The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1899-11-17
CHAPTER IX.-CoNr1NUED.

found Charles mounted on Savoy, his
'one-eyed black charger, one of the finest
horses have ever seen. The king grasped the
situation at glance. He gave sharp order,
closed his vizor with snap, and in five min
lutes thousand lances followed him down
the long slope, up which the Spaniards were
advancing. 1t was an absolutely silent
charge. Not cheer went up, and the only
sound was the thunder of the horses hoofs,
and the clink of mail as we sped on after
the king Then there was sullen crash,
and sea of struggling men and horses. The
veteran troops of the great captain main
tanned their high reputation, fighting like
dragons to the end.
Charles, whose horse had carried him far
lin advance of US all, was in great danger.
His helmet had fallen or been struck of, and
he was recognized. Gonsaga, seeing all was
lost, made a despairing rush at the king with
q half-dozen men at his back, and had it not
been for the way Savoy kicked and plunged,
would have surely slain him. Urging my
horse to it's utmost speed, reached Charles
just in time to ward off furious blow aimed
by the Spaniard at the king, and riding full
tilt against him, brought down both horse
and man. The next moment others came up,
and we were safe. Philip de Confines re-
preached the king respectfully for running
himself into peril; but Charles, wiping his
Sword on the name of his charger, said, with
. laugh:
! "All is well that ends we'll, my lord of Ar
genton; but it is thanks to this good sword
here" and he turned to me, "that our cousin
OF Orleans must exercise his patience yet
little longer. Come closer, sir"
{. l dismounted and approached, helmet in
hand. The king detached the cross of St.
Lazare he wore, and, bending from the sad
die. slipped the loop of the ribbon round my
neck.
''Wear this for the sake of France" he
said, with gracious smile.
! And now the patience of Orleans had come
TO its end, and Louis XII. was king, and of
my hopes and dreams, all that remained was
the cross of the order blinking at me.
1t had to 60 and there was no help for
Il. With an effort rose, and, thrusting the
cross into my pocket, hurried into the
street. My way led to the ward of San
Epirito, and it took me some little time to
reach the place where l meant to dispose of
the jewel. When / reached it, was so over
come with weakness that i had to halt for
moment to rest. 1t was during that halt,
that hesitation of minute, that my cour-
age came back to me, and pulled forth the
cross and held it IN my cold fingers with
heart tossed by conflicting emotions could
not do it. Death would be preferable. Well,
] had faced death before, and there was no
reason why I should not do so again with
m equal mind. The Arno was deep enough
TO hold me, and God would perhaps be kind
er in the next world than in this. placed
the cross back slowly, my honor was still
white, and death that was coming would
give me full quittance for all my troubles.
] turned my back on the pawnbroker and
went towards the Arno; but had miscalcu-
lated my strength, and near San Felicia
felt sudden giddiness and sank downward
ON the pavement. stru9Hled to rise, but
the faintness increased, and, dragging my
self close to the wall, leaned against it in
sitting posture, and q kind of stupor fell
upon me. through which still felt the in
felt better, and. al I saw the fash Of
torches, and heard voices in laughing con-
versation, made an effort to rise, gaining
my feet just a. two ladies, with their at
PENDANTS, came opposite to me, and then
staggered back again.
"Poor man! He il hurt"
ri am starving" said in the bitterness Of
my agony, and the next moment could have
killed myself, for Isrecognized the ladies
whom bad rescued from Luigi in the Gar
den of st. Michael. had my desire and had
oeen her again; bat howl
Madonna Angola made hurried search
Tor her purse. and. not finding It. with \
hasty movement tore something of brace
1t, and thrust Il into my hand. Before
could roeover from my astonishment they