Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-12-01

ing, but he had achieved the feat. An
undertaking, by the way, had he but
known it, which the unfortunate
Baron de Croisic had only compassed
because he had been aided by a rope
dropped by the hands Of the fair Je-
hane Grafton's ascent, therefore,
had been unparalleled.
! He waited few moments until he
had recovered himself. and then, al
though he was consumed by an eager
desire, without looking at the shut
tered window, which happened to have
the curtains drawn bofore 1t as well,
he rose slowly to his feet; he took
the coil of rope from lis neck dropped
it down to the foot Of The tower. waited
a few moments ur Il ne felt slight
tug upon it, and then hauled up the
rope, TO the end Of which was fas-
tened one of the heavy graphing irons,
or grapnels, from the ship. He hooked
it securely over the coping, coiled the
signal halliards up at his feet with
sailor-like care and thus having Sc
cured his retrea. turned toward the
window.
Barred shutter fastened inside pre-
vented him from reaching the glass
OF the window or the hangings there
in He could soc nothing. Here was
an unforeseen OILS acle. After all that
he had gone through was he to be
stopped by shutter?
He stood moment thinking deeply
and yet seeing no way. Suddenly he
remembered that there were other
windows on the other sides OF the
orie He stepped quickly around to
the other face. and by happy chance
found one open. The guiding light
had come from it. The curtains hang
ing before it were fluttering in the
air. He drew them aside little and
cautiously looked in.
The room presented an entirely diff
ferent appearance from his remem-
brance of it the night in which he had
held Anne in his arms there. Then
it had been bare. unfinished, empty;
now, thick luXurious rugs were
stretched across the floor, inviting
couches and chairs, and several gilded
tables were scattered around the apart
ment. Rich hangings depended from
the wall. On one table by a vase OF
roses an elaborate candelabra displayed
many lights. A spinet stood against
the wall of the rOom a piece of music
lying upon it's rack. The whole
room was filled with signs of wom-
ans occupancy. What woman?
There was shawl over a chair, "A
shawl he had seen Anne wear; a work
basket sat upon a low table, and in
front of it lay careless little slipper.
lie knew its jeweled buckle. He
longed to get TO n. There was no other
foot in France-in the world, even
for that dainty slipper but hers, he
thought fatuously. In an instant he
OWNED that Anne had indeed come
back and had chosen to make this
room her boudoir His heart gave a
great leap as he thought of that as
ISOLATION of ideas by which she had
been led TO establish herself in thi
spot sacred to both of them.
He would see her in a moment per-
haps. She might be in the adjoining
room yonder. His heart beat louder
than it had on the tower wall. To en-
ter the room seemed almost a sac
rilege. Still, there was no other way
Just as he was about to climb ovel
the sill he heard footstep in the cor
ridor outside the room. For an in
slant he thought it might be hers. blu
a second thought undeceiyed him. II,
drew back, let the curtain fall, anC
waited with his eye comprehendinl
the room through the corner of the
drapery. The door opened the hang
ings before 1t We're lifted, and thu
sturdy figure of Josette appeared il
the doorway.
"Well!" calculated the maid, as sht
stepped into the room and stood look
ing about her with her arms akimbo
that's done. at any rate. Mon Dieu
How beautiful Mademoselle Ann,
looked tonight! But how sad he
heart! 'Helas. Josette,' she said, a,
| was dressing her, i care not how
beautiful l am now And yet Mon
sieur lie Comte is a gallant gentleman