Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-09-08

The bars. and there he remained until
his friend thought that perhaps he had
stuck and pulled his legs TO extricate
him. He writhed back. however. with
out any difficulty.
They are building something" he
whispered.
"Buildingv'
Yes. There are four of them, with
a lantern"
"What can they be building. then?"
ITS a shed, think. l can see four
sockets in the ground. and they are
fixing four uprights into them"
"Well. we can't get away as long as
there are four men just under our win
dow"
"Imposslbler'
"But we may as well finish our work
for all that"
The gentle scrapings OF his iron Were
drowned amid the noise which swelled
ever louder from without. The bar
loosened at the end. and he drew II In.
The steady hammering and saving
went forward. 1t was early morning.
and the first cold light was beginning
TO steal over the courtyard before the
work was at last finished and the work
men had left. Then Mt last the prison
ers dared 20 climb up and to see what
II was which had been constructed dur
Ing the night. 1t gave them a catch OF
the breath as they looked at IT, II
was a scafIold. 1t was buttressed up
against their wall. and in the cente:
stood headsman's block.
"a II
Amos Green. THE window Is clear
Let US make n rush for it."
eft Is useless. / can see q line OF
armed men along the farther side OF
the yard. And here come more. See
at the center gate.''
AS he spoke the door which faced
them opened. and a singular procession
fled out. First came two dozen foot
men. walking in pairs, all carrying
halberds and clad In the same maroon
colored liveries. After them a huge
bearded man. with his tunic Off and
the sleeves OF his coarse shirt rolled
up over his elbows. strobe along with
a great ak over his left shoulder. Be
hind him. a priest with an open missa
battered forth prayers, and I'm hi,
shadow was woman. clad In black
her neck barred. and a black shaw
cast over her head and dropping IN
front Of her bowed face. Within griI
OF her walked a tall. thin, fierce faced
man, with harsh red features and
great jutting nose. He wore a fla
velvet cap with n single eagle feather
| fastened into II by n diamond clasp
! which cleaned In the morning light
But bright as was his gem his darl
eyes were brighter still and sparkleC
from under bis bushy brows with .
mad brllliancy which bore with 4
something OF menace and OF terror.
The woman had faltered at the foo
OF the scaffold, but the man thrust hel
on. and two Of the followers caught
her by either wrist and dragged bel
forward.
ooh Mauricet Mauricew sh
screamed. II am not fit TO diet oh
forgive me. Maurice, as you hope 10
forgiveness yourself. Maurice! Mau
ricer' She strove 10 get toward him
TO clutch at his wrist. at his sleeve
but he stood with his hand on hi
sword. gazing at her with face whicl
was all wreathed and cOntorted wit
merriment She turned away an
threw back the mantle which ha
shrouded her features.
"Ah. sirer' she cried. "Sirel II yol
rould see me noww
And az the cry and at the sight o.
that fair pale face De Catinat, lookln,
down from the window. was stricken
as though by dagger. for there. stand
Ing beside the headsman's block. wa
she who had been the most powerful
as we'll as the wittlest am the fairest
OF the women OF France-none othel
than Francoise dc Montespan. so Lately
the favorite OF the king.
Iro BE Continued