The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-05-20

~A>SS6ea 0sesssssceess.a
! mute eyes now and again sought mine,
| could not find 1t in my heart to cen
sure him. Having distanced my poorly
mounted purauers | stopped to water
NY horse at the spring before riding
he few hundred yards to the gates Of
.'artillon. While yet waiting by the
spring ] was Mortified to see men
| struggling on top of the great tower.
Their fight was brief and decisive.
Two of them. one. being Maurice my
most trusted man at arms, were
thrown violently to athe courtyard be-
'ow. or the Others some were killed
some overpowered and carried below
again.
All of this took only an instant. for
II appeared but the end OF desperate
encounter which had been raging else
where. The time. however was long
enough for me to see that those Of the
.arger party wore the white sash and
,ross which distinguished my assail-
| ants in Rouen.
God In heaven, what murders work
nave we at CartiIlon?' | cried aloud
| IN my misery. Then one who could an
swcr came running toward me from
| the castle, gashed, with snapped sword
| III hand.
"Oh, master master, the Catholics.
| the Catholics" was all he could speak
| put before he fell a senseless mass at
| my horses feet.
Cartillon was not now refuge.
| Immediately the distant sound of
1oof beats came loud and louder yet,
rom the direction of Rouen Ortez
VAS coming.
"Quicl. CASTOR. we must NY
| NV OycrtaXeI horse failed me now,
pulling the rein he only sank slowly
| o his knees, and after a few spas
nodic witches, stiffened out forever
Ipon the rocky road. l stood erect a
moment, child in arms. irresolute
There WIS short shrift to think. My
! blood rebelled at flight.
Here, CASTOR. take the boy. hide in
The wood, Carry him to the Abbot OF
| Vaux, and conjure the good priest, by
| our fathers love and ours, to save my
| oaby."
| CASTOR had hardly passed from sight
among the trees before a dozen we'll
armed horscmen, bearing the same
white cross IN their caps, spurred
| ,ocnd II curve in the forest road. com
ng suddenly upon me beside my faller
| :tccd Sword in hand, l fronted them
| determined come what would. to fly nc
| further. The evil face of OrteZ shont
with qualification at so unexpectedly
| finding me alone.
Nov, yield thee. slrrah," he cried
as his men surrounded me. A qucl
thrust through the body of his horse
brought him to the ground.
mot yet. thou slayer of women: here
upon equal footing. thy life shall pa,
| for those of wife and child"
| j verify believed the Almighty ven
| geance was In my blade, and doubt no
| should have slain him despite hi
| troopers, but for a crushing pike blow
| over the head, so swiftly did it all com,
| about.
MY brain reeled the sword dropped
| Changing from my nerveiess hand
| When I recovered, ] found mysel
bound upon a horse behind one of tn
! men.
/ 'on with him, men, to Cartillon
there we rest this night in tho king
name.
In this wise we rode along; Orte
openly cXultant. | silent and scornful.
AHA. my fine brother he spoke 10,
at my saddle. thy fathers son ha
| thee in his power now. And shall no
revenge thee the wrong our father di
my mother for thine? Didst know tn
story"
| made no reply, but he went on ur
mindful.
40 my mother he CAV
his love, but dared not civ
his name: to thy mother he gave hi
name but could never give his low,
SO thou art the proud lord of Cartillol
and l the outcnst soldier of fortune
the nameless adventurer, slayer c
women-what thou wilt. But thing
are changed now Before many hour
will be the Count d'Artin, and tho
a dishonored corpse, sweet brother
Thou. Thou my brother?"
1, 1.,.,lr - a.,
lous contempt, yet, for ! had hear
some such tale of my fathers youth,
asked:
"Thy mother was--?"
"Nanon Esculas, whom thy fathe
abducted In Spain to desert In France.
MY heart sank; had seen the Won
an. and knew her son for one Of tn
most courageous and unprincipled ad
venturers who hung about the coul
and held their swords for hire. Whe
the noisy troop rode up to the gates {
Cartlllon their leader paused. hea
appeared upon the battlements.
"Guise," cried OrteZ, giving tn
watchword of that day OF slaughte
The drawbridge lowered, and ope
swung the gates
welcome to Cartillon, d'Artin," o.
tez bowed. Here at last we find res
and refreshment. Let a feast
spread In the great hall, ransack tn
place for good cheer We've done braN
work this glorious day, my lads. and
merry ending Wen have before tn
night Is gone"
Everywhere in the courtyard WEI
evidences of bloody conflict. Singly,
groups, in hideous, crimson-s plashe
piles lay Catholics and Huguenots t.
gether peaceful enough in death.
. by my faith. and gallant set
gentlemen we have here" laughed o.
! tez. What think you, brother mine
And as he spoke he leaned from h
saddle to strike down half dyir
wretch who lifted his head from amor
the slain.
Perez" he called to his sergeant ri,
t les. Throw the hereto dogs into Il
\ old we'll yonder. Give our martyrt
. friends Christian burial"
al He sat on his horse idly toying wi
his dagger, and forced me to watch n
servants, the wounded and the dea
being cast into the yawning darkne
! of the we'll.
Gods blood! here Is our swe
; young Philip. What, not yet dea
: Why, 1t matters not, cast him in" TT
!, in answer to a questioning look fro
the more merciful Perez.
. The men at arms had extricated fro
: heap of slain the limp body of n
. youngest brother, a boy Of 20, his pail
!, face gaping open from cut across t
) cheek. He lifted his eyes languidly
= mine.
'.Oh,s brother, you are come. Scr
I water, water" he murmured.
Throw him in, men," Ortez int
I, rnpted.
Perez yet hesitated.
shall we not first dispatch hi
, sire?"
i
,, brother; throw him In. Be not slt
about III, either. thou chicken heart
/ DULLES. pitch him in.
The men started to obey this sava
order.
Hound of hell!n' screamed, tt