Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-11-24

matches down." said the stranger in the peculiar drawing voice which the New Englanders had retained from the English Puritans.
 And when do you sail?" | "As soon as your foot is on her deck, If Providence serve us with wind and tide. And how has all gone with thee, | Amosw
 Right well. have much to tell you bf."
 De Catinat and his relatives were far too engrossed with their own affairs to | give a thought to the others. De Cati. | nat told his tale in a few short, bitter sentences, the injustice that had been l done him, his dismissal from the kings service and the ruin which had come upon the Huguenots of France. Adele l as is the angel instinct of woman i thought only of her lover and his mis. l fortunes as she listened to his story but the old merchant tottered to bis 1 feet when he heard of the revocation of the edict. 'What am to do?' he cried. "What am I to do? am too old to begin my life again."
 "Never fear, uncle" said De Catinat heartily. There are other lands be. yond France" F But not for me. No, no; am too old. Lord, but thy hand is heavy upon thy servants. What shall do and whither shall I turnw He wrung his hands in his perplexity. ''What is amiss with him, then, Almost" asked the seaman. "He and his must leave the country, Ephraim."
 "And why?"
 Because they are Protestants and the king will not abide their creed" Ephraim Savage was across the room in an instant and had inclosed the old merchants thin hand in his own great knotted fist. There was a broth. erly sympathy in his strong grip and rugged, weather stained face. 'Tell this man that we shall see him through, Amos. Tell him that we've got country where he'll just fit in like a bung in a barrel. Tell him that reli- zion is free to all there. Tell him that if he wants to come the Golden Rod is waiting with her anchor apeak and her cargo aboard.'
 "Then we must come at once," said De Catinat as he listened to the cordial message which was conveyed to his uncle. Tonight the orders will be out, and tomorrow it may be too late."
 "But my business." cried the mer- chant
 "Take what valuables you can and leave the rest. Better that than lose all, and liberty into the bargain"
 And so at last it was arranged. That very night, within five minutes of the closing of the gates, there passed out of Paris small party of five, three upon horseback and two in a closed carriage which bore several weighty boxes upon the top. They were the first leaves flying before the hurricane, the earliest of that great multitude who were within the next few months to stream along every road which led from France.
 Thanks to the early tidings which the guardsman had brought with him, his little party were now ahead of the news. At Ropen all was quiet, and Captain Ephraim Savage before even- ing had brought both them and such property as they had saved aboard his brigantine, the Golden Rod. It was but a little craft, some seventy tons bur den, but at time when so many were putting out to sea in open boats, pre- ferring the wrath of nature to that of the king, it was refuge indeed. The same night the seaman drew up his anchor and began to slowly make his way down the winding river.
 With the early dawn the river broad ened out and each bank trended away, leaving a long. funnel shaped estuary between. Ephraim Savage snuffed the air and paced the deck briskly, with twinkle in his keen gray eyes. The wind had fallen away. but thsre was still enough to drive them slowly upon their course.
 "where's the gal:" he asked.
 "She's in my cabin" said Amos Green. T thought that maybe she could manage there until we got across
 "where will you sleep yourself. thenf'
 Tut! A litter of spruce boughs and a sheet of birch bark over me have been enough all these years. What would ask better than this deck of soft white pine and my blsnketf"
 "very good. The old man and his nephew-him with the blue coat-can have the two empty hunks. But you must speak to that man, Amos I'll have no philander.ng aboard my ship. lad: no whispering or cuddlips or any such foolishness."
 "Its a pity that we left SO quick. or they might have been married before we started. She's 6 good girl. E2hra- i'm. and he a fine man, for all that their ways are not the same as ours"
 But what is the matter with the old man? He doesn't seem easy h his mind" said Captain Savage.
 Tie old merchant had been leaning over the bulvarks. looking back with a drawn face and weary eyes at the red curving track behind them which marked the path to Paris. Adele had come up now with not e thought to spare upon the dangers and troubles which lay in front of her as she ehafed