The Holly chieftain., 1899-04-14
head for his wedding, and he chuckled

good-by, and with last grip of the
hand, and a last warning to hasten 10
Mourmeton, Belin turned towards the
Louvre, whilst | went on towards the
Tuileries, keeping the northern road and
not the more frequented street along
the river face.
There was n strong moon, and the
night was as clear as crystal. One side
of the street was in shadow, illuminated
here and there by the dim light OF
few lanterns set high up in inches IN
the old and mass-grown walls of the
buildings. The houses here were old
even for this part of Paris, and with
theirsloping roofs and many gables rose
in irregular outlines on either side
outlines, however so softcned by the
moonlight, in which they seemed to
culver, that it was as if some fantas-
tic creation of fairyland had been set
down here-a phantom city that would
melt into nothingness with the warm
rays of the morning sun.
Away in the distance it still occurred
as II could hear the hum of the city
behind me, but here it was quiet and
still, and the iron-shod hoofs of Cou-
rome rang out with n strange clear
ness into the night.
/ had now come TO the gardens OF
the Tuileries, and putting Couronne Mt
the wall which was just being raised
around them found myself within Il
quarter mile of cur place of meeting.
The turf was soft and level here, and
| let Couronne go at a half gallop, keep
ing the chequered shade of the huge
trees, which whispered strange things
to each other in the breeze. At this
moment it seemed as if ! heard the
smothered neigh of a horse. knew
the sound well, for often had my old
Norman tried to serve me in this way
through the scarf by which his jaws
were bound together when we lay in
ambuscade. With a touch of my hand
stayed my beast and stopped to listen.
end of which stood the great lime trees.
| could see nothing but the ghostly
line of trunks lit up here by the moon,
there standing out black against the
night, or fading away into lacework
of leaves and branches, and the sullen
creaking of the boughs overhead. 1T
must be her horse or Palms" l said
aloud to myself; and then, the compline
came to me clear and sweet from the
spire of St. German.
l lifted my hat for an instant with a
silent prayer to God for help, and then
shook up Couronne. Ere the last notes
of the bells had gone l was under the
lines. At first l could see nothing;
there was no one there, and my heart
grew cold at the thought that some dan
ger had overtaken my dear one.
"Madame!" / called out. 1T is /
d'Auriac."
Then figure in gray mantle stepped
out from the shadow of the trees, and
sprang from the saddle and held out my
hand.
Il knew it was you, chevalier," she
said, but wanted to make certain and
waited until you spoke"
II hope l have not kept you waiting?"
Indeed no, l had but just come across
from the Louvre when you arrived
Then you did not come riding?'
How could 1? / have been in the
Louvre, and am expected to be at the
coucher of Nine. Catherine in half
hour" and she laughed slightly. The
thought of that smothcred neigh flashed
through my mind like lightning. ave
must trust ourselves to Couronne,"
said. palm will be at the Porte St.
Denis. There is no time TO waste
come"
Then it seemed that she hesitated, and
flinging back her hood looked me full IN
the face. In the moonlight | saw her,
white as marble, and she suddenly put
out both her hands, saying:
Il trust you utterly, d'Auriac."
Man is not made of stone; and loved
this woman as my life. There was that
in her voice, in TIE pitiful appeal OF its
tones, that broke down all my false
pride. / cannot say how it happened,
but in n moment my arm was round her
waist, and | drew her toward me-she
nothing resisting.
So for time we stood in silence,
and then l kissed her.
"Come, DEAR ] said; "and with the
morning we shall be safe"
OF her own accord she put her arms
about my neck and pressed her lips to
mine, and then | lifted my darling to
Couronne's saddle bow.
Had l but taken de Belin's offer-if
Jacques were but with me thenl
My foot was in the stirrup, my hand
ON the reins, when there was sudden
flash, loud report and my poor horse
fell forward, floundering in the agony Of
death.
just managed to snatch Claude from
the saddle and staggered back. and then
with rush half dozen men were on
us. They were masked to a man. and
made their attack in perfect silence;
but as my sword flashed out of my
scabbard | recognized the tall figure of
the capuchin and thrust at him fierce
ly, with Il curse at my folly in coming
alone.
Things like these take n short time in
doing, and should take shorter time in
telling. l ran one man through the
heart, and with gasp he fell forward
and twisted himself like a snake round
my blade. Then some one flung n cloak
over my head, was overborne by num-
bers and thrown. Two or three men
held me down; there was an iron grip at
my throat, and q mans knee pressed
heavily on my chest. I made frantic
effort to free myself; the covering
sliDped from nv face md snxy a. ,va