Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-05-03

no signs of my discovery to st. Armandc, |
and whilst we breakfasted together told |
him that the time was come for which we |
had been waiting.
Remember your promise" he said with |
an affected gayety, but his voice nearly broke |
down and saw the able glance at him with |
q deep compassion.
81 will not forget" answered, "but God |
grant there may be no need to keep it."
81 should say Amen to that" he an.
swered, only cannot"
My plans were already made, and as soon
as we had breakfasted we set forth from the
castle. The road, as 1 have already ex-
planned, assembled abruptly short distance
from the base of the rock on which the cas-.
tie was perched. Between the base of the
rock and the road was narrow but thick
belt of forest, which afforded admirable con-
cealment, and here we posted ourselves
secure from all view. The able and st. Ar
mande insisted on accompanying US, and in
order to put the chevalier from harm l
placed him n little way up the rock, with
instructions to charge down as soon as he
heard my whistle, which never intended
to blow. The able took his station beside
him, saying where the cheralier was it was
his duty to be. st. Armande held out
small hand to me as was turning away, and
took it gently for moment in mine. The
quick impulsive movement reminded me
much of that day when madame had held the
flowers l gathered to her husbands face.
Something almost choked me as l turned
away hastily, having only strength to re.
peat my warning
DO not move till you hear my whistle"
/ borrowed an arquebus from one of my
men, and the arrangement was that we We're
TO charge out after volley, the first shot of
which was to fire. All being now ready, it
was only necessary for us to wait. would
merely add that in order to prevent dis
covery by the neighing of the horses, we had
muzzled ours as far as possible. There was
now dead silence, that was only broken by
the rustic of the leaves overhead, an occa-
sional crack amongst the dry boughs as
squirrel moved against them, or the uneasy
movement of horse, which caused a clink
of a chain-bit, and a straining sound made
by the feathers of the saddlery, that was not
in reality so loud as it seemed; but caused
Jacopo and Bande Mere to scowl tiercely at
only equaled by their stolidly impassive
faces, when their own beasts sinned. We
had not long to wait; presently we heard
| ting, rapid refining in at the ascent, and
number of followers and lackeys, some
mounted on horses, others on mules, with
led mules beside them, came past, and went
on, needless of the eager faces watching
them through the trees. One or two of our
| horses became so uneasy that i was afraid
Of immediate discovery, but 30 occupied were
the knaves in babbling together, all at once,
that what with this, and the thwacking of
their animals, and in some cases the efforts
to remain on, we remained unnoticed. Then
there was short interval, and the suspense
was strained to breaking point. In while
we heard the firm beat of a war horses hoof,
and our quarry came in view. First came
Monsignore Bozardo, a tall, thin man,
wrapped in purple cloak, with a fur cap
on his head. He rode strong ambling
mule, and by his side was the commander of
| the escort. Immediately behind were four
troopers, then the mules with the ducats,
behind these again six other lances, whilst
| the rear was brought up by half-a-dozen
lackeys, without sword amongst them. But
what struck me almost dumb with surprise
was that the leader of the escort was none
other than D'Entrangues himself. There
could be no mistake, his visor was up, and
saw the sallow face, the long red mustache,
and almost caught the cold CLINT of his cruel
eye. At last! raised my arquebus and
covered him. At last! But a touch of my
finger and the man was dead. could not
miss, my heart was mad within me, but my
wrist was firm as steel. In another moment
he would be dead, dead, and my revenge &C.
complished. 1t was already in my hand. l
looked aside for q second at the line OF
breathless faces watching me, then back
Il L.. -
/ trangues was now not 20 yards away.
could scarcely breathe as pointed the ar
quebus at his heart. / had already begun
| to press the trigger, when something seemed
to come across my mind like lightning. l
saw in moment that lonely room in the AL
bizzi palace, where / had kneeled to my God
end sworn to put aside my yengence. The
weapon shook in my grasp.
i Fire, signore," whispered Jacopo hoarsely.
i With an effort jerked the muzzle in the
air, and pulled the trigger. The report was
4 followed by four others, and two of the
troopers fell. The next moment we were on
them with shout, and there was clash of
steel, as fierce blows were struck and re-
4 ceived, now and again short angry oath,
4 and sometimes cry of pain. 1 did not want
Il to take life, but trooper came at me, SO l
Il had to run him through the heart, and the
man fell forward under Castor's hoofs. with
1 yell shall never forget. The next instant
II D'Entrangues and l crossed blades, and
whether he recognized me or not do not
know, but he fought with skill and fierce
ness I have never seen equaled. At last
lost my temper, and cut savagely at him. He
parried on the forte of his blade, but SO
furious was the stroke that it broke the
weapon in his hand, and almost endorsed
J. him. Refining back skillfully he avoided an
other cut l made at him, and drawing a
i wheel lock pistol from his holster, fired ii
!. straight at me. AT the flash, some one
dashed between us. heard scream which
, froze the blood in me, and body lurched
forward and fell to my side, whilst rider
less horse plunged through the press, and
galloped away. saw the light of the golden
| head as it fell, and forgetting everything
forgetting D'Entrangues, forgetting all but
the fact that a. dreadful deed was done,
sprang down from Castor, and raised st
i, Armande in my arms As did this a hoarse
!. yell from my men told me the day was Won
but had no ears for this, no eyes for any
thing, except the slight figure, which lay ii
: my arms gasping out its life.
Congratulations, signore, we have taker
!, the lot" and Jacopo, bleeding and dusty
!, rode up beside me.
"At too great price," l groaned; "hell
, me to carry" could say no more.
Here, two of you secure those mules
Bande Mere, see to the wounded-Quecn o
!. Ileaven-the chevalier2" and Jacopo, Civ
ing his sharp orders, sprang down beside me
, and together We bore our unconscious bur
den under the shadow of the oaks. A darl
: figure stepped to our side, and kneelinl
down supported the lifeless head on his arm
whilst hot tears fell from his eyes, as hi
prayed over her. 1t was the able.
! How did this happen?" asked, "did
/. not say you were not to move?"
i at was done at once" he answered, :"
i could not prevent it-alas! How can ! carr!
. this tale back to st. Armande?"
!. water, excellency."
! Jacopo had brought some clear water il
I his helmet. l thanked him with look, ant
1 he stepped back, leaving us three together
/ two who were living, and one who was goinl
| away.