The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1898-11-29
CHAPTER I.
THE JUSTICE OF M. DE ROME.

L..
Mile diables! Lost again! The
devil runs in those dice!" and de Com
eron, with an impatient sweep of his
hand, scattered the little spotted cubes
on to the floor of the deserted and half
ruined hut, wherein we were beguil-
ing the WEAKNESS of our picket duty
before La Fere, with a shake OF our ell
bows, and a few hagOns OF wine, cap
tured from Monsieur the King of Ma
varre, as we, in our folly, called him
still.
I knew little Of de GomerOn, except
shat he was Of the Camargue, and had
followed the fortunes Of d Aumale from
Argues to Ivry, from Ivry to the Exile
in the Low Countries, and that he held
a commission from the duke as cap
tain in his guards. Of our personal re-
lations it is enough to say that we
hated each other, and would have
crossed swords ere now but for the
iron discipline maintained by de Rome
"a discipline the bouquet Of which l
had already scented, having escaped by
the skin of my teeth after an affair
with de Conner, who trod on my toe at
the generals Ievee. and was run
through the ribs at sunrise the next
morning.
Up to the time this occurred I had
been attached to de Rone's staff, but
after the accident to de Conner was
banished to the OutpOsts, thinking my
self lucky to escape with that.
At any rate, the outpost was under
my command. Imagine, therefore. my
disgust when l found that de Gomeron
had been detached to examine into and
report upon my charge. He did this
moreover in so offensive a manner that
I could barely restrain myself from pa
rading him on the stretch of turf be-
hind the thorn hedge that fenced in
the Enclosure to the hovel.
Our feelings towards each other be
ing as they were, it would seem odd
that we should have diced and drunk
together; but the situation was one of
armed peace; and, besides. time had
to be killed, as for the past week NJ.
de RethelOis, formerly as lively as
cricket, had kept himself close as nun
Sof Port Royal behind the walls of La
Fere, and affairs were ineffably dull.
/ was certain, however, that we should
soon break into open quarrel, and on
this night | felt a mad anger against
the man as he sat staring at me, and
it was all could do to restrain myself
from finging the lees of the wine in
my glass in his face and abiding the
result.
It was at this moment that we heard
the quick challenge of the sentry out
side, the password as sharply answered,
and the tramp of feet.
The same idea flashed through both
our minds--it must be the general, and
de GomerOn gave expression to the
thought.
''Corbleu. de Rome perhaps-the old
bat on the wing"
There followed a shutting Of feet, and
before q man could count two, Nicholas.
the sergeant of our picket, with a file
of men entered the hut, thrusting q
couple of prisoners, man and a won-
an, before them.
1.-TWO birds from La Ferc, my cap
tain," and Nicholas with a salute to de
Gomeron pointed to his prize. we
took them" he ran on, lat the ford near
the Red mill, and but for the moon they
would have gone free; spies no doubt.
The old one is VI. lie Mouchard, | swear.
There is fox in every line Of his face;
and as for madame there-so the old
4 IL L.
she Will learn to love the camp of the
Holy league" and the sergeant pushed
the lantern so that it shown full on the
sady's face. \ curious light came into
de GomerOn's eyes as he looked at her,
and she shrank back at the scrgeant's
words and action, whilst the old man
strained at the cords that bound his
wrists till the lines of the blue veins
stood out on his forehead. Madame was
unbound; but her hood had fallen back,
lCOseninG in its fall mass of chestnut
hair, and from this framework her eyes
glanced from one TO another OF us, half
in fear and hall in anger.
'Ncssieurs!" There was a tremble
in the sweet voice, and there was light
enough to see her color come and go
"Messieurs! We are no spies. 1t is
true we are from La Fere, but all that
we did was TO try and escape thence"
ITO the camp of the Bearnais-eh,
madame?" interrupted de GOmcron.
''To the camp Of the king of France"
she flashed back at him, red spot rising
on each cheek. "Messieurs." she went
on, you are gentlemen, are you not?
You Will let us GO. Surely the Holy
league wars not with women and old
men?"
The mention Of the league stirred her
companion and he gave tongue.
The Holy league!" he exclaimed
with a savage scorn. Madame, though
we sta.I delivered unto these sons OF
Belial, ! must speak, for my heay> is
full. Yea! Shall my lips be sealed be-
fore the enemies of the Lord! The Holy
league. Ha! ha! There is no Holy
league. 1t died at Iyry." Here de
Gomerop ont in with bic c1liel, ctarp