Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-03-11

IF they see US in the room," he urged,
softly, while they are half in and half
out, they will give the alarm. Let US
hide ourselves yonder. When they are
inside-you understands
He laid his hand on his dagger. The
muscles of the lads face grew tense. L
did understand him. Madame" 1
said quickly, you will not betray us?''
She shook her head. The color re-
turned to her cheek and the brightness
to her eyes. She was true woman
The sense that she was protecting
others deprived her of fear for herself
The footsteps were on the topmost
stair now, and key was thrust with a
rasping sound into the lock. But be-
fore it could be turned-it fortunate
ly fitted live three had jsmped on
the bed and were crouching in Il row at
the head of it. where the curtains of
the alcove concealed, and only just con-
cealed, us from anyone standing at the
end of the room near the door.
I was the outermost, and through
a chink could see what passed. One,
two, three people came in, and the
door was closed behind them. Three
people, and one of them womanl NY
heart-which had been in my mouth
returned to its place, for the vidane
was not one. I breathed freely; only
I dared not communicate my relief
to the others, lest my voice should be
heard. The first to come in was the
woman, closely cloaked and hooded.
Nine. de Pavannes cast on her single
doubtful glance, and then to my aston
ishment, threw herself into her arms,
mingling her sobs with little joyous
cries of 'Oh, Diane! oh Diane!"
'tNfy poor little one!" the newcomer
exclaimed, soothing her with tender
touches on hair and shoulder. "You are
safe now. Quite safe!''
"You have come to take me away?''
"Of course we have!" Diane answered
cheerfully, still caressing her. I'VE
come to take you to your husband.
He has been searching for you every
where. He is distracted with grief,
little one.''
'Poor Louis!" calculated the wife.
''Poor Louis, indeed" the rescuer an
swered. ''But you will see him soon.
We only learned at midnight where
you were. You have to thank NJ. lie
Coadjuteur here for that. He brought
me the news, and at once escorted me
here to fetch you"
''And to restore one sister to an
other,'' said the priest silkily, as he adj
vanced a step. He was the very same
priest whom I had seen two hours be-
fore with Beers, and had so greatly
cisliked. 1 hated his pale face as much
now as L had then. Even the errand
of good on which he had come could not
blind me to his thin-ipped mouth, to
his mock humility and crafty eyes.
81 have had no task so pleasant for
many days. added he, with every APP
pearance of desire to propitiate.
But, seemingly, Nine. de Pavannes
had something of the same feeling
towards him which I had myself; for
she started at the sound Of his voice,
and disengaging herself from her sis
ter's arms-it seemed it was her sister
-shrank back from the pair. She bowed
indeed in acknowledgment of his word,
but there was little gratitude in the
movement, and less warmth. I saw the
sisters face-a brilliantly beautiful
face it was-brighter eyes and lips
and more lovely auburn hair have
never seen-even Kit would have been
plain and dowdy beside her-I saw
it harden strangely. A moment before
the two had been in one another's
arms. Now they stood apart, somehow