The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1899-10-17

INTO my shoulder Dc1C ana held on DraVely,
put | saw by her white face and the blue
coming into her lips that this could not last,
and If she tainted there was an end of ALL
at the outside it was matter of few
minutes now, one way or the other; but as
/ came to the crest of another ravine l stw'
before me a steep bank leading down to
small stream that was swishing along in a
white flood and on the opposite shore a
| sight that made my heart leap, for drawn up
in array, evidently reused by the sound OF
the Shots was strong body of men at arms
and over them fluttered the pennon of
| Hardwood, a red hand on a white field l
| knew in a moment we were within the
| kings outposts.
''Saved!' | shouted in my joy. Saved"
and risking all | made the horse fly the
| last ravine, and the next instant we had slid
down the bank, and the white water was
churning round Castor as he dashed into the
| stream
A puff of smoke above US, a flash as of
| lightning, a deafening roar, and one of No
varro's nine-pounders belched out a storm
of grape that Missed over our heads in the
direction Of our pursuers, and stopped them,
beaten and baff1ed. One effort more, we
were out of the stream, up the bank, and
painting, breathless and still bleeding, with
my companion in dead faint in my arms,
Ielned Ia Castor. In moment we were sur
rounded, but the faces were kindly, and, dis
mounting slowly, | placed my lifeless bur-
Gen on a heap of cloa6s that were flung to
the earth for her, and then, turning round,
saw Hardwood before me. 1t was the first
time we had met since the affair at ArezZo,
when l was cast forth a dishonored man. |
did not know how to greet him, and there
| int IN, 60, I h.
knew me, and was, like myself at loss for
speech. l had, however, to take the matter
in my hand.
'Signore," I said, accept my thanks.
This lady is the Countess Angola Castel-
lani, a ward of the Florentine secretary.
whom | have brought off from Perugia, and
have to take to the convent Of st. Jerome
He tugged at his tawny mustache.
| Il have merely carried out orders-yOu
| have nothing to thank me for, signore My
instructions were to prevent any of Bagli-
Oni's men crossing the Sanguinetta and to
protect all fugitives from the territories OF
the Borgia."
1 bowed and added, with pain in M
tone | could not conceal, for this man was
once my friend:
''All the same, l thank you, signore; |
have, however, four followers"
Il can do nothing for them if they are on
the other bank" he interrupted, and went
on: 'St. Jerome is not half league from
here. My men will make up litter, and
help to bear the lady there. 1t Will be
easier for her. | wish you good day" He
turned on his heel and gave some orders TO
his men IN English, language | do not
know, leaving me standing by the body of
Angola. All the misery of the past came
| lDoo -, 4orh +boc
be wiped out? All the kindness | had re-
ceived from Bayard and the cardinal, all the
efforts made by those who believed in me,
seemed to be swept away as dust in the
wind Almost did | feel that | would ac-
cept the ban cast on me and turn wolf Iii
earnest. IT cost me much to restrain myself
| from drawing on Hardwood, but glance
at the still pale face before me recalled me
TO my duty. A man very kindly brought me
a little wine; | knelt down and forced some
of it between her blue lips. In short time
she revived, some color came into her cheeks
and she attempted to rise, with look of
fear on her face at the number of armed
men she saw around her.
There is nothing to fear madam / said,
to reassure her, you are safe, and in an hour
will be at st. Jerome-a litter is being made
ready for you"
Without word she held out her hand,
and thanked me with this and the look in
her eyes,
The litter was now ready, half a dozen
men volunteered their services, and, placing
her therein, we started for the convent. Ere
we had gone half pile we heard shouts be-
hind US, and wac more than glad to see
JacopO and my mea riding up.
-'How did you gel off," l asked, as they
came up.
"In the rear of tie troop from NIagione,
excelency," was Jaropo's reply; they did
not observe us, having eyes only for you;
and seeing you were safe we fOrded the
stream lower down and crossed-but, ex-
ceHency, your face-are you hurt?"
Somewhat, but at St. jerome | will have
it attended to-
In truth, the left side of my face appeared
to be laid open, and, although | felt that
the wound was not so dangerous as it
seemed, yet had bled freely, and now that
the excitement was over began to suffer
much pain. Indeed, at times | felt as if |
could hardly hold myself straight in the sad
die, succeeding IN doing so only by an effort
of will. | did not approach the litter. | was
afraid that the sight of my face would alarm
Angola, for now she was probably able to
look about her, and see that which she had
not been able to observe before. Once, how
ever, in bend of the road that fortunately
went to the left and hid my wounded side
our eyes met, and l caught so bright smile
of thanks that it paid me for my hurt. |
refined III, for l knew my face showed too
much, and henceforth kept well behind.
sent Clan on to the convent with the good
news of Angiola's rescue, and on nearing
the gates was met by St. Armande and the
rest of my followers, whom [ was glad in
deed to see.
He came up with merry greeting. "Wel-
come" he cried: 80, gallant knight, you
have saved the damsel in DISTRESS" then,
catching sight of my wounded face, his tone
changed. Good G.! you are hurt"
"a little"
"You should have seen to it at once
conceive are not allowed to enter the con-
vent; but the abbess has done all she can
for US, and we camp or lodge, whichever
way you put it, in that house THERE" he