Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-11-04
Au1aoR OF THE NAN IN BLACK,
"A GENTLEMAN OF FRANCE ErEre.


INC co. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
| orirht eyed as different as possible from
| the Anne of u igsw i..s;4s.tgs Doiufe. -
great change had come over her. Perhaps
the warmth had done it,
| A third course was suggested-to stay
/ quietly where $50 were. The farmhouse
/ stood at some little distance from the road,
and though it was rough-it was very
rough consisting only of two rooms, III
one of which COW was stalled-still ii
| could furnish food and shelter. Why not
stay there2
But the duchess wisely, l think, decided
against this. : 1t is unpleasant to go wan
dering again, she said with q shiver
s.But shall not rest until we are within
the walls of town. Master Lindstrom
laid SO much stress on that. And fancy
/ that the party who overlook us last night
are not tho lnain body. Others will have
gone to Vessel by boat perhaps or along
! the other bank. There they will meet, and
learning we have not arrived they will
probably return this way and search for
u.s.
''Clarence,'-
Eyes, if we have Clarence to deal with,
/ Master Dertie asscnted grayeiy, I'VE cau
not afford to lose point. We will try the
ferry"
| It was something gained to start dry
| and warm, but tho women's pale faces
| for little by little the fatigue, the want of
rest, the fear, were telling even on the
duchess-were sad to STE. / was sore and
stiff myself The wound had received
SO mysteriousiy had bled afresh, probably
during last nights fight. We needed all
| our courage to put brave face on the
matter and bear up and go out again into
| the mir, which for the first week in May
| was cold and nipping. Suspense and an1i-
ETY. had told in various ways on all OF us.
| While felt fierce anger against those
who were driving us to these straits, Mas
ter BERTHE was nervous and excited.
| alarmed for his wife and child and In
clined to see an enemy in every bush.
| However, we cheered up little when
we reached the ferry and found the boat
| could cross without much risk. We had
| to 90 over in two detachments, and it was
nearly an hour past noon before We all
! stood ON the farther bank and babe fare
we'll to the honest soul whose help had
been of so much importance to us. He
| told us we had three leagues to go, and
we hoped TO be at rest In Santon by 4
| o'clock.
| The three leagues turned out to be more
nearly five, while the read was so founder
Gus that we had again and again to quit 1t.
| The evening came on, the light waned,
and still we were feeling our way, SO to
speak-the women tired and on the verge
Of tears the men muddy to the waist, saw
| age and impatient. 1t was O'Clock, and
| dusk was well upon US before we caught
sight OF the first lights Of Santon, and in
fear lest the gates might be shut pressed
forsnrd at such speed as our horses could
compass.
| do you go onl'' the duchess adiured
| us. Anne and will be safe enough be-
| mind you. Let me take the child and do
| you ride on. We cannot pass the night in
| she fields
The Importance Of securing admission
was SO great that Master BERTHE and
| agreed and cantcrcd on, soon outstripping
| our companions, and almost, In the gloom
losing sight Of them. Dark masses OF
| woods, the last remnants apparently OF 9
| forest, lay about the road we had to trav-
erse. We were passing one OF these, scarce
| " 800 PAGES short of the town, and was
| turning in the saddle to see that the ladies'
were following safely, when heard Mas
| ter BERTHE who was bowshot in front OF
| me, give sudden cry.
| wheeled round hastily to learn the rea-
! son and was just In time to see three horse
men sweep into the road before him from
| the cover of the trees They were SO close
| to him-und they filled the road-that his
| horse carried him among them almost be-
| fore he could check 1t, or SO it seemed to
| me- ! heard their loud challenge, saw his
| arm wave and guessed that his sword was
out. spurred desperately to join him,
| giving wild shout of encouragement as
| did So But before could come up, or IN
decd cross half the distance, the scuttie
was over. One man fell headlong from
| his saddle, one horse fled riderless down
| the road, and at sight of this, or perhaps
of me, the others turned tail without more
| ado and made of, leaving Master BERTHE
| in possession of the field The whole thing
| had passed in the shadow of the wood In
| less than half minute. When drew
rein by him. he was sheathing his sword.
| It's it Clarences" cried eagerly.
mo, no, did not see him. think
not he answered. He was breathing
hard and was very much excited. They
were poor swordsmen, for S2aniards, " he
| added-'svery poor, thought.
Jumped off my horse, and kneeling be-
side the man turned him over. He was
badly hurt, If not dying, cut across the
| neck. We looked hard at him by such
light as there was and did not recognize
| him MS one Of our assailants of the night
before.
II do not think he is a Spaniard, !"
said slowly. Then certain suspicion oc-
Cured to my mind, and stopped lower
over him.
Not Spaniards' Master BERTHE said
stupidity. How is that?'
Before answered raised the man In
my arms, and carrying him carefully to
the side of the road set him with his back
to tree. Then I got quickly on my horse.
The women were just coming up. Mas
ter Bertie,'' said in q low voice as
looked this way and that to see if the
alarm had spre..d, Il am afraid there is a
mistake. But say nothing to them. 1t
is one of the town guard you have killed."
..Onc of the town guard" he cried,
light bursting in on him, and the reins
dropping from his hand. What shall we
do? We are lost, mun'
CONTINUED Wednesday,
-----------
For Over Fifty Years.