Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-12-13

VS
cYRANo, THE DUELIsT.
stared dumfounded like the rest.
Through Cyrano's lips cry bad come
"a cry OF pain and joy and loneliness
and alteration for her daring. The 9th
ers merely gaped like rustics.
"The siege" said Roxane airily, as
though she spoke Of play, "the siege
is too long
De Guiche aroused himself. He re.
membersd the futtering white scarf
that had babe his foes attack this spot.
MADAME. he cried, lyon cannot
stay here!"
"Oh, but I CAM retorted Roxane,
still roseate, dimpled, daring, mistress
Of the situation. queen Of the men.
"Will not some one roll drum here!
I would sit upon it. Ah Thank you.
They fired at my carriage. Think OF
that. Good morrow. Christian. Catch
this salute / watt you from my finger
tips. Yes, fred at it. How came
through? The Spanish lines, Of course.
A difficult matter, do You think? Nay,
not at all. I told the truth-used no
diplomacy. Whenever some fierce don
would stop and demand my passport Of
me, / smiled upon him through the win
dow, and when he asked whittier |
journeyed answered truly 20 to SEQ
my lover And then not one tried TO
stay mev'
She finished proudly, simply with
look at Christian. Cyrano. watching
her, went wild. But De Guiche, with
the thought Of his order in his mind,
had no time 10 rage at lovers glances.
lyon must leave this place at once, +"
he said There is no time to lose. IL
is not safe. !"
"You are going to fiightr' she cried.
81 shall stay here.
1T is q post Of deadly danger, +" said
DE- Guiche.
"Of danger? So. sir, You would make
q widow Of me? You protest? No mat
ter. will not stir step from here.
A fight: | never saw one. Ii will be
nmrslug! And my hat! You will OBJ
serve it could not have been chosen bet.
ter to accord with u battle scene. And
YOU my lord De Guiche, were il not
wise that you retire 90 headquarters?
The attack may soon begin.
This j. unbearable'' cried his lord
ship II go, but for few minutes
only. will return
HIS depaI ture was the signal for the
widest outbreak on the part Of the
Gascons. Hair was curled, doublets
laced ruffies sinoothed. presentations
nude to the beauty and the wit Of
Paris. whom love for one Of them had
Drought so far afield.
iiad but nut to cat. y cried one
youth, II could die happy. having
looked uron her face. "
Hungry" called Roxane. "Ah, Ra-
gueneau, Ragueneaup'
And forthwith out from the carriage
sprang the ex cook. now Roxane's coach.
man. He carried food. He bore bottles.
Pasties, cold fricassees. galantine, shOnl-
ders Of mutton. ortolans, ham, truffied
peaeocks, old wine, all are seized by
| the famishing Gascons, who shout with
| joy to see the viands, and there, with
death Fastening to them, the cadets
picnicked, banqueted and made merry
| in the presence Of Roxane.
Cyrano had sought ont Christian early
in her visit.
"Be not surprised. he whispered,
"to learn that you have written oftener
than You knew. I have-I have sent
her more than you knew Of. I've writ
ten-frequently. Before dawn I've slip
ped through the lines to send them-a
mere trifle.
"How often have you written?" de-
manded Christian. "Twice week."
"Oh. oftenerP'
Daily"
"Yes; twice q day"
"And the authors JOY was so mad .
one to you that you dared death"-
"Hush!' whispered Cyrano. "Herc
she comesv'
| OnTlslIdu Wtut W hcos hso WAAV'
"Now tell me ALL" he said, "why
you have come this perilous way? Why
You have braved these dangers --onsh-
nesses!"
"You drsY me here, ahe ans"sc cd;
"your letters, love. The last one-read-
ing it, / could not bear to stay from
you. Oh, love! Do not speak. Let me
tell you all the tsle-how from the
night when, underneath my window,
you sent your soul to mine. have
sdored you. Before-I blush to own it
Il crave your pardon for it'll loved
you only for your look. But then, your
soul, your soul IL wasl And all your
letters since! Ah, / have grown alto
gether yours; this month az ] have read
NV soul was faint for love. Ah, Chris.
tian, you have triumphed over yourself
you've won me anew. l love you only
for your soul who loved .ou once but
for your beauty"
"Do not say It, hs appealed, realis.
ing what such q confession meant.
"But musti We're you ugly-hid-
eous---I still should love you utterlyp'
my God r. cried Christian, choking.
| y, seeing the whole miserable web he
bad spun for himRlf. But before Rox.
| ane could even ask the cause Of HE die.
may the cadets were providing about
their queen. Their captain hsd fastened
her little lace bandkerchief on POLE
for flag They pressed aboat her, glad
to look on her before they died. Apart
frum them. Christian, half mad with
| bitteEness, had sought Cyrapo. ".
"It's you she loves" b aid. "Shl
i kcld ma ~ ~ As ffi-t.'i- 70 , - 'fte -