Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-11-17

Il am witness in the case. Monsieur
de Ramsay. Am | in time to save the
life and honor of a brave man."
Thine serves YOU. madempisele, but
otherwise your effort is impossible.
Monsieur de Wire was seen this morn
ing in the English ranks in their uni
form-indeed he has it on now. He
bore arms against us in the field. He
admits it, He is believed to have acted
as pilot for the English ships
"'Tis false, sir" interrupted the
girl.
THANH God for that word, mademoi-
selle" cried de Wire. "If you believe
in me can face the rest of the world
undaunted'
"Silence. Monsieur de Nitre.-Why
say you this. mademoiselle?" asked
the governor.
Because there is an English officer
wounded and q prisoner in my house
who has learned by chance Of Mon
sieur de Wires predicament and who
vows that he is innocent; that he did
not pilot the ships. that he refused to
do SO even at the peril Of his life. and
that he had been held a close prisoner
ON the English ships since his cap
ture.
"Dr Armour dressed the young Eng
lshman's wounds He Is captain in
the English navy. When he recovered
consciousness | mentioned Monsieur
de Wires predicament and he insisted
that must come to tell you this story,
and if you doubted it was TO ask you
to send an officer TO question him"
"Why came he not himself them
"He is too severely wounded, sir.
and the doctor forbade him 10 move
BE seated, mademoisele. Let us
withdraw. gentlemen. and consider this
communication for moment said the
governor. after rejecting deeply for
a short time.
The Chcvalier de Ramesay and his
officers stepped to the other end Of the
apartment and intently consulted to-
eethor leaving Anne standing near do
Wire and his guards
20 mademoisele," cried dc Wire to
her. addressing her despite the
presence of the soldiers. this is
public place in which to address you,
but | stand in the shadow of death and
must needs take any opportunity
which fate provides me. You have
long known of my devotion to you. |
have not disguised it nor do | wish to
make further prOtestatiOns TO you. ]
only want to thank you. as a man dy-
ing. for the brave stand You have
"
my life, but what is dearer 10 me-my
nonor. Thank Capt Grafton, too. for
his good words. though ! feel they will
he useless The evidence against me is
strong. This cursed uniform is the
last straw. Ranking under the defeat
of the morning, and with the certainty
of surrender before them. they are too
bitter to weigh we'll what they are do
ing. They want a scapegoat, and here
is one ready to hand, Mademoisele.
one last favor. It means but little per-
haps TO You but much to me. cannot
go to you Will you not reach hither
your hand""
They must not kill you, Monsieur
de Vitre It's most unjust" cried the
girl piteously stepping over to him.
"As for my hand" She stretched il
tied, nothing could have exceeded the
courtlv grace with which he bent over
1t and pressed a Ions kiss upon it.
She held it tightly against his lips.
There is my hand, monsieur.' she
exclaimed. as the soldiers withdrew E
little, out of consideration for her evil
dent grief. 81 would that my heart
, went with it,
Monsieur dc Wire, mademoisele,'
said the governor, returning to his
seat, we have carefully considered
the testimony of Mademoiselle d,
Rohan and are of the opinion that i
is not sufficiently important to cause
us to delay the execution. | fear tina
, a few days may see the English il
possession of the town, and that, o
course, means that YOU sir, would es
cape all punishment. AS for the testi
mony Of the English officer, he is il
honor bound to extricate his ally from
his predicament, and we question
who questions the word of Capt
Philip Grafton?" cried a stern voice. n
n a strangely ill-assorted pair entered tn
II hall One of the two was SINAI
> slender man, only partially clothed
whose face was CHASTITY pale and VIII
u held his left hand pressed against hi
q right shoulder. He would have falle
TO the floor but that he was supporte
by the encircling arm of huge oil
man in the livery OF the Rohans. TIL
: two were Philip and Jean-Renaud.
"Grafton," cried de Wire. Than
<, God. you have come"
= Jean Remand" exclaimed Anne
If how dared you to bring this gentle
IS man here! Against the Doctors OF
/ ders and mine. His life
II Peace. mademoiselle." interrupte
Grafton. Il came here because
h feared what has happened, that the
would not accept your testimon.
n Your servant hut obeyed my orders.
"a had no choice!"
II But your life, monHeur!" sal
= Anne.
Il peril it gladly to save the homo
ID OF brave gentleman. though a
J. enemy. Monsieur lie Gouverneur, 70
.r are about to execute this gentleman
N There was dead silence in tn
10 room.
is 1T is true" answered Mademoisel
" de Rohan.
,,i,. ft<N