The St. Louis Republic., 1903-09-13

! dirge of the man who had dgged n PIT and
| had himself fallen therein; and the light
ming flashes coming at longer intervals
served but to intensity the gloom they lit
up for the instant.
1t was 4 minced oath from Richard that
first broke the spell that bound US.
Twas too much for Madge," said he
she has tainted. Swing the door and light
another candle"
| I did both as quickly as might be. and
we bedded her on the floor. stripping our
coats to soften the stone tagging for her
and trying by all the means known TO two
unskillcd soldier Ieeches to bring her to.
Water said Dick: but when we had
| laveG her face with that. and with wine
as well. without effect, We were well dis
mayed. l do assure you. For all our
| efforts she lay as one dead; and neither
OF US could be cold enough to pry her lips
apart 10 play the drenching doctor with
the wine.
Lord cried Dick. the sweat standing
out upon his face in great drops: this is
terrible, What shall we do?"
jeanne viii know what to do" as
| serted. We must get her out OF this and
up 20 her chamber"
.
to gather the dear body OF her IN his
arms. Eut in the act he paused and
Strengthened himself TO look fXedly at me
DO you take her. Jack; she is-sne is
your wica"
Nay" said I. drawing hack, You are
! har own true lover: and could she choose
her bearer--"
a 1Uu-ra'n On .our fnirkings," he burst
| over the right 20 help her. Take aer Up
quick. man. and bosone.'
But bethink you. Dick" I urged; IF
! you are taken. you nave one chance in ten
! Of faring as an officer and a prisoner of
| war. For me 'tis a spys death as swift
IS they can drag me to it
| Now you VIII know. my dears, how much
loved these ,wo when I could twist a
cord Of such mean finer to bind them
/ closer together. Richards eyes flashed
/ and his lip curled.
| overlook il in me, II you can he
| said. with fino sc0rn. 4 had not 'hcuSht
/ upon the peril OF IT," And with that he
/ took her IN his aims as size mad
I been a child 10 be carried, and ! F"unS
/ the door for him But on the threshold
he gave me back my sorry little snDteF-
| fu2c. once mere. your forgiveness JACK.
| l knew well you were but lying TO give
ne precedence. Can you trust me with
hor?'
Aye. dear lad; now and ever said I;
and so I pushed him out.
| After he was gone l made shift to lead
| the horses through the narrow passage
/ and out by a rear door, giving them a
| friendly slap to point them toward the
stables.
This done. I went back TO my immure-
mont. and l krow not how long 1t was
that l paced a weary sentry beat UP and
| down the narrow limits of the wine cellar,
alone with such thoughts as go TO make
the sum OF that despair which follows
/ hard upon the heels of some climaXing
| catastrophe Eut l do know that as the
! hours dra gSed on Ieaden-shod, slow fe-
yer of lmpauence came to dry the blood
! in my veins: to make me hunger and
| thirst for leave to say the final word to
Father Matthieu, and so TO be set at lib
| erty to find the bottom of the pit into
which a mocking fate had plunged me.
Twas all over now. My dear lad was
told and he had forgiven me; the perse-
cutting. plotting factor was effaced and he
could never trouble my sweet lady more.
Between the two l loved there stood only
the shadow OF the marriage, and this the
! good priest would presently help me to
/ dispel.
And after that l dared not look
! Jeyond There is a way beset with lions.
and any man who bears the name of man
in honor may draw his sword and fix his