Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-08-19
... by...
S. LEVETT YEATS
|: COpYRIGBT 1soa By g. LEVETT YEATS. E:::::.:

let my heart 60 after the voices Of
.he bells as they Travelled heavenward,
and had it not been for Mousette's
shril tones that cut through the quiet
night and recalled me to myself
might have let the party go onward !
do not know how far AS It was. !
had to hustle my little horse to gain
the side Of Mime. de Termes once more.
1t was not. Of course. our Intention to
travel all night. That would have been
impossible, for it would have entailet
weary horses and long halt the nex'
day, but 1t was proposed that we should
make for a small chateau belonging tc
". de Bouchage, the brother of the
Due de Joyeuse, which he had placed al
Nine. de Termes' disposal, and there
rest for the remainder Of the night
making a start early the next morning
and then pressing on daily as fast as
our strength would allow. Lalande
had sent q courier on in advance to an
nounce our sudden coming. We die
not expect to reach De Bouchage's
house unt.l about midnight, and the
equerry was now fussing up and down
| the line of march, urging a pack horse
OH here, checking q restive animal
there, and ever and again warning the
lackeys to keep their arms in readiness
c1nh fhaf mans
teeth were safe in his head unless hC
wore a good blade by his side.
We were, in short, on the eve OF that
tremendous struggle which, beginning
with the day Of the barricades, went
on to the murder Of the princes Of Lor
raine on that terrible Christmastide a,
Blois and eliminated with the dagger
Of Clement and the death Of the mis-
creant whom God in his anger had Civ
en- to us for king.
Things being SO. the land was as full
Of angry murmurs as nest Of dis
turbed bees. the result being that the
writ of the king was almost as waste
paper, and bands Of cutthroat soldiery
committed every excess. now under
the white, then under the red scarf. as
1t suited their convenience.
1t was for this reason that Lalandt
urged us on, and we were nothing loatl
ourselves to hasten, but our pace had
to be regulated by that Of the lader
animals, and, do what we would, oul
progress was slow.
Madame and rode in the rear of tht
troops, q couple Of armed men immedi
ately behind us. Lalande was in from
and exercised the greatest caution
whenever we came to place that wa!
at all likely to be used for an ambus
cade.
Nothing, however, happened, ant
finally we set down to jogging motion
speaking no word, for we were wea
ried. and with no sound to break the
silence Of the night except the shufilinl
Of our horses, the straining Of theil
harness and the clink of sword sheatl
and chain bit.
Suddenly we were startled by thu
rapid beat Of hoofs. and in moment {
white horse and its rider emerged from
the moonlit haze to our right. coming
as it were straight upon us. Laland'
gave a quick order to halt, and l saw
the barrel of his pistol flashing in hi:
hand, but the horseman. with cry ol
"For the king! Way, way'' dashed
over the road at full gallop and spec
off like q sprite over the open plain t
our left.
"Did you hear the voice, Denise?
asked madame.
Eyes"
ut is stranger than ever" she said
And could make no answer.
There was no doubt about 1t. 1t was
De Lorgnac. and instead Of going t.
the Porte st. Honore, as thought wheI
he left US, he must have crossed b!
the Meunniers and come out by the st
Germain gate. He had evidently. too
separated himself from his men.
81 shall be glad when we reach d.
Bouchage's house." | said, with q
shiver, for the apparition Of my hus
band had sent chill through me.
ut is not far now." replied madame
And then we both became silent. alb
sorbed in our own thoughts. she NJ
doubt thinking Of the vicomte and
with my mind full Of forebodings as tt
what other evil fate had in store fol
me, and with this there came thoughts
of De Clermont, whose presence
seemed absolutely to feel about me.
could not say loved him. but 1t was