The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-07-14
CHAPTER Y.
n LIE cHEvALIER is PAID IN FULL

front with his sword drawn. was ridle-
down and secured ere he could strike &
blow, while Lalande and Pierre. who bore
NO weapons but their poniards and were
utterly surprised, shared the like fate
So suddenly and quickly was this done
that-for the courage had gone out OF
my finger tips had no time 10 flee. and
! stood like a stone. while a sea of savage
faces surged around me. l gave myself
for dead. and one, a trooper-more brute
than man-raised his sword 10 slay me,
but was struck from his horse I'm the act.
Then some one seemed TO come from no.
where 10 my side--a tall, straight figure,
with a shining blade In his hand and he
called out Back, back, or run the first
man through
The men were called TO order in n mo-
ment at that tone OF command though
voice / well knew and how hated called
out:
''wen done, De Rosny, my squire OF
danes. Pardieu We have the whole hive,
queen bee and all.
"By heavens" said another. they will
hang from the rafters in half hour;
then-my poor Ganache!" And the speak
er. whose rough, harsh voice was pitiless
as his speech. swore bitter oath.
Gently. DE Tremblecourt.' replied the
one who had been called De Rosny. "Our
poor De Ganaches soul has not flown so
far but that the others can overtake 1t In
time" And then De Clermont came up 10
me. but as he passed La Coquille I'm so
doing the latter strained at his cords and
Kissed rather than spoke out the word
Traitor as he spat at him.
''You hang I'm a little time head down.
ward at De Lorgnacs feet for that
said De Clermont calmly. And then, turn
ing TO me: - 'Tis sad business this.
madame. but war is war and after all
things are going as you would have them
are they notr
/ could not bear 10 meet that sneering,
beautiful face which now that its MASK
was snatched away cared not In how evil
an aspect IL showed itself. Words would
not come to me- and as | stood there be-
fore De Clermont, quivering In every
limb at the awful threat conveyed In his
speech 10 La Coquile. De Tremblecourts
voice rang out again, mad and broken
with rage:
Away with them! Sling them from the
parapet-nowl"
The men around rushed with a yell at
La Coquille and his fellow prisoners. God
pardon those who cause the horrors or
warl But my defender, De Rosny, again
interposed and drove them back despite
DE Tremblecourt's angry protests, while
De Clermont stayed his rage quietly
will be here I'm ten minutes with our other
prisoner. and we will deal with messieurs
lin a bunch" And he glanced at me with
a meaning i'm his eyes that | read as an
open page.
Come. madame" said De Rosny. who
Eaw my palor. Let me take you out of
this / pledge the word OF Bethune that
no harm will touch you. but that is to
happen. fear. which is not fit for you
10 see" With these words he took my
arm kindly and led me inside, unresistng
and as I'm a dream In the hall, where we
stopped forced myself TO regain some
courage. II was no time for a faint heart.
Monsieur what does this all mean?
What is to happen TO De Lorgnac? Tell
mel am his wife. monsieur
He bowed gravely, yet sadly. THE king
OF Navarro is generous, madame. Henri
will be here soon. and all may yet be
well. In the meantime rest you here and
compose yourself. You are safe from
harm"
With this he who was I'm after years to
be the first man In France left me, almost
stunned and broken by what j had
heard. Now that I was about TO lose him
may. had already lost him. for nothing,
] felt sure. would move these pitiless
hearts, realized TO the end what De
Lorgnac was TO me. and with this came
the dreadful conviction that 1t was I, and
alone. who had brought this on my hus-
band. I, a fool In my folly, who did not
know my own heart; l, who with word
might have stayed and kept him, who
was all I'm all to me. had driven him forth
with my senseless pride TO death. / could
do nothing TO save him. What could a
woman do against these men? And then
Il was as II the whole horror that was
10 be pictured itself before my eyes and
q mocking hend gibed In whispers IN my
ears. "You-you have done thisl' Al
most with cry | sprang from my seat
my hand on my forehead and an un-
spoken prayer on my lips. ] felt that my
brain was giving way and that | must
do something 10 regain myself and think
This Was no time for aught but action.
and here / was giving way utterly j
might do something my woman's
wit could suggest some means of saving
my husband. Then what happens TO those
who are face TO face with an awful ter
ror happened 10 me. and. as once before
fell on my knees before Gods throne
. and prayed In mortal agony. God help
me in my dstressl" / called out aloud,
and a quiet voiC, answered:
Perhaps he has sent the help. Denise +"
sprang up with a start, a wild Dope
rushing through my heart. and saw Raoul
de Clermont before me with the sneering
hardness out OF his face and all the old
soft light In his eyes. III II was SO. II he
but bore me the glad tidings his words
limited at, | could forgive him all and bc
his friend forever
Say that again. monsieurl" l gasped.
Say Il again. and will bless YOU 20 my
last BREATH And as | spoke the heavy
folds OF the curtain that covered the door
way moved II stirred by a wind
81 said that perhaps God"-and he bow
ed reverently (ah. devil and traltorD-
that perhaps God has answered your
prayer. You have asked for help. and n
has come. / am here 10 offer ~. l. and I
alone. can save DE Lorgnac by force n
ncccssary. for ! have hfty lances at my
heels. and 10 rests with you 10 say the
word ] have been mad. Denise. then
came 10 my senses. ana now ] am mad
again. love you-do you hear2-lovc YOU
as man never loved woman. You beauu-
fui thing OF icei Come with me. and DE
Lorgnac IL free Gomez
In his oagerness he put forth his hand
coward me. but with a shudder | drew
back. and his face darkcned. Then. nery.
Ing myself. | made one last appeal.
'Raoul de Clermont 7 believed you once
20 be a man OF honor Let me think 80