The Cairo bulletin., 1904-08-17
CHAPTER VIII.
THE END OF THE PLAY.

To him that afternoon. lHuetu, ~ hod
grown upon him with each rasslnS
moment. He lay awake for hours after
he had retired and Anatole had been
dismissed, waiting until the people IN
the chateau except the guards ut the
gate and the watchmen on the walls,
had all gone to sleep And for a true
knight his thoughts at least were re-
creant, since he dreamed not OF the
Lady Anne but of freedom.
Toward midnight he arose, dressed
himself quickly, and softly stole
through the deserted halls until he
came to the unoccupied chamber in
the round tower. No especial watch
was kept upon him. no guards were
stationed upon the tower and but few
on the seward side Of the chateau.
Moving circumspectly he had met no
one nor had he attracted the at.en-
lion of any sleeper
He stepped quickly through the great
room to the oriel He stood for q
moment on the balcony looking oct to
sea. Ii was 4. bright moonlight night
Away on the horizon twinkled the
faint yellow light of the English ships
Far below him in the shadow OF the
cliffs the waves were breaking in sui
len splashing upon the splintered
shore. He could hear the rhythmical
persistent beat of their tireless assault
upon the rocks, see the white water,
shot with phosphorescent sparks,
ehurned into foam over the reefs at
the foot of the cliffs.
lie hesitated as he surveyed the
scene; although his purpose was UNI
changed he realized as he had not
before. that his undertaking was
fraught with the greatest danger He
might reach the foot of the cliff alive
or he might not The chances were
aganst him. Things looked different
~ In the night time. A slip, Inisstep.
fan, and death would be the end,
death on the rocks 200 feet below.
with the white foam for a shroud, and
the ebbing tide to bear him far out
to sea.
Yet he must needs go on, But as he
made ready TO descend. his thoughts
SQUutHl1 went htiNR ~ Wv tANAiN &c.
who had been his playmate during
the past few weeks. He had almost
forgotten her for the moment. Was
he a recreant knight thereby? His
conscience reproached him. Strange
rs it may seem. he felt a pang OF re-
greet when he realized that once he
stepped over the balcony wall and es-
~ oh l,o artxc Il
from her forever. In death or in liber-
~ they would be equally separated
The little Rose of Rohans-to see her
no more, The thought gave him a
peculiar feeling. He paused. reluctant
He was surprised at himself.
The little maiden with her mingling
of childish innocence and womanly
charm had grown very dear to him.
and the JOY he anticipated in soon
regaining his liberty was sadly dJmmcd
by the certain sadness OF that inevita-
Bile parting Yet the feeling was not
strong enough to deter him-then. Il
was deep enough. however. TO give
him pause. He fingered thinking
swiftly. II was duty that turned the
scale-duty and love are antagonists
of old.
He had learned something about the
French feet in Brest and the location
of the defenses in the harbor in his
rapid ride through the town when he
came to the chateau. and from his
frequent although apparently cursory
examinations OF the position from the
towers and walls he had learned more.
His information would be OF great
value. He was an officer Of the king
and when the possibility of escape pre-
scented itself. at all hazards he must
make an effort to reach the ships. The
marquis had spokcA once or twice
about exchange. but nothing had yet
come from II and such matters were
slow at best
AS Il seemed more feasible. as the
possibility approached nearer, his de-
sire grew. The OBTAINING image of the
French girl grew fainter Duty, lib
erty. freedom. action-what child could |
stand in the way? Therefore again he
determined tc attempt the descent
Yet IL was a forbidding undertaking |
Il
now that he had settled upon it. II
had seemed easier in the daylight than
at night time The bend of the wall
cast the corner in a black shadow. the
more intense on account of the bright
ness of the moonlight beyond.
His mind was in strange turmoil, |
ove-liberty-what would be
the-end? Pshaw! He would think no
more. he would do it,
He climbed up or the stone railing
OF the balcony. turned his back toward
the tower. slid along the coping stone
until he could feel the angle between
the walls with his hand. his shoulders
touching either side of the angle He
held firmly tc the coping of the bal
cony, which he determined not to LET
go of until he was sure of a foot rest
Then he stretched out his right Ter
and felt about in the shadow until
finally bis foot hit the first projection.
He bresthed prayer and prepared to
descend. He was glad the angle was
in the shadow. He could not see what
was beneath him. The black cliffs TN