The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-08

ment and with a rope around her neck. Only one thing her jailers had not taken from her. Around her neck was a necklace made of curious East ern seeds from which hung little bag. It was an amulet, she believed. which would enable her some day to find her mother if she did not sin. The tailers had looked into the bag, smiled scorn- fully and allowed her to keep 1t.
 The unfortunate creature stood be- fore the porch of the cathedral. At the extremity of the dark interior great silver cross could be seen, standing out in relief against black cloth that fell behind it from the roof to the pave ment A few tapers glimmered on the high altar. The vast church seemed empty; but the shaven heads of priests could be seen difnly in the recesses of the stalls, and as the doors opened a loud and monotonous chant hurled it. self, as 1t were in gusts bearing frag- ments of doleful psalms, at the head of the condemned one.
 On this last step of misfortune and ignominy Esmeralda was still beatiful Her large black eyes appeared still larger. on account of the hollowness of her cheeks; her livid profile was pure and sublime.
 Then out from the gloom of the . cnuECn 6AOWAy th0 AA8 LII iV CA the Archdeacon advancing to the door. He was in full canonicals. His head was thrown back, his eyes were fixed and wide open. In 6 loud voice he chanted the De Profundis.
 Approaching Esmeralda, who stood alone, he said in a loud voice: "Bo- hemian girl, hast thou prayed God to pardon thy crimes?" and bending down as if to receive her last confession, he whispered; wilt thou be mine? clan yet save thee"
 Co to the Fiend. thy masterT 're- piled the gypsy. What hast thou done with my Phoebus?"
 He is dead replied the priest
 At that moment the wretched man raised his head mechanically and saw on the other side of the place the cap tain standing in the balcony. well. then, diely he said. No one shall have theew and, stretching out his hand over the head of the unfortunate girl, he repeated the awful words with which it was customary to conclude such ceremonies. "Kyrie Eleison, . chanted. the priests "Kyrie Eleison, answered the crowd, In murmur that arose above their heads like the mur- mur of an agitated sea.
 Amen" said the Archdeacon.
 The gypsy girl turned to descend the steps. She chanced to raise her eyes to the balcony opposite.
 "Phoebus! Phoebusw she cried, and would have held out her arms toward him-but they were bounds The cap tain recognized Esmeralda with a start that he could not represss Hastily he turned and left the balcony with Fleur- de-Lys.
 La EsmerAlda fell fainting to the pavement. At that instant Quasimodo appeared in the porch, snatched the unconscious girl in his arms, and rushed with her into the doorway, shouting with terrific voice: sane tuaryI Sanctuary
 The Cathedral of Notre Dame, along with many other churches, possessed at that time the right of sanctuary. If a criminal once set foot within one of these reserved places he was safe so long as he remained within It's limits.
 Ouasimodo took the rescued girl to the cell provided for those who sought sanctuary in the cathedral and there she passed weeks, watched over and fed by the hunchback with faithful deference that asked no reward but kind look. Djali the little goat, had stood with her mistress before the ca thedral on day of penance and had followed when Quasimodo bore the girl into the church.
 Dom Claude had not been seen in the church when his foster son had abruptly cut toe fatal moose in which the Archdeacon had caught the Egyp- tian and had been himself caught. Im- mediately on prouonncing his hnaI malediction, he had hurried to the sacristy, torn off his sacerdotal trap pings and fled wildly beyond the river. out into the country. Night found him wandering about half-crazed; and all night he walked and ran and laughed hideously as crowded thoughts rushed upon him and he saw the hor- rid depths of his own soul. The next day he wandered back to Paris. and to the Place de Greve, believing he would see the dead girl hanging there. But the popular rumor told him what had happened after his flight.
 For a time after returning to the cathedral he avoided the cell where he knew the gypsy to be in hiding, but one day his wild passion overcome him and he rushed into the presence of the startled girl. Rapidly and vio-