Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-02

SECONDS when L IumDleQ there IN the StaDie.
ihey We're as hours. l snatched up the
halter with an exclamation of joy. and. In
less time than l take to tell this. was once
more beneath the window. Here it was
again and again for the months / had
spent in teaching the ape to do almost
anything wished. knotted one end OF
the halter into a moose, and. giving it to
Pompon. placed him where he had climbed
to at first, and. with little wave of my
hand said up, Pompon! Up!'
Without moments hesitation he climbed
to the ledge. l watched the small black
figure looking down on me with little
twinkling eyes, the halter. held by the
Moose, in its hands I made a motion of
only jibbered, and the cold sweat burst
over me, for l was sure I heard In the dis
lance the sound of many horses trotting.
Too late! After all this! 1t could not be!
Again and again 1 tried to make the ape
understand; but he either could not or
would not In despair I at last seized the
end of the halter near me and Topped 1t
round my own neck. and imagine my utter
disgust-Pompon did the same, and bobbed
up and down on his hind legs. One might
have laughed. if the issue at stake was not
so serious. 1 took the loop off my neck
Pompon again followed my eXample-and
then-it may have been Gods mercy-he
suddenly understood, and slipped it over
the gargoyle.
Thank Cod" and I had frightened the
moose in a moment, giving the ape time
to change his mind and remove 1t. In
those days l was 1.-THE and agile as q cat,
and hand over hand | sWarmed up the rope,
a last gaining the narrow foothold of the
ledge. The window was at least six feet
from me, and 1 had to cross this space ere
l came to it.
Holding on to the brickwork, I slipped
the moose from the griffin's head, and then
slowly and carefully made my perilous way
to the window, the rope clutched in one
hand, and getting much support as L
could from the cracks between the bricks,
where the cement had loosened and fallen
away.
When afterward, 1 looked at what l had
done, my blood ran cold at the very idea
of it: but now 1 went without fear, without
single thought of anything but those
whom l was striving to save. And yes,
those whose horses I had heard-I heard
them again now, clear and distinct. l was
not a moment too soon. l boldly stood on
the ledge and looked in at the window II
was large room, and she. my queen: was
sitting at the table; her hood had fallen
back. showing the pale, clear-cut outlines
of her face, and her eyes were full OF
tears. Condo stood by her, speaking earn
estly, pleading as if for his life, and If ever
there was love in mans face 1t shone on
his. Oh, it was mad thing to do; but she
was a child not eighteen, and he but hVe
and twenty.
did not hear me- though | stood boldly at
the window, and 1t was only when L had
sprung lightly into the room that they
became aware Of my presence. Mary rose
to her feet with a little cry, and her hands
went up to her face, but Condo sprang at
me without a word. But l seized his wrists
like wise and said, in voice cracked
with emotion:
You are betrayed; there is only one
chance-come with mel
The fool struggled still and. prince of the
blood though he was, 1 cursed him to MS
face.
viii you lose an?-hark." and the bare
of trumpet from the street came to us
with discordant echoes.
.J,,. S.13 hut
mind had left him.
My God!' he cried. What can | do to
save you?" and he turned to Mary. To give
him his due he thought but of her. and he
rushed to her side where she stood staring
at US. with white face and large, fright
ened eyes.
The door of the room was open. AS ran
to 1t l heard a battering below.
IT'S the king!"- cried. Quick. To the
window!
His senses were coming back to him. and
he half dragged and half carried Mary to
the window. 1 closed and locked the heavy
oaksp door. and. turning, saw Condo hand
ling the rope L had thrown on the floor at
my entrance He had grasped at the
chance of escape. But I would take no
risk of failure I was by his side in a mo-
ment and sna ched the halter from his
hands.
Put out the light" said and as he did
so I ran a moose round the pillar of the bal
ustrade across the window and dropped the
rope outside: then, turning to Condo, l said,
descend and hold the rope taut below
The words were scarce out Of my mouth
when we heard the dull report of an argue
bus
"Taey have blown in the lock-quick"
But he needed no bidding. He was not
good at climbing, but somehow he managed
it, and felt the rope tighten. He was safe
below.
"Mademoiselle." I said, turning to Mary.
pretended not to know her. but she
shrunk back:
Il cannot I cannot! Let them comet
and her words We're followed by a crash a
hoarse shout and the sound of many feet
Then l did what | have never done to wo-
man before after. The strength of ten
possessed me. I took her in my arms like
child. and. holding her round the waist with
one hand. began the descent. She seemed
to recover herself as / got out of the win
dow, and chung on to the rope as well as l.
else / had never succeeded; but we COM
pleted the descent as heard them ham
mering at the door and voice-it was the
king Scaled OUT
AN arquebusI An arquebusr'
Along the waterway on the roof of the
store we ran like hares. Pompon leading,
| and we had just gained the stable and had
| put out the light, when heard the door
| of the room from which we had escaped
being forced in. They would see the rope,
| knew, and we We're still not safe | Whts-
pered hastily to Conde
Take the horse and ride for yo1Ir lifeI Go
| by the Porte st. Honore."
He was himself again, for the Bourbons
!
| girths. bent down and kissed Mary's hand
| and mounted in the stable. As | held the
| door open for him he turned to me saving:
Monsieur, | swear"
! But the hot anger blazed within me at
! the man who could risk woman's fair
| fame as he had done-at the man who had
| broken his word to his friend
''Rde!" I said. Waste no time in vows
| It's only prince who thinks he can break
| his word without dishonor" and following
| my words came yels and shouts from the
| window. They had found the rope
Condo made no answer, but bent his head
| and gave Cartouche the spur, and we heard
| him clatter down the street and | caught
| Marys hand and we ran out together l
| took her northward. through passage and
| alley. until L felt her falter. and then I
| stopped, for she was breathless and almost
| fainting. But were safe-no one would
! recognize queen in the slight, gray-clad
| figure that chung to a TESTERS arm as the
| two, followed by a small brown ape, picked
| their way along the narrow pavement of
| the Rue st. Sauveur. 1t was then that she
| spoke for the first time and as she did so
| she withdrew her hand from my arm.
| Isis he safe-do you think-monsieur?
| 'Monseigneur is by now free of the Porte
| St. Honore," 1 replied, still giving no sign
| that / knew her, but the ice was broken