The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1899-04-27
head for his wedding" and he chuckled

baCS the way we came. III was NJ the |
Magasins that we wished each other |
goot-by. and with last grip Of the |
hand, and a last warning to hasten to |
Mourmeton, Belin turned towards the |
Louvre, whilst l went on towards the |
Tuilcries, keeping the northern rond 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, aud with
their sloping roofs and many gables rose
in irregular outlines on either side
outlines, however, so softcncd by the
moonlight. in which they seemed TO
culver. that II was as If some fantas-
tic creation Of fairyland had been set
down herc--a phantom city that would
melt into nothingncss with the warm
rays of the morning sun.
Away in the distance II still occurred
MS " | could hear the fun, of the city
behind me. but here u 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 Tuilcries, and putting Couronne at
the wall which was just being raised
around them found myself within u
quarter mile of cur place of meeting.
| The turf was soft and level here, and
| | let Couronne go at half gallop, keep
| ing the chcqucrcd shade of the huge
trees. which whispered strange things
| to each other in the breeze. At this
moment IL seemed rs II heard the
smothcred neigh OF n 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
nmbuscade. With touch of my hand
I stayed my beast and stopped To listen.
Ecyond me stretched the avenue, At the
end of which stood the great lime trees
I could see nothing but the ghostly
line of trunks lii up here by the moon,
there standing out black against the
night. or fading away into lacework
of leaves and branches, and the sullen
crcaking of the boughs overhead. ut
must he her horse or Palms" j said
aloud to myself; and then, the compline
came To me clear and sweet from the
spirc of ST. Germain.
lifted my hat for an instant with n
silent prayer to God for help, and then
shook up Couronne. Ere the last notes
Of the bells had gone was under the
lines. At first | could see nothing;
there was no one there. and my heart
grew cold nj the thought that some dan
ger had oyertakcn my dear one.
"Madamc." called out. 1T is /
d'Auriac."
Then figure in gray mantle stepped
out from the shadow of the trees, and
sprnng from the saddle and held out my
hand.
IL knew II was you, chevalicr.' she
said. but wanted to make certain and
waited until you spokc.'
Il hope have not kept you voting"
Indeed no, | had but just come across
from the Louvre when you arrived
Then you did not come riding?"
"Iiow could /? I have been In the
couchcr of Nine. Catherine In a half
hour" and she laughed slightly. The
thought Of that smothe neigh flashed
through my mind like lightning. I'VE
must trust ourselves to Courunnc,'
said. palm will he at the Porte ST
Denis. There " no time to waste
come"
Then il seemed that she hcsitated, and
finging back her hood looked me full m
the face. In the moonlight | saw her
white ~ marble, and she suddenly put
out both her hands, saying:
Il trust you utterly, d'Auriac."
Man Is not made of stone; aud loved
this woman as my life. There was that
IN her voice, in the pitiful appeal of IL
tones. that broke down all my falls,
pride. l cannot say how IL happened
but in moment my arm was round h"l
waist. aud I drew her toward me--sii,
nothing resisting.
So for u time we stood in silence
and then kissed her.
"Come, dear" | said: 'and with tn,
morning we shall be safe"
az her own accord she put her arm
about my neck and pressed her lips I,
mine. and then lifted my darling I,
Couronnc's saddle bow.
Had | but taken de Bclin's Offer
Jacques were but with me then!
My foot was in the stirrup, my han,
on the rcins, when there was sutldcr
fash, n loud report, and my poor hors'
fell forward, floundcring In the agony o
death.
just managed To snatch Claude from
the saddle and staggered back and theI
with u rush n half dozen men were oI
Ms. They were masked to a man, an,
made their attack in perfect silence
but as my sword flashed out of my
scubbard recognized the tall figure q
: the capuchin and thrust at him fierce
: ly, with a curse at my folly in coming
alone.
Things like these take n short time II
doing, and should take u shorter time II
telling. | ran one man through III,
heart, and with a gasp he fell forwar,
: and twisted himself like snake roun,
my blade. Then some one flung cloal
over my head, was overborne by mum
, bers and thrown. Two or three mel
held me down; there was an iron grip u
my throat, and u mans knee prcsse,
heavily on my chest, made frantic
effort to free myself; the covering
r slipped from my face, and saw II wai
! the capuchin kneeling over me, a dag
L. hu.. A. n tall
r from him, aud his face was the face o
nur.illa.