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

| There is no place which is out Of
place to testify" but here de Gomeron
cut in with his quick, stern voice, BE
silent, sir! or else a gag will stop your
tongue" and then with a bow, Mad
anne, it goes to my heart to de:ain you,
but war is war, and we have no optiou.
VIII you not be seated? All that this
! poor hut affords is yours, and he bert
low again, perhaps to hide the exprCs-
sion in his eyes.
She made no effort to take the chair
he offered, but burst out passionately:
Monsieur, see you command here,
and it is to you to whom | must appeal.
Monsieur, give you my word Of honor,
we are no spies, The rules of war allow
the ransom of prisoners, and anything
you name will be paid. Monsieur, l
pray you let us CO."
Whilst she spoke my glance rested
on de Gomeron's face, and l saw that
his eyes were drinking in her beauty
! greedily, and there was look in them
that recalled to my mind the stories OF
the sack of Ham.
AS she finished her appeal Madame
turned towards the captain with ges-
ture Of entreaty; but in this movement
| she, too, saw that in his voice and man
ner, which paled her cheeks to marble,
and she made a half-irresolute step to-
wards her companion as if for protec-
ton. De Gomeron observed this. and
laughed under his heavy black nous
tache, and | felt that the strong wine
and his evil heart were moving to an
atrocious deed.
"Vertu de Dieu, Madame, but there
are some things which have no price!
And there is no ransom you could name
which would tempt Adam de Gomeron
to part with his prisoners-with 1ne
of them at any rate. You are no spy,
know; such eyes as yours were never
made to count the strength IF bateal-
ions. AS for your friend there. we have
means TO make Kim tell us all about
himself tomorrow; and you, ma mig
NOME must not bruise your tender feet
by walking through the night to the
camp of Monsieur-the King Of France.
In a day or so, perhaps" he went on
with horrible smile, but not to-
night. Come! and ne stepped up to her
Come. taste the d'Arbois-it is from
your friends and learn to love the poor
soldiers of the Holy League
Saying this he attempted to pass his
arm round her waist. but slipping from
his grasp. and her cheeks afiame, Mad
anne struck him across the face with
the back Of her hand such q stroke as
the wing Of an angry dove might give.
The rest was done in flash, and de
Gomeron reeled back with bleeding lips,
staggered back to the very end Of the
b room. where he would have fallen but
for the supr0rt of the wall 1t was in
me to foliv Nv by passing
my sword throug ING so mad was
in my fury; but lucki!j for him Mich
olas hung on my arm and saved the
villains life. He r:ghted himself at
once. and passing his hand across his
mouth. spoke to me quite coolly and
collectedly. but with livid features.
I'VE finish this outside, sir; follow
me" and picking up his rapier, which
lay on the table, where he had thrown
ii on the entrance Of the prisoners, de
Gomeron stepped out of the door In
the excitement OF the moment the men
poured after him. and I was the last to
follow. 1t came to me like lightning
that the prisoners were unguarded, and
Slipping my dagger from its sheath,
thrust its haft into Madame's hand,
and saw that she understood from the
thanks from her eyes. AS | went out
heard the voice of the Huguenot:
They shall die as they have lived
by the edge of the sword; and the Lord
shall confound His enemies.'
II was but a st0ne-throw to the
stretch of green, which extended as
level as a tennis-court for a hundred
PAGES or so. and then sloped gently
downward towards the junction Of the
Serre and the Disc Beyond rose the
walls of La Fere. whose grey outlines
liz m here and there by the flare OF
lamp Of fire. were clearly visible in
the bright moonlight. So clear was
this light that I could distinctly make
ont the blue flowers of the patch OF
borage. which lay between the hut and
the thorn hedge, beyond which de Com
eron was awaiting me. When | came
nm found him standing with his back
70 the moon. He had thrown of his
doubIet and was in his shirt sleeves,
which were rolled up to his elbows
and Nicholas and the men stood little
on one side. utterly forgetful Of the
nrisoners. and eager as bloodhounds
TO witness the coming fight. 1t took
but a half minute to make myself ready,
and borrowing a poniard from Nicho-
to help me to parry, for de Com
/ elon held one in his left hand, ana
was determined to give him no further
advaptage-he already had the light