The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-07-05

THE SPUR OF LES EscHELLEs

We neard MIN give an oIuSE 10 Hio
men in a quick. resolute voice, far diff
ferent from tho low tones in which he
had spoken before. and then he and his
troop rode off at a rapid trot in the di-
rection, as Il seemed. of the Porte ST.
Honore. I could hardly realize that
was free and that De Lorgnae had re-
signed me without a struggle. All that
I could think of was that he was gone.
and with quick gasp of relief turn
ed TO my friend.
"oh. madame. how can 1 thank your
What shall l say?'
Say nothing to me, my child, but
rather thank the good God that there
was a little OF honor left in that man.
And now. before we start, you must
have some refreshment."
II cannot-indeed, no. / am ready
20 go at once want to put leagues
between me and Paris"
you must be guided by me now,
Denise" And as she spoke servant
brought in some soup and a flask OF
wine. Despite my protests / was forced
20 swallow something, though felt
that l was choking. yet the little from
tignac l drank, not being used TO wine,
seemed TO steady my shaking limbs and
restore my scattered faculties.
As we put on our cloaks and demi-
masks preparatory to starting Nine.
de Termes kept saying TO herself: II
cannot understand-Biaise de Lorgnac
20 lend himself to a thing like this!
would have staked my life on him.
There is something behind this. Child"
and she put a hand on each OF my
shoulders and looked me full i'm the
eyes. have you told me all? Have you
withheld nothing?"
HAS he not himself admitted what
j said, madame? If that is not enough,
] will add every word OF what ! know"
And as we stood there | detailed what
have already told. forcing myself to
go on with the story once or twice
when / felt myself being unnerved and
finishing quickly: "And, madame D
was taken by storm. Indeed 1 hardly
know even II this Is noe some frightful
dream"
would IL were So" she said, and
added: Demise, / believe every word
you say, and yet there is eoricthing be-
hind De Lorgnac's action. 1 snow him
well lie would never lend himself to
be the tool OF others. Once. however,
at Perigueux you will be safe with the
vicomte and myself, aad it will be
long arm that would dag YOU thence
nothing short of tia; ct the Medicis.
But Catherine owes Iadtf, 90 De Termes.
And now let us star
What was my itrp -ige when we
reached the courtyt 80 hear my maid
Mousette's voice, m.e J 1aw her perch
ed on little nag, etady engaged In
Irritation with one ut ne men. When
j spoke TO her shr pressed her horse
forward and b. hucriedly.
IL was sent .si with madames
things" she t.i am afraid the
valises are In hastily packed. and
much has hin 20 be left behind. but
madame w usc me. | know. 1t
was all 50 and l had so little
time"
We were including Nine. de Termes'
servants who were well armed. a par
ty OF about j.. small enough to face the
danger O. the road I'm those unsettled
days, but no thought or this struck me.
and az Tor Nine. de Termes. she would,
j do believe, have braved the journey
alone 20 anxious was she TO be by the
vicomtc's &c, for between herself and
the stout old soldier who held the lieut.
enancy of Perigod there existed the
deepest affection.
AS sc rode down the Bourdonnais i
could not help thinking 10 myself how
noble spirit IL was that animated my
friend. Not for one moment had she
allowed her own trouble TO stand in the
way VI htlRHlk Hlt- lltl uuopdnu,
whom. as / have said. she dearly loved,
was III. perhaps dying, and yet In her
sympathy and pity for me she had let
10 word drop about him except the
CHEEKY assurance OF his protection,
Nevertheless as we rode on she ever
kept turning toward Lalande. her
equerry. and bade him urge the lag
ging baggage animals on. Passing the
Grand Chatelet we crossed the arms
,f fbo vIt Hxrf h. ,a
the Pont St Michel and kept steadily
down the Rue de la Harpe toward the
Porte ST. Martin. We gained this not
a moment too soon. for as the last OF
the baggage animals passed it we heard
the officer give the word to lower the
drawbridge and close the gates. The
clanking of the chains and the creaking
OF the huge doors came to me with
something of relief in them, for IL
seemed TO me that / was safe from
further tyranny from the Hotel de Sois-
sons. at any rate for this night
AS we passed the huge silhouette OF
the Hotel de Luxembourg we heard the
bells OF st. Sulpice sounding COMPILING.
and then from behind the spires OF the
city churches. Yielding 10 an impulse
j could not resist. / turned I'm my sad
die and looked back. letting my eyes
run over the vast dim outlines of the
city. so softened by the moonlight that
Il was as II some Opaque, fantastic
cloud was resting on the earth. Above
curved the profound blue OF the night,
with here and there a star struggling
90 force its way past the splendor OF
the moon. All was quiet and stlll, and
the church bells ringing out were as
message from his creatures TO the Most
High.
let my heart go after the voices OF
the bells as they travelled heavenward
and had IL not been for Mousettes shrin
tones that cut through the quiet night
and recalled me 10 myself ] might have
let the party go onward I do not know
how far. As II was. I had 10 hustle my
little horse 20 gain the side OF Nine. de
Termes once more. 10 was not. OF course
our intention 20 travel all night That
would have been impossible. for ~ would
have entailed weary horses and n long
halt the next day. hut u was proposed
that we should make for n small chateau
belonging 60 NJ De Bouchage. the brother
Of the Duo de Joyeusc. which he had
placed % Mime de Termcs' disposal and
there rest for the remainder % the night.
making n start early the next morning
and then pressing on daily as fast rs our
strength would allow Talande had sent