Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-10-25


the chateau, except the guards at 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 seaward side Of the chateau.
Moving circumspectly he had met no
one nor had he attracted the atten-
ton Of any sleeper.
He stepped quickly through the great
room to the oriel. He stood for 4
moment on the balcony looking out to
sea. 1t was 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.
churned into foam over the reefs at
the foot Of the cliffs.
He hesitated as he surveyed the
scene; although his purpose was un-
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
against him. Things looked different
ly in the night time. A slip, misstep.
fall, and death would be the end,
death on the rocks 200 feet below,
with the white foam for 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
suddenly went back to the little girl
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
as it may seem, he felt pang Of re-
gret when he realized that once he
stepped over the balcony wall and es-
sayed the descent he should be parted
from her forever In death or In iber-
ty 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 dimmed
by the certain sadness Of that inevita-
BILE parting. Yet the feeling was not
strong enough to deter him-then. 1t
was deep enough, however, to give
him pause. He fingered, thinking
swiftly. 1t was duty that turned the
scale-duty and love are antagonists
Of old.
He had learned something about the
French fleet 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 tie possibility Of escape pre-
sented itself, at all hazards he must
make an effort to reach the ships. The
marquis had spoken once or twice
about exchange, but nothing had yet
come from it and such matters were
slow at best.
AS It 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 to attempt the descent
Yet it was a forbidding undertaking
now that he had settled upon it 1t
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.
Death-love-lib would be
the end? Pshaw! He would think no
more. he would do it!
He climbed up on 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 to the coping Of the bal
cony, which he determined not to let
60 Of until he was sure of foot rest
Then he stretched out his right leg
and felt about in the shadow until
finally his foot hit the first projection.
He breathed 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 un-
der his feet hid their terrors from him.
He intended to try it with his face
outward, his back in the angle, his
hands and feet outstretched, clutching
at or feeling for every inequality. He
was about to let go. Another moment
and he had gone, when he felt a
familiar little hand laid upon his arm.
Come back. come back, you will be
killed." whispered small frightened
voice. He was so startled in spite OF
the quietness Of her address that he
nnorl1 Loot bic hold and fell He re-