Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-06-25

and looked around. Near me was som,
stable gear. To the right there was {
loft and above that small window
which was open, for the night wal
warm. A ladder led to the loft, and VI
this I climbed, Pompon at my heels
and, passing through the window
found myself on the roof Of Barou's
store. On either hand the gables, will
their lily shaped finals, hid me from
view, and was. in short, on the back
bone Of the roof. About 20 feet from
me rose the back Of Lorgnac's house
high and narrow. From q window IL
the second story there was bright
light, and I caught glimpse Of q
shadow on the wall. crept up be.
meath the window and looked. 1t was
impossible to reach 1t, and l dare not
raise my voice. Every moment was
precious, and 9th 6 groan I glanced
about for some means Of ascent, and as
did so POmpon began to Chamber up
the grooved brick waterway. which ter
minated on a narrow ledge Of orna-
mental stonework running round the
house. Above this ledge, however, a
gargoyle in the shape Of grifin's head
leered down at me.
A sudden thought struck me, and I
seized the ape ere he could 60 farther.
Back ran, with the quick, stealthy
footsteps of a cat, and dropped down
into the stable once more. Hastily and
with shaking hands, examined the
stable gear, throwing one thing after
another aside, and at last found what
I sOught-a spare halter. Oh, those
seconds when fumbled there In the
stable! They were as hours. snatch
ed up the halter with an exclamation
Of Joy and in less time than l take to
tell this was once more beneath the
window. Here it was Pompon's turn,
and thanked my stars again and
again for the months I had spent In
teaching the ape to do almost anything
l wished. Iknotted one end Of the hal
ter into a moose and, giving it to Pom
pom, placed him where he had climbed
to at first and, with little wave Of
my hand, said: up, Pompon! Up"
Without a moments hesitation he
climbed to the ledge. watched the
small black figure looking down on me
with little, twinkling eyes, the halter,
held by the moose, in his hands. l
made motion Of my hand toward the
gargoyle, but the ape only 1ibbered,
and the cold sweat burst over me, for l
was sure | heard in the distance the
sound of many horses trotting. Too
late! After all this. 1t could not be!
Again and again tried to make the
ape understand, but he either could
not or would not. In despair l at last
seized the and of the halter near me
and loOped it round my own neck. And
imagine my utter disgust-Pompon did
the same and bobbed up and down on
his hind legs! One might have laughed
If the issue at stake was not so serious.
I took the loop off my neck. Pompon
again followed my example, and then
1t may have been Gods mercy-he sud-
denly understood and slipped 1t over
the gargoyle.
"Thank Godw And had tightened
the moose in moment, giving the ape
no time to change his mind and remove
IL. In those days I was 1.-the and agile
as a cat, and hand over hand I swarm
ed up the rope, at last gaining the mar
row foothold Of the ledge. The win
dow was at least six feet from me, and
had to cross this space ere I came
to 1t.
Holding on to the brickwork, slip
ped the moose from the griffin's head
and then slowly and carefully made
nv perilous way to the window, the
rope clutched in one hand and getting
as much support as l could from the
cracks between the bricks, where the
cement had loosened and fallen away.
When, afterward, looked at what
had done, my blood ran cold at the very
idea Of 1t, but now went without fear,
without single thought Of anything
but those whom I was striving to save.
And, yes, those whose horses had
heard-I heard them again now cleal
and distinct. was not moment too
soon. l boldly stood on the ledge and
looked in at the window. 1t was a
large room, and she, my queen, was
sitting ut the table. Her hood had fall
en- back, showing the pale, clear cut
outlines Of her face, and her eyes were
full Of tears. Conde stood by her.
speaking earnestly, pleading as II fol
his life, and IL ever there was love In
a mans face it shone on his. Oh, II
was q mad thing to do, but she was
child, not 1S, and he but five and TWEEN
ty.
So earnestly were they talking that
they did not hear me, though l stood
boldly at the window, and it was only
when 1 had sprung lightly into the
room that they became aware OF my
presence. Mary rose to her feet with q
cry, and her hands went up to her face,
but Conde sprang at me without a
word. l seized his wrists like visd
and said in a voice cracked with emo
ton:
"You are betrayed! There is only one
chance-come with me!'
The fool struggled still, and, prince OF
the blood though he was, cursed him
to his face.
"Will you lose all? Hark" And the
blare of trumpet from the street came
to us with discordant echoes.
He understood now, but his presence
of mind had left him.
"My Godw he cried. "What can &c
to save your And he turned to Mary
To give him his due, he thought but OF
her, and he rushed to her side, where
she stood staring at us, with a white
face and large, frightened eyes.
The door of the room was open. AS
ran to 1t heard battering below.
"'Tis the kingw I cried. "Quick!
To the Window
His senses were coming back to him,
and he half dragged and half carried
Mary to the window. closed and
locked the heavy oaken door and, turn
ing, saw Conde handling the rope I had
thrown on the floor at my entrance. He
had grasped at the chance Of escape.
But would take no risk Of failure. l
was by his side In moment and
snatched the halter from his hands.