The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1899-04-21

said, shut I wanted to make certain and
waited until you spoke"
Il hope have not kept you waiting ?''
Indeed no, had but just come across
from the Louvre when you arrived"
Then you did not come riding?"
How could I? 1 have been in the
Louvre, and am expected to be at the
coucher of Nine. Catherine in a half
hour" and she laughed slightly. The
thought of that smothered neigh flashed
through my mind like lightning. 1--WE
must trust ourselves to Couronne," I
said. "Palin will be at the Porte St.
Denis. There is no time to waste
come"
Then it seemed that she hesitated, and
1inging back her hood looked me full in
the face. In the moonlight 1 saw her,
white as marble, and she suddenly put
out both her hands, saying:
II 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 the pitiful appeal Of its
tones, that broke down all my false
pride. cannot say how it happened,
but in moment my arm was round her
waist, and drew her toward me-she
nothing resisting.
So for time we stood in silence,
and then Kissed her.
Come, DEAR" said; land 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 I but taken de Belin's offer-if
Jacques were but with me then!
My foot was in the stirrup, my hand
on the reins, when there was a sudden
flash, loud report, and my poor horse
fell forward, foundering in the agony of
death.
I just managed to snatch Claude from
the saddle and staggered back. and then
with rush a 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 I recognized the tall figure of
the capuchin and thrust at him fierce
ly, with curse at my folly in coming
alone.
Things like these take a short time in
doing, and should take a shorter time in
telling. I ran one man through the
heart, and with a gasp he fell forward
and twisted himself like a snake round
my blade. Then some one flung a 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 a mans knee pressed
heavily on my chest. 1 made frantic
effort to free myself; the covering
slipped from my face, and saw it was
the capuchin kneeling over me, dag
ger in his hand. His mask had fallen
from him, and his face was the face of
Ravaillac.
I could not call out; I was held too
tight; and the villain lifted his poniard
to strike, when a voice, the voice of de
Gomeron, said: "Hold! We will put
him out another way"
"This is the quickest and surest," an
swered Ravaillac, but the reply was
brief and stern:
Garry out my orders-gag him and
bring him with u.s.
"To Babette's?"
''To Babette's; there is the oubliette;
quick, there is no time to lose.''
20, ho!" laughed Ravaillac, "that is
good; NJ. lie Chevalier will be able to
drown his sorrows under the Seine;
but he will take a long time to de-
"You villain!" I gasped; but like
lightning the gag was on me, and then
was blindfolded. l could see nothing
of madame, though tried my utmost
to get glimpse of her. Then 1 was
bound hand and foot and lifted by
couple Of men. After being carried a
short space 1 was thrust into a litter,
and as this was done I heard faint
cry from Claude; and groaned in my
heart, for 1 was powerless to help.
The litter went forward at a jolting
pace, and from the echo of hoofs
around it gathered that there were at
least dozen mounted men about me.
/ heard a brief order given
by de Gomeron, and the sound of his
voice made me certain that madame
was with US. If SO there might still be
hope, and I lay still and tried to fol-
low our route by the movement of the
party, but could see nothing; and aft
er time my brain began to get con-
fused, for we turned this way and that,
up side streets, down winding roads,
until the thing became impossible.
Once we were cha11ep Ced nv tho