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

hang him, unless one of the women takes him for q husband. So the fair Esmer- aida took me-
 ''You are her husband?" asked the priest, with blazing eyes.
 By my fay" replied the poet, they broke a Jug between us and said so; but our marriage was purely per forma- 1t was literally forismaritagium-lw was shut out But I became one of tho guild, nev- ertheless."
 "Llsten," said Dom Claude. "She has confidence in you. You must save her. She now Is In sanctuary In the cathedral. but a decree of the Parliament has been issued to give her up. It will be exc cuted tomorrow"
 Grngoire looked steadily at Dom Claude and then conflded to him that this was known in the Cour des Miracles, and that that very night an irruption of the inhabitants of this thieves quarter was to be made in force, for the purpose of storming the church and taking the girl away before the writ could be served.
 Dom Claude considered for a moment "Gringoire," said he, "that assault Is a matter of hanging for all who are en- gagged in it. When the mob comes, come you to the little postern. l will admit you. You shall go to her cell and take her away to a place of safety, going out by a secret door l will show you. She
  will be grateful for her deliverance and will, perhaps, become your wife in real ity. And you will run no risk of the troops which surely will be sent to quell the dsturbance-no risk of hanging. 1t Is best
 Poor simple Gringoire. the philosopher, agreed. That night the Cour des Mira cles poured out its thousands, fierce, armed the offscourings of Europe, to res- cue La Esmeralda- For did not the girl belong to those international vagabonds who made such large part of the popu- lation of that refuge for all that was dis reputable?
 The moon was overcast: all Paris lay in hlackness save where single light, high up in one of the towers of the Bastile, told the citizens that Louis XI was vis- iting his good city.
 Led by Clipin Trouilefou. who styled himself the King of Thunes, and who gave the order "Sence in passing through the streets; not torch is to be lit until we reach Notre Dame," the null titude poured in profound silence down toward the Pont au Change and along the winding streets which run In all li- rectlons through the massive quarter of tine Ealles.
 The horsemen of the watch fled in dis may. Word that the Cour des Miracles was in motion was brought to the ema- ciated, poorly clad man, who, sunk in the depths of the solitary chair that stood in his apartment in the Bastile. was at his work Of making the nationality of France.
 Basque Dieu" said tho King Tit Is a rising against the ballff of the palace. He is King of the Cour des Miracles. We have but few soldiers. Let them hang the bailiff. I shall be king of so much more" And he coughed and took a drink from the tankard of herb tea that stood on the table before him. A second messenger brought word of the objective point of the vagabonds and of the real reason for their rising. "Pasuue Dieu~ cried Louis, starting from his chair. Tristan. take all the troops in Paris. Kill and spare not. Ex- terminate the mob and hang the witch. Oliver. order a new cage for tho Bishop of Verdun. He has howled in the old one for fourteen years"
 Meantime Quasmodo, singie-handed. had been defending the cathedral. He had hurled down beams into the solid mass of besiegers and by kindling fires to melt the lead joining of some of the structure he had poured down burning flood upon them. The bellringer had vague idea that the assault menaced the Egyptian girl
 When the Kings troops came. killing and sparing not, and dispersed the rab- ble. their leader sought the cell where Esmeraida had been and found 1t vacant. Quasimodo. too. peering fin with surprised eyes. saw that the bird had flown.
 Before Rolandes Tower, in the Place de Greye. the gypsy girl stood alone with Dom Claude. Frightened by the fierce actions of the Archdeacon after he had aided him In turing Esmeralda from her refuge, Gringoire had taken tho little white goat and made off.
 "I have saved you" the Archdeacon was saying. "Wn you love me now?" and pointing to the gibbet he exclaimed Tt is either that or me-
 Rather that than thou" replied the girl
 At that moment tho approaching sound of soldiers feet were heard. It was one of the parties sent to SCOUT the city for the sorceress. Gudule, the recluse. stuck her head through the bars of her window Curse thee. base Egyptian!' she cried Death to all thy cursed tribe!"
 Here, Mother Gudule." said the Arch deacon. Hold her. The watch will soon be here" And he gave the arm of the quaking girl into the grasp of the hand which was stretched through the window and made off.
 You shall die. Egyptian. You shall dlo even as my little child died, base sorcer- ess" cried the recluse in a frenzy. It mad Just began 10 be morning and by the linn light Esmeralda. as she turned her eyes Into the cell, saw a child's shoe in one corner on an altar.
 Gracious God!" exclaimed the girl. Let me look at that shoe" With her free hand she tore open the little bag which she wore around her neck and handed to the recluse another shoe the mate to the one on the altar. To ths shoe was attached a parchment which read: When the mate thou shalt find, thy mother is not far behind"
 My daughter! My daughter!' screamed the recluse.
 My mother" My mother" responded the Egyptian.
 But the recognition came too late The whole place was swarming with soldiery, and In spite of Gudule's prayers and hys- terical entreaties La Esmeralda was taken and carried away. bound, toward the gibbet which reared It's head hard by. The mother fought hard to defend her child until soldier gave the woman a great push, and she fell heavily to the pavement and lay there dead with frac- tured skull.