The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-07-08

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a frightful struggle, and then the strength
OF last night came back 10 me.
de Clermont, IL is impossible, ana now
go-go! IL you say you love me- go IL
| pity!"
Denise, you know not what you say
| Think, dear. In two hours We VIII pe
safe. In two hours the world itself could
not part us. / viii not let you sacrince
yourself You love me, dear. and you
know IL. and when love like ours exists
| there is no right and no wrong-only our
| love"
1T cannot be- It cannot be. De Cler-
mont, you are tempting the woman you
say you love 10 dishonor. Let me tell you
plainly, / do not love you. For one mo-
ment I thought / did, but / am sure OF
myself now, and even did / love you as
feel sure you deserve TO be loved would
never consent TOTO what you propose"
"Mordieu." he exclaimed. hoarsely, you
are not yourself! Come, Denise. i hear
Lalande riding back, and in moment II
will be too late"
LET 20 my reins, monsieur. else
shall call cut hear Lalande too. Go.
monsieur while can still think Of you as
always have. Go and forget me-"
Ills hand dropped TO his side, and, taxi
ing the occasion, struck my horse
smarty with the whip, and he sprang for
ward DE Clernont made no attempt TO
follow, hut at the bend OF the road, as |
glanced across my shoulder saw him
turn his horses head and plunge into the
forest. and moment later / met La
Iande.
| could only realize that I had escaped
a great danger Beyond that my mind
could not go. but was conscious that, de-
spite the terrible earnestness OF his words,
theI~ was something that was not con-
viIfcins in De Clermont. The narrow es-
oar ka 4 hg oil OIL ~
OF my mind, and IT was only when came
in sight of our party again that l recol-
lected De Clermont's warning that by
going TO Perigueux l was going straight
into the lions mouth, and an absolute de-
spair fell upon me.
When l rode up to madame's side. she
glanced at me narrowly and asked for De
Clermont.
] answered truly enough that did not
know and she looked at me again with
her clear. searching eyes. at is odd. De-
Mise. but do you know that his lackeys
have gone. too? They left us an hour
ago. and now it seems he has gone, too,
without word of goodby."
Monsieur made too sure OF the success
Of his plans" l said bitterly. and mad
ame's answer was sharp and swift.
Denise. there is something wrong.
What is it?''
And as we rode close together side by
side | told her every word hiding moth
ing. My voice sounded hard and dry to
my own ears. my eyes were burning. and
when / had finished she said Demise,
cannot believe NJ. de Clermont's story, l
feel IL is untrue. Even II II were true
DE Termes would never carry out the or
der about you. He is incapable of such
baseness."
"Incre is always one way OF escape.
madame. and am my fathers daughter.
'And there IS God above. girl Your
fathers daughter should never talk like
that"
Then why does he not hear my pray
ers?" / said in impious forgetfulness. lis
heaven so far that our voices cannot
reach there?'
And my dear old friend sighed deeply In
answer
We were to halt at Chalusset for the
night, and here confirmation was received
OF the truth OF DE Clermont's story, for
an equerry OF the vicomte's met us here
with a letter to his wife In his own hand
Ia which he said that our message. the
one we had sent from the Gartenpc. haI
reached him and that he was Fastening
forward himself TO meet as. Then he
went on to other matters. and his letter
concluded with a postscript:
IN. Norreys is here with an order from
the king or. rather, from the queen
be obayed."
She first read the letter herself-we
were sitting together I'm her apartment in
the one Inn at Chalusset-and then she
handed X TO me with request TO read 1t
aloud to her. did So but on COM
ing 10 the postscript my voice faltered In
spite OF myself. and then she bent for
ward and kissed me.
Denise. II will never be. Are you
strong enough 10 do a brave thingY
II will try"
1T Is clear to me that Dc Termes
postscript Is a warning for YOU not TO
go TO Perigueux. | knew that he would
be incapable OF carrying out such or
dtrs as he has received, and | can read
his meaning between the lines of his
message. Denise, you must not be with
me when my husband and l meet"
God himself seems TO have abandoned
me. What can l do? Where shall hlde?"
II will tell you. My sister Louise is
abbess OF our Lady OF Meymac. / win
send you TO her. The convent has special
rights Of sanctuary that even Catherine
herself would not dare TO violate, but
she will never. know you are there. Yet
Il Is a long journey, and YOU will have
10 cross the mountains. VIII you risk 1t
tomght2'
IL am ready now, madame"
Very WE'LL and. calling TO her maid