Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-04-15

our Louis, or escaping ourselves, Win
them. United we should be four good
swords, and might at least protect
Nine. de Pavannes to, place of safety,
if no opportunity of succoring Louis
would present itself. We had too, the
dukes ring, and this might be of serv-
ice at pinch NO urged, '1et us
get together We two will slip in at
the front gate and bolt and bar it, and
then we will all escape in body at
the back, while they are forcing the
gateway"
There is no door at the back" he
answered, shaking his head.
There are windows"
'They are too strongly barred. We
could not break out in time" he eX-
planned with a groan..
l paused at that, crestfallen. But
danger quickened my wits. In a mo-
ment had another plan, not so hope
tul and more dangerous, yet worth
trying, I thought. I told him of
it, and he agreed to it. AS he
nodded assent we merged into a
street, and I SAVIOR the gray light
of morning was beginning to penetrate
between the houses-that we were only
4 few yards from the gateway, and the
small door by which 1 had seen my
brothers enter. Were they still in the
house? Were they safe? I had been
away an hour at least.
Anxious as I was about them looked
around me very keenly as we fitted
across the road and knocked gently at
the door. / thought it so likely that
we should be fallen upon here, that 1
stood on my guard while we waited
but we were not molested. The street.
being at some distance from the center
If the commotion, was still and empty
with no signs of life apparent, except
the rows of heads poked through the
windows-au posses sing eyes which
watched us heedfully and in per
feet silence. Yes, the street was quite
| empty; except, ah! except, for that
lurking figure, which, even as 1 spied it,
shot around distant angle of the wall
and was lost to sight!
''There!" 1 cried, reckless now who
might hear me, knock! knock louder!
never mind the noise. The alarm is
given. score of people-are watching
us, and yonder spy has gone off to sum-
mon his friends
The truth was my anger was rising.
L could bear no longer the silent re-
CARDS of all those eyes at the windows.
l writhed under them-crul, pitiless
| eyes they were. [ read in them d NOR
| bid curiosity, patient anticipation
| that drove me wild. Those men and
women gazing on us so stonily knew
my companions rank and faith. They
had watched him riding in and out
daily, one of the sights of their street,
| gay and gallant; and now with the same
eyes they were watching greedily for
| the butchers to come. The very chill
dren took a fresh interest in him, as
one doomed and dying; and waited
painting for the show to begin. So |
read them.
knock" 1 repeated, angrily, losing
all patience. Had I been foolish in
bringing him back to this part of the
town where every soul knew him
KNOCK; we must get in, whether or
no. They cannot all have left the
| housed"
| L kicked the door desperately, and my
relief was great when it opened. a
servant with a pale face stood before
me. his knees visibly shaking. And
behind him was Croisette.
| I think we fell straightway into one
another's arms.
"And Marie" I cried. 'Marie?"
Marie is within, and madame" he
answered, joyfully; 1--WE are together
again and nothing matters. But oh
Anne. where have you been? And what
is the matter? Is it great fire? Or
is the king dead? Or what is it?''
l told him. 1 hastily poured out some
of the things which had happened to
me, and some which feared were in
store for others. Naturally he was
surprised and shocked by the latter
though his fears had already been
aroused. But his joy and relief, when
he heard the mystery of Louis de Pa
vannes' marriage explained, were sc
great that they swallowed up all other
feelings. He could not say enough
about it. He pictured Louis again and
again as Kits lover, as our old friend
our companion; as true, stanch, brave
without fear, without reproach; and
it was long before his eyes ceased te
| sparkle, his tongue to run merrily, the
color to mantle in his cheeks-lone
that is as time is counted by minutes
But presently the remembrance OF
Louis danger and our own position re
turned more wildly. Our plan fol
reSculnS MIN nad 1a1led-1alleu.
mo! mol" cried Croisette, stoutly
He would not hear of it. He would no
have it at any price. mo, we will no.
give up hope! We will go shoulder t.
shoulder and find him. Louis is a:
brave as lion and as quick as u wea
sci. We viii find him in time yet. We
will go whenI mean as soon as"
He faltered and paused. His suddeI
silence, as he looked around the empt,
:orecourt in which we stood was elo
quent. The cold light, faint and un
certain yet, was stealing in the court