Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-09-03
CHAPTER XIII-(Continued.)

CHAPTER Alll-(COnClnuGQ.)
BE seated, mademoiselle. Let us
withdraw, gentlemen, and consider this
communication for moment" said the
governor, after rejecting deeply for
a short time.
The Cheyalier de Ramsay and his
officers stepped to the other end Of the
apartment and intently consulted to-
gether, leaving Anne standing near de
Wire and his guards,
20 mademoiselle." cried de Wire to
her, addressing her despite the
presence of the soldiers, this is a
public place in which to address you,
but stand insthe shadow of death and
must needs take any opportunity
which fate provides me. You have
long known of my devotion to you. I
have not disguised it nor do | wish to
make further protestations to you. !
only want to thank you as man dy-
ing, for the brave stand you have
taken In attempting to save not only
my life, but what is dearer to me-my
honor. Thank Capt. Grafton, too, for
his good words, though feel they will
be useless. The evidence against me Is
strong. This cursed uniform is the
last straw. Ranking underline defeat
of the morning, and with the certainty
of surrender before them. they are too
bitter to weigh well what they are do
Ing. They want scapegoat, and here
10 70 hand Malop,nfco11o
one last favor. 1t 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 Wire! 'Tis most unjust!" cried the
girl piteously, stepping over to him.
"As for my hand" She stretched it
out, and, though he was bound and
tied, nothing could have exceeded the
courtly grace with which he bent over
1t and pressed q long kiss upon 1t.
She held 1t 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. Il would that my heart
went with it."
Monsieur de Wire, mademoiselle,"
said the governor, returning to his
seat. 1--WE have carefully considered
the testimony of Mademoiselle de
Rohan and are Of the opinion that It
is not sufficiently important to cause
- to ds,ay the execution. fear that
few days may see the English in
possession of the town, and that, Of
course, means that you, sir, would es-
cape all punishment. AS for the testi-
mony of the English officer, he is in
honor bound to extricate his ally from
his predicament, and we question:"
who questions the word of Capt.
Philip Grafton?" cried stern voice, as
a strangely ill-assorted pair entered thu
hall. One of the two was small
slender man, only partially clothed,
whose face was CHASTITY pale and who
held his left hand pressed against his
right shoulder. He would have fallen
to the floor but that he was supported
by the encircling arm Of a huge old
man in the livery of the Rohans. The
two were Philip and Jean-Renaud.
"Grafton!" cried de Vitre. THANK
God, you have GOMEZ"
"Jean-Renaud," exclaimed Anne,
show dared you to bring this gentle-
man here! Against the Doctors or
ders and mine! His life"
Peace, mademoiselle!" interrupted
Grafton. II came here because l
feared what has happened, that they
would not accept your testimony.
Your servant but obeyed my orders, he
had no choice!"
"But your life, monsieur!" said
Anne.
II peril 1t gladly to save the honor
of brave gentleman, though an
enemy. Monsieur lie Gouverneur, You
are about to execute this gentleman
There was dead silence in the
room.
ut is true" answered Mademoiselle
de Rohap.
at must not go on!" cried Grafton,
II swear to you on my honor as an
English gentleman that Monsieur de
Wire is innocent! He is no traitor:
on the contrary, he deserves your high
est commentator. He refused to pilot