Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-12-08

| movement, in the excitement of the
passing moments.
Nov Modcmoiselle de Rohan." he
laid harshly, since this play has been
played out and the actors in the little
)omedy have departed, will you be
,ood enough to explain the situation?
Mil you tell me who it was that wore
tosettc's cloak; who listened in the
armory; whom you have entertained
IN this room. whom you conceal in
your chamber"
"What mean you, monsieur" she
faltered. all her terror coming back
again. Monsieur de Wire
"De Wire is a fool exclaimed the
marquis angrily land yet admire the
man He took it all upon himself like
a gallant gentleman
Monsieur de Wire told nothing but
the truth. monsieur"
quite So" answered the marquis,
with difficulty restraining himself. He
was in deadly earnest, with the sup
pressed fury of his most dangerous
moment quite so. | have no doubt
he told the truth. 1t spoke in his eyes.
But did he tell it all? You answer not.
! But what need? Did Monsieur de
Wire leave this hat ON the table? l
. have seen hats like that, mademoiselle,
but upon English heads"
Monsieur" stammered the girl.
40 more faltering," continued the
marquis, pacing back and forth before
her He is here A lover in your
room, an Englishman, and you have
betrayed me, betrayed your honor;
you---" he used a harsh word from
the camps stand aside!"
He laid his hand roughly on her
arm. She struggled to bar the way,
moaning family. The door was thrown
open. the hangings dashed apart, and
Grafton, sword in hand sprang into
the room. At last!
Monsieur lie Marquis" he cried,
"release mademoiselle, By heaven,
no man lays hand upon her when
am by, not even though he be her
father!"
Captain Grafton!" exclaimed the
marquis involuntarily letting go his
eranddaughter's wrist and falling
back in great surprise, you here, sir?'
Why not? | love the Countess de
Rohan, and. presumptuous as | may
seem, dare to affirm that she loves
me as well. Indeed, sir since the mo-
ment held her in my arms five years
ago in this very chamber at midnight,
and kissed away her tears, l have loved
her The fortune OF war brought me
wounded TO her fee. in Canada, sir,
and there | found l loved her still,
and, what was more, | learned that
she had not forgotten me. She left
me behind wounded and ill., but ! fol-
lowed her here. Sir, l have come to
claim her"
MY Cod" faltered the marquis, as
if dazed by this sudden development
of the situation, "and | trusted her to
your honor!" He looked years older
at that instant, his face blanched and
working. Grafton pitied him.
Monsieur, pledge you that honor
that | left her as sweet and innocent
child as when I first knew her.
And yet you came from her bed
chamber even now and you kissed her
at midnight"
"Twas five years since, SIR
do you love this man, Anne?"
More than heaven itself" she an
swered, stepping to his side.
"And you came to take her away,
sir, Hike a thief in the night?" sneered
the marquis, his color coming back as
he mastered his surprise and regained
a portion of his self-commanu.
I'VE had gone, sir, a moment since. -
broke in Grafton ruthlessly, irrtated
by the sncor, had we not been inter-
rupted."
Mon Dieu, it's impossible you can
love this Englishman Anne."
AN American, sir"
peace. 'Tis all one. This officer
this enemy of France, this commoner.'
yes murmured the girl
"Nou love him more than family
than country than rank, than station
than honor?'
More than all the world, monsieur.
and you were here alone with him
at midnight in this tower? He kissed
you?'
yes, monsieur, but was only a
child
lbu lltl HVu min III clthilcsS III Nuii-
ada
yes, monsieur"
"Were you about to fly with him this
evening, as he says?"
Yes"
And he came from your bed-cham-
Der, On, mon Dieu, mon Dieu"
screamed the old man passion, de-
spair, wounded pride, quenched ambi-
ton, frantic rage in his voice. 1.-The
deep dishonor Of it, This from my
granddaughter, this from a child OF
my ancient house, An innocence
gone, a reputation blasted character
compromised,
"Sdeath, SIR burst out Grafton
Speak you thus TO your own? She
Is as pure as an angel from heaven.
As I live, were you not her grand
sire, and an Old man. Ia strike you
down.
And | thought her ragged the ole
man, contemporary disregardina
him, like Caesars wife, above sus-
picion. Monsieur, you have betrayed
my trust, you have violated my sacred
hospitality, you have compromised
my grandchild in the eyes Of the