Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-06-27

81 do not see the prisoners" said de
Rome, quietly.
1t was not likely, thought to my
self. They were gone-not a doubt of
that On the floor, near my feet, were
some cut cords, and, LYING on them,
a knot of white and black ribbon, that
had fallen there as if by chance. had
seen it last at the shoulder of Madame's
dress, and something told me it was not
there by accident. There was. at any
rate, no hope Coy we fgom the prjsoUers,
but a sudden impulse / could not I'M
derstand, nor, indeed. did try to, urged
me to get the knot Of ribbon, so, stoop-
ing low, picked up the bow and the
cut cords, and, with careless move
ment, flung the latter on the table, say
ing quietly: They have escaped, Your
EXcellency."
"And with them your explanation,
NJ. d'Auriac. Ell? Corbleu, But the
camp-mMshal will have his hands full
tomorrow" and Nicholas halberd ell
but fell from his hands as the Gener-
ais eye rested on him. | had nothing
to say: and de Rome went On. IN.
de Gomeron, you have given me rea-
son for your conduct that will hold good
this once. Further orders will reach
you at daylight about your neglect Of
your prisoners AS for you" and he
turned on me with the sharp COM
mand: Follow me! You-knaves,
fetch me my horse-he is tehered to
the clump Of elms to the right there"
Two men vanished from the door to
do his bidding, and ] adjusted my at
tire as well as | might, taking the OPP
portunity to secrete the knot of rib
bon. In a minute or so we heard the
sound of horses hoofs, and as we went
out. I saw there were two beasts at
the door. and. from the whinny Of well
com that came to me, that one was
mine. and Nicholas was at his head.
AS I sprang into the saddle the good
fellow leaned forward and whispered:
make a dash for it, Chevalier, and
change the flag"
I shook my head and followed de
Rome, who had already moved few
PAGES EDWARDS. And yet, az | rode on,
Nicholas words came back to me with
an insistent force 1t was not possible
for me to expect any other issue than
the worst. after what had happened.
Nv big Norman horse was fleet and
strong: but a turn of my wrist touch
Of my spur, and we should be hundred
wards away before de Rome could realize
what had happened; and then the road
was clear to the banks Of the Lelle,
where the King was himself; yes, the
King. He was that to me, in my heart,
although loyalty to my family and us
chiefs had made me throw in my lot
with the little band Of exiles who re-
NAMED true to the dead legend OF the
League. and preferred to eat the bread
of Spain rather than accept the great
Frenchman who had fought his way
n his birthright. Even now, whispers
wore stirring the air that the end was
coming: that the Archduke was SICK OF
the war; that d'Aumale pined for his
stately park of Anet; that Mayenne had
practically submitted, and the Guisard
was himself unsteady. # 50, why
should not I. Alban de Breuil, whose
crows nest of Auriac was half in ru-
ms. and who reckoned an income OF
q bare two hundred pistoles, see the
error of my ways as well? Behind me
was safety. In front. between the nod
ding ears of my horse, there dangled
2 vision of a rope with moose at the
end of It: and I q noblel
It was now midnight, and we distinct
" heard the bells of Ste. Genev'oYe
ringing the Sexts. They came TO me
with a refrain of Turn and ride, Turn
and ride" Mordieu. but I was sorely
tempted