The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1901-02-01
CONTINUED from last week
CHAPTER VII.

the presence of the young girl in The
apartment of the Duke of Reichstadt
Colette, the daughter of a soldier dur
ing the time of Napoleon, had nothing
of the timidity of the young girl Of to-
day. Besides, the brief time which re-
manned did not admit Of hesitation OF
scruples. The preparations for taking
away the duke had all been made, the
day had been fixed, and it was too
late to recede. 1t was her part to act
rapidly and without hesitation or fear.
Unhappily, the interview between the
duke and Colette In the wood had been
interrupted. Reichstadt, carried away
by enthusiasm for Colette, had 10 OBJ
lection to the plan, but was too much
excited to remain sufficiently long in
the park to permit the young girl to
give HIN any explanation of the de-
tails. II vas TO repair this omission
that Co.cttc. intending to instruct the
! duke. L"l entered his apartments and
| had Es",3-a witness to the sacrilc%iOuS
search .f Mc:tornich and Otto dc Talk
| eEStein' When sh" heard the last part
! Of the con r'.";'oD between the two
and End"rsto.,. tI"t the secret OF the
| cOnspi.Ytc"s Ms ..:.rY'0, Il cold per-
SEPARATION stoai Gi.,.. '.,'- forehead. She
seized upon 10 r,..."..:> '~i .'' '.r ~
| sustain herself.
But how, considering that the door
had been locked che two accoup'ices
having been obliged to force it in order
to carry out their Infamous p-"iaCt.
had CClcttc heta able ID enter AL con-
ceal herself in the dukes apartments:
1t was thus: When the Emperor Ma
poleOn. the conquVror Of the Austr:aus.
fixed his Residence. between two c.rto-
ries. at SchorhruuD. he occUp,c' tic
apartments which by chance ycais aft
erward f2.i 10 his SCH. BIT the Officers |
OF the stat necessarily coming 10 him |
At all times. their general who wished |
to be alone. putting aside ceremony. |
was accustomed 10 q aSccnd into the |
park 10 breathe the Night @ir ana drive ,
away the austcrc thoughts which are !
the companion Of power. 50 he caused /
TO be constructed Il secret DGSSagc con.
cea!cd by tapestry. Silvere. whom tie
emperor had attached TO his person ana
from whom he had nothing 20 conceal.
knew Of this passage. When. Their, fore.
COiette returned to the cCttarp ate.
her interview with ReichStadt and told
her adopted father that she bad failed
10 fully accomplish her mission. Si!ye-c
did not hesitate TO cOnGde the secret 20
her. Colette profitcd by tie iuforma
ton and Oh the night of the ball stole
through the passage to the apartments
OF the prince to deposit the letter OF tie
conSpiratOrs. The presence Of Meter
mich and Otto and their discovery Of !
the plot, which would ruin everything, |
instantly changed her plan. Taking
with no one but herself. she re-
placed in her bosom the letter which
she had taken out Then, approaching
the table and Selling pen which lay
upon silver cscretOi.c. she wrote With
a feverish hand: I
Nonseigneur-Meet Us tomorrow night. the 9th Of
Nay. not at midnight, but at 10 o'clock
At the ruined convent OF Calnaldues.
Your highness must be accompanied by some
me. insist that it be the Count de Falkenstein.
CoLETTE.
Then, raising the bronze mask, she
placed the note where Il would be
ound
Knowing by the soun1 of carriage
wheels that the guests were departing.
he ball was finished and the duke =
would soon return. she raised the hang .
nSs and disappeared, saying:
Il have two hourS-two hours. God
5 just. Hope"