Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-11-11
cOpyrish,, 1901, By D. App. ,son 3 Co., New York.
CHAPTER XIV.
GRAFTON TO THE RESCUE.

~ Denis de Vitre, in the hate
A full uniform of the English
army, stood bound and fac
ing the governor and his staff In the
great hall Of the castle. The sun
light sparkled in through the long,
narrow lancet windows with their
loaded, diamond-shaped panes, and
made strange traceries upon the pol
ished oaken floor. Pictures Of the for
mer governors of New France looked
down upon the little scene from the
walls. There was the dauntless Cham
plain, the veteran La Barre, the court
ly du Quesne, and, conspicuous among
the rest, the grim, eagle-like figure Of
the greatest of all-old Frontenac.
The history Of the province was some
how summed up in that old vaulted
chamber, and de vitre felt as If he
were on trial before the heroism Of the
past as well as the disorganization Of
the present.
Monsieur de Vitre, you are accused
of having betrayed your country by
plotting the English ships up the
river" began the governor.
"And who is my accuser, Monsieur
de Ramesay" answered de Vitre,
boldly.
Common report"
"And does common report, sir, out
weigh the word of honor of an officer
and a gentleman"
do you deny the charge, mon
sieur?"
"Sir, upon my word of honor, I de-
clare it to be false in every partlcu-
lar!"
"But, sir, you were seen, recognized
by officers stationed on Cap-Tour-
mente, on the forward part of the first
English ship to pass the promontory.
There was q group OF English officers
around you. You seemed to be point
ing-is it no so, Maj. st. Luc?"
"It Is indeed true, sir. saw Mon
sieur de Vitre myself" answered the
officer, promptly.
eff Monsieur St Luc had seen me
one-half hour sooner he would have
noticed me standing on the rail Of the
ship with q rope around my neck,
about to be hanged as common felon
for refusing to show the way to the
English"
Can this be true, sir?" asked the
governor in surprise.
"On my faith it is. give you my
word, sir"
eve don't accept the word Of a man
accused of treachery, sir. Although
l have no doubt you were on the rail,
as you say, yet have also no doubt
but that the presence Of the rope
proved efficacious."
mon Dieu, what an infamous
charged" cried de Vitre, white with
rage and passion at this insult, striv-
ing to break away from his guards.
The governor watched him coolly
until he ceased to struggle; then, nom
chalantly taking a pinch OF snuft:
BE calm, monsieur" he added. II
might have taken your word, but there
Is another circumstance which must
be explained, and which makes 1t diff
cult to credit your story. The dress
you wear-it Is an English coat"
MAY it please Monsieur le Cow
erneur," spoke up the sergeant, Il
saw him in the front rank Of the Eng
lish as they charged us. He carried
. musket in his hand"
"That is true" answered de Vitre,
T was there"
"Did you discharge the musket?"
"Yes, Monsieur le Chevalier-that
is, I had done So"
"At the troops of France?"
Eyes, but"
A roar Of rage swept through the
hall as the men heard this damning
admission.
"Why hear any more, Monsieur lie
Chevalier?" burst out Capt. Rouvigny
voicing the thought of the others. III
he be not a self-convicted traitor, lei
him be shot as a deserter."
"Messieurs, you must hear me!
You shall!" exclaimed de Vitre. 81
have been a prisoner in the English
feet. Through the connlvance or 6
soldier In their marine procured this
uniform. I escaped from the shiI
last night. hoped to reach the towr
and warn you and Monsieur de Mont
calm of the expected attack on the
town before morning, but I found II
impossible to get away. l was com
PEELED to stay in the ranks, and witt
difficulty escaped detection. l posed
as a renegade or I would have been
killed out of hand. My gun was not
loaded with ball. looked carefully
to that, gentlemen. l swear to you
threw it away at the first moment and
ran to Join my friends. AS there is
q God in Heaven, Monsieur lie Chew
alier, speak the truth! l beg you
to hold me until you can communicate
with the English and verify my state
ment."
1--WE cannot hold the town a week
Monsieur de Vitre," returned the gov
ernor quickly. And to defer your
punishment until the English take Us
would mean to let you escape scot
free. Frankly, do not believe your
story. What say you, gentlemen"
mo, no, he is traitor! Away with
him." cried one and another.
Gentlemen, If l ever escape from
this predicament," answered de Vitr'
boldly, "rest assured that you shal
answer to me for your words and &C
tions!"
."This Is idle talk. monsieur" sale