Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-05-11

I
As midnight struck he was suddenly
jerked from his bed. Sleep was heavy
upon him. for he had drunk deep all
day; and he only wake fully 10 find
himself. very insuffieiently clothed and
with his hands bound. standing among
six men, all of them in black, with
black masks over their eyes.
'Sbloodl" cried NJ. lie Marquis,
"who are you?"
There was no reply. They led him
down his own stairs and into his own
courtyard, where the wind snapped
cruelty at his half-naked limbs, and
through his own gates into a coach
that waited outside NJ. lie Marquis
was bitter cold; he was going. Who
ever these men were. to his death.
Above ALL he was a ridiculous object.
and knew It.; but he bore himself at
his proudest. The coach stopped. and
they hailed him into a dark building.
Not till each of the six had lighted
torch did he recognize it for Baptiste's
booth. NJ. lie Marquis blood boiled.
He was in the hands, then, of the
/ players, the lowest OF mankind. II
seemed to him that he had touched
the bottom Of degradation. He did
not know what was in store for HIM
They led him on TO the stage, and
here one of them. whom he knew now
to be Baptiste himself, faced him M
lie Marquis" said he, there is little
need of words This afternoon there
was one white thing among us-you
have soiled it, Yeu have done just
what we all have vowed should never
pass unavenged. She was the honor
of my company-you have sullied IT,
She was its luck-you have broken it.
Monsieur, this afternoon you struck
me in the face; but it is not for q blow
but for a kiss that | now strike you
thusl"
He laughed as he wiped from his
knuekles the blood Of NJ lie Marquis
lip. 1T is not blue. after all!' said
he but the words we're lost in the roar
of ribaldry and rage that burst. at the
signal of that blow. from the other
FIVE They were players, and the
things they said and did TO NJ. lie Mar
quis can hardly be described. Then
one drew his sword and cut him on the
knee. Dance, mountebank!" cried he,
and NJ. lie Marquis needs must dance,
barefooted and barelegged, at which !
the men roared with laughter, and |
pricked him with swords TO new ef- |
forts. One crept behind him. "A kiss |
for a kiss!' said be, and his teeth met !
in NJ le Marquis ear. "A hug for a
hug!" cried another, gripping him tin |
his ribs cracked. Sing, eatl" laughed |
another, cutting a skin-deep cash in
his throat The end came soon.
Bleeding from 20 scratches, worn out |
and utterly disgraced. NJ. lie Marquis |
fell to the ground in a strong mans
agony Of tears
In fash he was up again "Swine!" |
he cried. THAT you mean to Xii me,
! know. Let me kill few of you be- !
fore l pass"
1T was our intention. Monsieur" |
said Baptiste, "or rather a command |
laid upon us, that you should try. My |
children, give NJ. lie Marquis his sword |
and some clothes
Two Of the players led him into the
trying room. and there they bathed |
his wounds and dressed him in a clean |
shirt and hose. As he stepped on TO |
the stage again he stopped dead
Saints" he cried, have they sent !
the devil to fight me?"
For he saw new, seventh, figure
before him, and one that appeared TO |
have no face. no hair. The whole |
head was concealed in a tight-ftting |
black cap. and only the eyes flashed |
through two holes. This" said NJ. lie |
Marquis, sis but murder. How can I
fight a man whose face / cannot |
watch?" But there was no help for IT, |
The figure of his assailant was that of |
perfect swordsman The long, |
straight limbs and supple, graceful body |
were like steel springs. NJ. lie Marquis |
had met his match and more. Up and |
down the stage they fought, the SPLEEN |
did, tireless form of his opponent ever
pressing, pressing. The blades flick !
cred and screamed, and the six watch |
ers stood by with sword in hand and |
torches held high. NJ lie Marquis
sword-arm had been pinked. his |
strength was failing and there was a |
swimming in his head. He had no 1
more desire to kill, nor even to live; l
only, for his own honor, to make a /
night to the finish, and then die brave
ly at the hands Of the best swordsman /
he had ever crossed steel with.
NJ lie Marquis sword flew from his !
hand and elattered on the floor of the |
booth. He threw back his head and /
stood waiting for the death-stroke |
Through a haze Of exhaustion and |
pain, he saw his opponent stand hesi- /
tating, saw the six players spring for
ward with uplifted swords. saw the /.
blade that should have pierced his /
heart turned in a fury against the
players, and heard a shril voice cry,
Back! you shall not touch himi" |
Then he fell in a dead faint
l.