The San Francisco call., 1904-08-14

remaining bandits ny1ng Wildly 10 Ine
hills; then some one spoke to her, and
she burst into a flood Of tears.
coed God, mademOiselle! what does
this mean-who are you? How did you
come to this placer"
She raised her eyes. and found her
self face to face with a man Of fine
presence. and apparently Of some 30
years Of age. He wore the uniform Of
a regiment Of hussars, bright blue in
colcr and heavily laced with gold.
do not be afraid, beg Of you" he
said. Il am the Count of Folk; these
are my men. You have nothing to fear
from them"
She dried her tears and answered him
quite frankly:
My home is at ST. Girons-I arrived
there from Paris yesterday-if you
could send a message there, my hus-
band would be very grateful to you"
He turned and called a trooper to
him. Nothing was easier than to do as
she asked.
You are staying with the Prince.
then, madame?" he asked.
Il am his wife," she said.
The Count regarded her with a look
expressing both amazement and incre-
dulity.
THE wife OF my Prince, madamei-
impossible! This is his own regiment.
Please do not Jest with me. I am one
of his Highness' oldest friends"
Sir" she said, Il would ask you if
any one in my circumstances would
wish to Jest. If you doubt me send to
st. Gircns at once. do not know
-6ok ,Tfx
You can understand what 1 suffer-
He did not seem to hear her; his hes
itation was not to be disguised. Some
of the hussars, by this time, had dis
mounted from their horses and they
held them in a circle about the inn
door. The Iandlady had gone flying
into the house at the first word spoken.
The bandit, Alonzo, hung limp and
dead above the moaning cascade. They
hanged him without pity from branch
Of the oak in the garden of the inn.
When the Count next spoke, he gave
an order which sent six Of the troopers
at the gallop toward ST. Girons.
Let me have tidings before sunset.
The Prince is to know that have rid
den to the frontier with this lady. IL
you find any stranger in the castle.
hang him without question; say that
the COmte de Folk is your authority.
You others, get a litter ready. Madame
cannot walk. Let a file go to Merens
and prepare breakfast. We shall be
there in an hour
She slipped the spirit and 1t stimu-
lated her courage; remembering that
the greater danger had passed, she
begged to be taken to st. Girons.
IF you will allow one of your men to
accompany me. I am sure I can ride
there she pleaded. cit cannot be very
far from here. Count. I am well
enough for that"
The Count shook his head. His man
ner was kindly; but he was plainly OBJ
durate
BY no means we'll enough" he said;
you forget that one hours journey
down the pass will be three hours
up. 1t is a hard and difficult road
which a stranger follows at his peril.
Besides, we shall ascertain at Merens
what are the Princes wishes. 1 i'm
agine he will say that have done well
and that am TO take you to Cadi
without loss Of time"
You do not consider my anxiety. +"
she protested. ''WilI you not think OF
that? I cannot bear the suspense!"
Your anxiety is unnecessary" he re-
piled, suavely. II have no doubt what
ever Of the Princes safety. These men
are vulgar thieves. They will scatter
directly a troop appears in the hills. I
imagine they were in ignorance that
the Prince was at st. Girons. They
certainly have not courage enough to
do him an injury!"
With this and similar assurances he
did his best to persuade her. She
thought it a little odd that he had
never once spoken Of her marriage or
appeared TO recognize Ii. He addressed
her as a stranger, II may be as one
who had shared the hospitality OF ST.
Girons; but Of her act and its -conse-
quences he was careful not to speak.
In any case we shall not be long in
doubt" he said; my men have definite
instructions and will obey them TO the
letter. If you feel equal to it, we will
now go on to Merens; L am sure 1t is
the wiser course, madame"
It was plain to her that he would in
sist upon it. and the futility OF further
protest being evident, she gave her re-
Iuctant consent and thanked him for
his SOl1c1tuOe- troopers udus Dy THIS
time. contrived a rude litter Of poles
and sheeting and IN this way they car
ried her from the inn-for she was far
too weak to walk, and even the most
trihing exertion caused her an effort.
Esther wondered. in spite OF all, II any
English girl had ever crossed the
mountains in such a fashion-escorted
by a hundred Spanish hussars who had
snatched her from insult or from
death. The troopers jangling arms
the bugle's deep note. the tossing
plumes, the capering horses. suggested
some wild pageant OF the hills which nc
story book surpassed. Her magma
ton would have delighted in such q
spectacle but for that vivid doubt
which followed every step and ha-
rassed her unpityingly. Was Arthur
alive? When and where would he come
to her? Had her love dream ended for
ever? She knew not. Some crisis OF hel
fate had overtaken her. and the future