The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1899-06-15

last turn with the death that dogged
him. So fierce was the attack he now
made, thai had he done 20 but a mo,
ment before, when the advantage OF
position was his. | know not what had
happened. But now--it was different.
He was my man, was carried away by
the fire within me, or else in pity
might have spared him-but there is no
need to speak of this more. He thrust
too high. | parried and returned. so
that the cross hilt of my rapier struck
DULY over his heart, and he died where
he fell.
But one word escaped him, some long
lost memory, some secret of that iron
heart came up at the last,
"Denisei" he gasped, and was gone.
] stood over him for moment, n
drumming in my ears, and then heard
the ringing Of cheers and the rush of
feet. Then a half dozen strong shpul-
ders were at the door before me, and as
H. fell back with crash | sprang in
and took tall, slim, white-robed figure
| in my arms and kissed her dear face
again and again.
One by one those In the room stepped
out and left us together, and for once
brave heart gave way and she sobbed
! like child on my shoulder.
I said nothing but held her to me. and
so we might have been for a half hour,
when heard de Belin's voice at the
broken door: "D'Auriac! Come man!
The king waits, and bring your prison
err" There was a laugh in his voice
and a light on his face as he spoke, and
my face and kissed her again. saying:
Come, my prisoner!"
As we passed out l kept between
Claude and the grim figure still lying
stark on the landing, and held her to
me. so that she could not see. So with
Lisois before us we passed down the
passage, filled now with men-at-arms,
and halted before n room. the door of
which was closed
Then the door was flung open and a
stream Of light poured forth. We en-
tered and saw the king standing sur
rounded by his friends, ann little on
one side was the detected group of
conspirators.
The marshal, now abject, mean and
cringing, was kneeling before Henry,
who raised him as we entered, saying:
"Biron, and you, Tremouille, and you
all who called yourselves my friends,
and lay in wait to destroy me, and
destroy your country, l cannot forget
that we were old comrades, and for
old friendships sake l have already
told you that l forgive, and God give
you all as clean a conscience as have
over the blood that has been split to-
day"
As Latin, with a white and bleeding
face, led his master away, Henry's eye
fell on me, and he beckoned me TO ad-
vance. did so, leading Claude by the
hand.
"Chevalier," he said, "it is saying lit
tie when / say that 1t is through you
that these misguided gentlemen have
realized their wrongGoing. There is
one recompense you would not let me
make you for the wrongs you have suf-
fered. There is, however, reward for
your services, which perhaps you will
accept from me. Isee before me royal
ward who has defied her guardian
yeptre St. Girls! Ny beard is getting
over gray to look after such dainties
surrender my ward to your care" As
he said this he took Claude's hand and
placed it In mine. 81 see, madame,
he added, that this time you have nc
objection to the kings choice. There
quite right-kiss her, man."
1t is all over at last, that golden sum.
mer that was so long and yet seems
hut day. II is ten years ago that those
shining eyes that never met mine but
with the lovelight in them were closed
forever; and the gift that God gave me
that did he take back.
| ain old, and gray, and worn. My
son, the Vicompte de Bidache, is in
Paris with the cardinal, whilst | wait al
Auriac for the message that will cal
me to her. When she went, Ridache
where we lived. became unbearable &c
me, and l came back here to wait till
too, am called. To wait and watch the
uneasy sea, to hear the scream OF the
gulls and feel the keen salt air.
/ have come to the last of the fail
white sheets of paper the cure brought
for me from Havre this autumn, and Il
grows strangely dark even for my eyes
will write no more, but sit out on tn,
terrace and wait for the sunset. Per
haps she may call me to-day. Jacques
my cloak"