Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-11-11

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no one here who will protest, or say
q word in your defence"
81 will do that, Monsieur lie Cheva-
lier!" a clear voice cried out from the
other end of the hall, as Anne de
Roman, followed by Josette, entered the
door and advanced before the cheva-
lier.
"Mademoiselle de Rohan!" exclaimed
the governor in great surprise, rising
to his feet the while, and bowling pro-
foundly before her, a movement
which of course, was emulated by all
the officers. Here Is no place for
ladies'"
"I am witness In the case, Monsieur
de Ramesay. Am in time to save the
life and honor Of brave man."
'"Th 1e serves you, mademoiselle, but
otherwise your effort is impossible.
Monsieur de vitre 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.
Thank God for that word, mademoi-
selle!" cried de Vitre. "If you believe
in me l can face the rest Of the world
undaunted."
"Silence, Monsieur de Vitre!-Why
saw Won this. mademoiselle?" asked
the governor.
Because there Is an English officer
wounded and a prisoner in my house,
who has learned by chance OF Mon
sieur de Wires predicament and who
vows that he is innocent; that he die
not pilot the ships; that he refused to
do so even at the peril Of his life, and
that he had been held close prisoner
on the English ships since his cap
ture.
"Dr. Arnoux dressed the young Eng
lishman's wounds. He Is a captain In
the English navy. When he recovered
consciousness I 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, then?
'He is too severely wounded, sir,
and the doctor forbade him to move"
"Be seated, mademoiselle. Let US
withdraw, gentlemen, and consider this
communication for a moment" said the
governor, after rejecting deeply for
a short time.
The Chevalier de Ramesay and his
officers stepped to the other end Of the
apartment and intently consulted to-
gether, leaving Anne standing near de
Vitre and his guards.
20 mademoiselle," cried de Vitre to
her, addressing her despite the
presence Of the soldiers, "this is a
public place in which to address you,
but l stand in the shadow Of death and
I must needs take any opportunity
which fate provides me. You have
long known of my devotion to you. |
have not disguised it nor do I wish to
make further protestations to you. |
only want to thank you, as a 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 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 scapegoat, and here
is one ready to hand. Mademoiselle,
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 Vitre! 'Tis most unjust!" cried the
girl piteously, stepping over to him.
"As for my hand" She stretched 1t
out, and, though he was bound and
tied. nothing could have exceeded the
courtly grace with which he bent over
it and pressed long kiss upon 1t.
She held it tightly against his lips.
There is my hand, monsieur!" she
exclaimed, as the soldiers withdrew a
little, cit of consideration for her evil
dent grief. 81 would that my heart
went with it."
Monsieur de Vitre, mademoiselle,' u
said the governor, returning to his
seat, I'VE have carefully considered
the testimony of Mademoiselle dc
Rohan and are Of the opinion that II
is not sufficiently important to cause
us to delay the execution. I fear that
a few days may see the English In
possession Of the town, and that, oi
course, means that you, sir, would es
cape all punishment. AS for the testi
mony of the English officer, he is II
honor bound to extricate his ally from
his predicament, and we question:
"Who questions the word of Capt
Philip Grafton?" cried stern voice, a!
a strangely ill-assorted pair entered tht
hall. One Of the two was a smai!
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 he encircling arm Of huge old
mar in the livery of the Rohans. The
two were Philip and Jean-Renaud.
"Grafton!" cried de Vitre. THANK
God, you have come!"
"Jean-Renaud," exclaimed Anne
"how dared you to bring this gentle