Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-11-10

doorstep. was IL moments. or hours, or
weeks, ago? He stared at her In silence
for moment and then strove to rise.
He fell back, however. with the pain
from the effort. A groan burst from
his lips.
"You are not to rise," she said
quickly, stepping over to the bed and
laying her hand upon him--how her
heart responded to this living touch
you are to lie perfectly quiet"
She strove vainly to compose her
voice in spite Of her agitation. She
clinched her hand resolutely. deter
mined not to betray herself. She
kept hes head slightly turned away.
IL he looked at her as Of old, II he
pleaded with her. she felt that she
could not withstand him.
Yes" she added. in response to the
look of inquiry in his face. you are
in Quebec. A soldier brought you.
You fell at my door"
The battle?' he whispered.
Fortune was with you this time,
monsieur" she answered sadly, land
my countrymen were defeated"
Thank you. mademoselle," replied
Grafton, "but | must CO."
But you are a prisoner. We still
hold the city"
but the trouble to YOU" muir
INJURED Grafton. this trespass on your
hospitality"
you are friend of Monsieur de
Wire
De vitre!" he exclaimed. do you
know him."
"Yes. he is a prisoner in the Chateau
st. Louis now
"A prisoner" he asked in weak as
tonish ment why, left him"
But you must not talk any more"
she said again. "Ah, here is the doc
tori" she cried. as she heard steps on
the stairs, and the old surgeon, fol-
lowed by Jean Renaud and Josette,
entered the room. The two servants
recognized Grafton at once, but Anne
laid a warning finger on her lips and
they kept silence.
-mademoiselle. Have
you turned your house into a hos
pital?" cried the doctor, Where is
the PATIENT"
He hustled over to the side OF the
bed and looked keenly at the young
man before him.
Where is the wound. Sir English
man? All, in the shoulder" His deft
hands were busy with the bandages
meanwhile. And monsieur has been
shot in the back"
Il was not running away, sir, I
would have you know" protested
Grafton, with unusual vigor.
why, no. of course mott" said the
doctor soothingly.
Il was captured by your cavalry,
monsieur, and probably shot by stray
bullet from our own line"
quite SO, and the bullet has made
nice hole clean through your Shout
der. If you lie quiet for few days,
week or so, think all will be we'll with
you. Now the cut in the arm. All.
It's not serious either!"
The doctor skillfully rebandaged the
wounds after applying healing dress
ing. and then complimented mademoi-
tied the original bandages. Leaving
some medicine to keep down any In
hammation or fever, and giving some
directions as to the diet Of the invalid
directions which were wonderfully
simplified by a great scarcity OF food.
for the town was practically In
state of starvation-the doctor pre-
pared to leave
mo, no, mademoiselle." he said, as
she pressed him to remain. Il have no
time. The city is full Of wounded and
dying, Every one is pressed into
service"
Can ! not be taken away, mon
siour?"
NO. no, On no account, You must
lie quite still!--I will look in on him
tomorrow, mademoiselle." said the
doctor turning TO leave the room.
( "Adieu."
Are you dissatisfied with your
quarters, monsieur but you have not
told me your name" asked Anne.
II am Philip Grafton, captain in his
Britannia majesty's navy; and you
Arc"
II am--Alixe de Couedic, monsieur
at your service"
She gave him secondary title in
her family, and one Of her many hap
tismal names which he had never
heard
"Ah you remind me.-but no.
/ Mademoiselle de Couedc? Yet, It's a
Breton name. Know you the family
OF de Rohan, mademoiscle ,"
"They come from Brest and Finis-
terre, monsieur. We are from Morbi-
han"
There was little silence In the
room, and both were thinking Of the
old chateau and that halcyon night
| lie looked again at her. Strange! Yet
it could not be- De Couedic? He did
not know the name, and yet
you were speaking OF Monsieur de
| Wire a moment since. mademoiselle,"
finally said Grafton.
! She noticed his voice was visibly
stronger under the doctors strength
ening cordial, and that he looked bet
ter already.
Eyes, Monsieur Grafton. he was at
my door when you fell dressed in the
uniform Of your country. He was rec
ognized TITS said that he piloted the
English ships up the river, betraying
his country. The mob wanted to hang