Evening star., 1896-03-07
Au1Hop y HGfnTLEfNn~ FRANCE

~ SegssG&a NMe CsS Ss0S
ITO the Chatalet with him!' he cried, spit
ting out tooth, and glaring at me through
the mud on his face. He shall swing for
this! He tried to break in! I call you to
witness he tried to break in!
LAY, to the Chatalet! To the Chatalet!'
cried the crowd, siding with the stronger
party. He was my lord Of Beauvais' stew
ard; was guttersnipe and dangerous. A
dozen hands held me tightly, yet not SO
tightly but that coach passing at that
moment and driving us all to the WALL
managed by a jerk-I was desperate by
this time, and fierce as wildcat, to snatch
myself loose, and in a second as speeding
down st. Antoine with the hue and cry
behind me-
I have said I was desperate. In an hour
the world was changed for me. In an hour
1 had broken with every tradition of safe
and modest life: and from a sleek scribe
become ragged outlaw flying through the
streets. I saw the gallows, I felt already
the lash sink like molten lead into the
qulvei1ng back; l forgot all the danger ]
lived only on my feet. and with them
made superhuman efforts. Fortunately the
light was falling, and in the first dash !
diStanced the pack by a dozen yards.
had no plan now-only terror added
wings to my feet; and the end of that
street gained, I dared blindly down another
and vet another, with straining chest and
legs that began to fail, and always in my
ears the yells that arose around me as fresh
pursuers Joined in the chase. Still 1 kept
ahead. I was even gaining; another turn,
ard' with night thickening. 1 might hope
to escape If could battle those who. from
time to time,-but in a half-hearted way,
not knowing if were armed-tried to stop
me or trip me up.
Suddenly turning a corner, I had gained
quiet part where blind walls lined the
alleys found a man running before me
At the same instant the posse in pursuit
quickened their pace in last effort; l in
answer put forth my last strength, and in
a dozen PAGES l came up with the man.
He turned to me, our eyes met desperate
myself, read equal terror in his, but be-
fore l could reason on the fact, he bent
himself forward he ran, and with a
sing movement flung parcel he car
ried INTO my arms, and. wheeling abruptly
plunged inc an alley on his left.
PART II.
1t was done in moment Instinctively
1 caught the burden, and held It, but the
impetus with which he had thrown 1t sent
me reeling to the right, and the lane being
could steady myself AS luck would have
1t, however, that which should have de-
stroEed ME was my salvation I happened
to hit the wall where doorway broke it,
the door, lightly latched, flew open under
the impact, and fell inwards. 1 alighted
In darkness on my hands and knees, heard
a stif1ed yelp as of a dog, and in q second,
though could see nothing, was up and had
Then, and not till then, listened pant
Ing and breathless, and heard the hunt go
raving through the lane, and the noise die
In the distance, until only the beating of
my heart broke the close silence of the
room in which l stood. When this had
lasted a minute or two, / began to peer
about and wonder where 1 was. and re-
nlembering the dog, moved steaithily to
nnd the latch and escape. AS I did so the
bundle, to which through all I had cluns.
moved in my arms.
1 almost dropped 1t: and then held it
from me with a swift movement of re-
Iulsion. 1t stirred again: it was warm In
an instant the truth flashed on me. 1t was
a childi
Hot as had been before the sweat rose
on me at the thought. For 1 saw again the
mans face of livid terror, and guessed that
he had stolen the child, and l feared the
worst. He had taken the rabble hooting at
my heels for the avengers of blood, and
had been only too thankful to rid himself
of the damning fact, and escape!
And now 1 had it. and had as much, or
moee. to fear. For an instant the impulse
to lay the parcel down. and glide out, and
SO be clear of it, was strong upon me- And
that 1 think is what the ordinary man
however brave, would have done. But for
one thing, l was desperate. 1 knew not,
when outside, whittier to go or where to
save myself; and for another INV clerks
wits We're already busy showing me how
with luck, 1 might use the occasion and
avoid the risk, might discover the parents
and, without suffering for the theft, re-
store the child. Beyond that 1 saw vista
of pardon, employment and reward!
Suddenly the dog whined again. close to
NE, and that decided me. l had found the
latch already, and now 1 warily drew the
door open and in moment was in the
lane, looking up and down. / saw nothing
to alarm me; darkness had completely fall
en- no one was moving, the neighborhood
seemed to be of the quietest. / made up
my mind to take the bold course. To re-
a a h.y To fni,
my father-in-law at the gate of the Palais
Royal-where he had the night turn-and
throw the child and myself on his protec-
ton.
Without doubt. it was the wisest course
l could choose; and as in those days the
streets of Paris, even in the district of the
Louvre and Palais Royal, We're ill lighted,
and network of lanes and dark courts
encroached on the most fashionable parts,
and favored secret access to them, l fore
saw no great difficulty, short of the mo-
ment when l might stand out in the lighted
lodge and exhibit my rags. But my evil
star was still above the horizon. 1 had