The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-08

. down the street humming a love song.
 Perceiving after a while that he was followed, the captain turned sharply around and confronted his pursuer. Even his stout heart quaied a little, for by dim light he saw a figure which he took to be the Goblin Monk who was supposed to haunt the streets of Paris. But seeing that the stranger was of real flesh and blood his courage returned.
 Captain Phoebus de Chateaupers," said the stranger in a hollow voice, you have an assignation this evening""
 ''The devili' exclaimed Phoebus. "So you know my name? l plead guilty. It is with charming La Esmeralda."
 'Phoebus de Chateaupers, thou liest!" cried the stranger
 Fire and fury.' shouted Phoebus. "If you have a weapon, draw!'
 Tomorrow, next week, ten years hence any time you wish" replied the monk. 'I shall be ready to cut your throat But now go to your assgnation.''
 well" replied the captain "a sword and girl are two delightful things to encounter at a meeting; but I do not sec why I should give up one when I may have both. So we will defer our little affair until tomorrow. But I forget | must have money; I have not a single sou left"
 Here is money" returned the stranger, idDulnB lHe captain ldIBe Dlete or ROlu. But there is one condition" continued the stranger. Prove to me that you were right and I wrong Secrete me in some place where l may see the meet ing"
 In room in the upper story of one of the squad houses which at that time covered St. Michael's Bridge, La Ecmes- aida sat talking with Phoebus de Cha teaupers while through the cracks of f~r-a Jnn, Nf Dtay fhn httrt ft,,r eyes of Dom Claude regarded the lovers.
 Captain Phoebus,' said the girl, 'lot me talk to you. Just stand up and walk. l want to hear your spurs rattle. Gemlnl! How handsome you are'
 "Ah," said the dandy, you should sec me in my state uniform"
 'Dou you love mel" suddenly asked the gypsy.
 Do F" exclaimed Phoebus. Why, of course; better than life"
 Then marry me"
 'Phoo' said the captain what should we marry for. An. mademoiselle l see that you do not love me-
 Not love him." cried the girl and she arose to throw her arms around the neck of the young soldier As she did so horrible head appeared over the captains shoulder; livid, almost green. convulsed face with the look of the damned in 1t. At the same instant a dagger descended on Chateaupers.
 The girl swooned as her lover fell to the floor. When help came they carried away the captain, bathed in his blood, and took the girl to prison charged with his murder They had found only these two in the room. but through an open window looking on the river they saw cloak floating on the water The old woman who kept the place swore that when the captain had entered shortly be- fore La Esmeralda came in, he was ac- companied by a monk with fiery eyes who had not gone out. He had vanished. then, they said; 1t was the Goblin Monk of Paris in league with the Egyptian sorceress to slay Phoebus de Chateaupers.
 They tried the gypsy girl and her goat, which had been arrested along with her, for sorcery and murder according to the law of those times, which often put ani- mals as we'll as human beings In the criminals dock. Poor Djali. the little white goat with the gilded horns. was solemnIy pronounced to tbe an evil spirit, Tn league with the sorceress. and ls-h were sentenced to death. At first La Es- meralda had denied everything, but the horrors of the torture chamber overcame her and she had cried out: "Oh, con- fess, Anything, Anything! Only kill me and. do not torture me. Phoebus, my Phoebus, Art thou indeed dead? Then l would die tooi'
 But Phoebus de Chateaupers was not dead Such men as he are hard to Kill. He recovered from his wound and went quietly to join his command, then sta- tioned in the country at a distance from Paris Soon after the condemnation of La Esmeralda the authorities knew that