayonne and
lie Landes." This | said with what
ajesty could. sand these"--I con-
nued-"are my brothers. You will
irm us at your peril, gentlemen. The
comte, believe me, will avenge every
lr Of our heads"
l can shut my eyes now and see the
upid wols1er, the baked fcrocity Of {
ose gaping faces. Dull and savage I
the men were they were impressed; :
ey saw reason indeed; and all seemed 1
ling well for us when some one in the 8
ar shouted: Cursed whelps! {
lrow them overl"
| looked swiftly in the direction t
hence the voice came-the darkest {
rner Of the room-the corner by the 6
altered window. thought | made I
It slender figure, cloaked and !
asked--a woman's it might be, but l l
uld not be certain-and beside it
uple of sturdy fellows, who kept
art from the herd and well behind l
cir fuglemen.
ITO BE CONTINUED