The Winslow mail., 1900-03-01
CHAPTER IX.-CoNTIN uED.

situation at glance. He gave sharp order.
closed his vizor with snap, and in five min
utes a 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 a 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
in advance Of us all, was in great danger
His helmet had fallen or been struck off, and
he was recognized. Gonsaga, seeing ali was
lost, made despairing rush at the king with
a 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 its utmost speed, l reached Charles
just in time to ward off furious blow aimed
by the Spaniard at the king, aud 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
q laugh:
Gall is well that ends well, my lord of Ar
genton; but it is thanks to this good sword
here" and he turned to me, Ethat 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.
It had to go and there was no help for
it. With an effort rose, and, thrusting the
cross into my pocket, hurried into the
street. My way led to the ward of San
Spirito, and it took some little time to
reach the place where meant to dispose of
the jewel. When | reached it, was SO over
come with weakness that l had to halt for
moment to rest. 1t was during that halt,
that hesitation of a 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,
1 had faced death before, and there was no
reason why | should not do so again with
an equal mind. The Arno was deep enough
to hold me, and God would perhaps be kind
er in the next world than in this. l placed
the cross back slowly, my honor was still
white, and death that was coming would
give me a full quittance for all my troubles.
| turned my back on the pawnbrol1er and
went towards the Arno; but | had miscalcu-
lated my strength, and near San Felicita |
felt a sudden giddiness and sank downward
on the pavement. | struggled to rise, but
the faintness increased, and, dragging my
self close to the wall, leaned against it in
a sitting posture, and kind Of stupor fell
upon me, through which | still felt the in
tolerable pangs of hunger. In little time L
felt better, and, as | saw the flash OF
torches, and heard voices in laughing con-
versation, made an effort to rise, gaining
my feet just as two ladies, with their at
tendants, came opposite to me, and then
staggered back again.
"Poor man! He is hurt"
'1 am starving" said in the bitterness OF
my agony, and the next moment could have
killed myself, for l recognized the ladies
whom l had rescued from Luigi in the Gar
den of St. Michael. had my desire and had
seen her again; but how?
Madonna Angola made hurried search
for her purse, and, not finding it, with
hasty movement tore something off brace
let, and thrust it into my hand Before L
could recover from my astonishment they
had gone on, and although l called after
them they did not stop. The shame of hav-
ing received charity, and from her, was all
but unbearable; but with it felt the hand
of hunger knocking at me in a manner that
would take no denial. My courage was gone,
and urged by the fierce pangs Of my hunger,
resolved to utilize the gift, and obtain some
food to give me strength to die. l smile as
l think Of this now. Then it was no laughing
matter. / plucked myself up sufficiently to
go back to the pawnshop. Entering it, l
placed the article, which | judged to be
jewel, but which had not even examined,
before the man in attendance, and asked him
for an advance thereon.
''It is one of the gold tari of Amalfi," he
said, poising it on his finger, "and of full
weight. Do you wish to sell it?"
NO" I replied, 81 merely wish to pledge
it,
'1 will give you two crowns" he pushed
the money to me, and with it a receipt. |
gathered these up, and staggered rather
then walked to the Marzocco inn, which lay
hard By. There were half-a-dozen people
supping there but | had no eyes for them,
all could think of was the pasty, the roll
of white bread, and the ruby Chanti, which
| ordered 1t is common belief that those
who have not eaten food for any length OF
time are unable to do so when it is placed
before them at first. Whether | ain consti-
tutionally stronger than the generality of
men, do not know; all | can say is, that
| formed an exception TO the rule, if true
one. and demolished my supper, gaining
strength with every mouthful, and feeling
nv chilled blood warmer with every drop
l drank of my goblet of wine. My courage
came back to ME and | banished all thoughts
of the Ano. At last was done, and leaning
back in my seat viewed with complacency
the huge orifce had made in most excel
lent pasty, and the whies slowly slipped
my wine That feeling of sleepy com.
fort, which attends like a good angel
on a full meal, possessed me, my sorrows
had for the moment taken themselves off,
and | grievc to say did not even bestow
thought on her to whose charity | was in
dehted practically for my life. sat for the
moment, Tapped in a dreamy comfort, for
getful of all things. dozed for about half an
hour, and opened my eyes with my head
clear again, and my pulse beating firmly
had, somewhat recklessly, it is true, enjoyed
a crowns worth of happiness, there was
another fat crown still in my pouch; with
care it would last some days, and during that
time luck might turn. With these thoughts
running in my head, let my eyes wander
over the room. 1t was now somewhat late,
and only the night-birds were left. Of these,