Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-01-12
CHAPTER VI.

WEDDING IN RED.
When tho countess had climbed again to
Count Baliwin,s bedchnmber, no onu was
there. Nor, thigh she waited, listening
confidently, did any sound OF coming foot
steps reach her Tho wind wailiDg round
tho tower and tho doadGned tunult Of the
sack were NIL she heard.
In little while she grew too anxious
for waiting, and must go farther in her
quest. The lantern was set down, the
groaning 1ro bnck shut, and soon she was
stcAlthily descending tho stairs, listening
at every step.
Before she had quito reached the bottom
ST.. was aware Of Pierre's shuninR tread.
Then, Ia great roar OF tho wind, she lost
1t ngain. and when tho suuall had passed
the air was full of tho tramp OF feet and q
tumult that frozo her where she stood.
There was cry, q dull thud upon the
stones, md then they were upon hor--
faces Of men and OF wild women, that
whoopcd like hunters who have found
their game. Each wrist was soiEcd In a
painful grip; out Of the tower md Bcross
the little court sho wns hurried, and all
she knew In tho din Of tho screaming was
that in tho way sho had had to step over
the lifcloss form Of Pierre.
Tho count was already Mt rest when they
end at luast she was spared. Furochol was
standing In tho midst with the nI red in
his hand, and somc OF them were ready to
draw aside the body,
"Holdr he cried to these whom no saw
her. Leave him there, cltizcnsl IT'S u
revolution wedding. The bridegroom must
not be away"
Tho crowd laughed at tho Jest, but for
her II held so much OF earnest that tho
fear Of death passed away. A calm fell up
on her that was au awful thing to sec, for
sho went upon her knees In tho sawdust
rs scronoly rs indeed she knclt for u Sec
ond wedding, and there was silencc.
Friend, she said us she made ready to
stoop her head upon the block, "dost know
thy trader / would not have my wedding
mnrred."
twas clear that tho strange citation was
upon her that had ONE almost to DO look
cd for whore the arlstocrats wero dying in
their uDbroken pride.
"'Tls not tho first" said faroohol n
british admiration showing plainly
through his ferocty ns Ito stared, MY
trndn is u bloody TRADE, and I'm no jour
ncyman."
"Goodr' she answered, with tho flicker
Of q smile "Elcayon send your bite as
sharp as your bark, "
Hear her Hear herl' he cried nfter
lecring at her till no understood Fore
God, It's n pity to spoil aweuch like that "
He threw down tho nix on tho floor,
plainly mach excited, but tho pooplo rails
cd howl OF protest,
I "No, moi" they yelled. Tho wcddingi
The weddlng Wo will have our reyolu.
ton wedding"
why, so you SHALL" he answered,
shouting them with all his forcu into u
half subducd murmur, "You shall have
your wedding, citizens, In a new sort
will he tho bridegroom" But they would
! not 10 content, and the murnur gathered
again into monacing uproar I'LL all was
In storm, which Knocked tho raging OF
( tho wind outside
| And no stood In q mighty passion, bat
Ting with thu thirst Of the crowd. md
strniniDg his savage power OF tomination
to point That WAS terrible to sce,
Still they wlthstool him, AMI ho grew
desperate and stubborn In his purpose
bowling back at them taunts and threats
and ribald icsting In u Rnbelaisian aood,
rs he stroyc, all alamo for her who knelt
In tho sawdust and closed hor cars.
| So tho strife continued for space past
all belief till he forced u laugh from some
ono near him 1t whs like drop Of poison
to tho half beaten throng, numbing their
| purpose rs itsprcad And yet thuy would
not yield him all, but at lust 1t must DO
loft to her to make choice between him
and death,
| He drew her hands from her ears and
asked her which u was TO he, In mo
! mcnt she had sprung to hor feet AWAY
from him-lushed Indignant, loathing
She did not even answer, but making as
II she spnt on him knult down again and
laid hor head on the block.
There was ieering from the farther part
Of the hall at his discontinue; half heart.
ed jecring, that those nearest him thought
best to leave alone, for his dir was ugly
when ho picked up tho M, and yet he new
err lifted II.
Sho Ind raised hor hoad again and was
oh her knees, staring up at him In sort
of helpless horror her hands passing dis.
trnctedly over her temples
II was then she must have remembered
Aymon and Luoilo In the caohot. Shu hud
closed tho doors upon them. They did NOT
know tho secret Of opening them from tho
inside. Pierre had been struck down, and
no one but herself was aware OF tho chill
dron's hiding place. Her life was not hers
to throw away.
~ Ind forgot, " sho murmurcd.
| "Whnt" said he with brutal laugh.
DO YOU repent so soons Wouldst have me
| nowy"
shc nodded to him quickly and covered
her face with her hands, thinking tho If.
| fort was at an end
That is very WELL" no answered, with
rullcd dignity, "but It's too lato now
You chose the other, and we will have tho
wedding us you chose"
So now she must plead with him, beg.
ging Lin 10 take hor for his wife, and tho
crowd laughed at tho comedy
llnt ho wns obdurnte. His DOORS pride
was In raw with the jecring and smart.
ed. He called to them Ravagely to bind
her, and then, they say, Il was Ike some
outlandish play 10 SEQ how she changed
her note, for she fell to wooing him with
such pretty wantonness that the people,
being seized with tho humor, cried sp-
plruse 20 them and clapped their hands as
II they had boon two players in booth.
and at last boisterous shout OF "To tho
mayorl" that there was no Quiotlna made
an aud nj IL ALL -