The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-09-08

moonlight and the radiance OF the glow
cast by the flames was It possible for
us to examine the rope and ascertain
IL PasGsloup had reallJ provided US
With a means Of escape It was a cord
light but Of unusual strength which
had been passed from side to side of
the bed to support the bedding. and
not rotten as / had feared. But 1t was
too short-i-a glance told me that-too
short by many feet to reach from the
parapet to the ground.
w must use one OF the Windows
l said, n M. lie Comte assented with
a motion Of the head.
! ran down to the floor below, and,
closing my ears as WEI as / could, to
the shrieks and curses Of the mob
which vas struggling to force a pas
sage to the stair, flung back the shut
ter OF the window which looked out
upon the wood opposite the chateau.
Then cautiously l scanned the ground
about the tower, but could see no evil
dence of my guard, nor any stragglers
from the mob which was hurting itself
on Pasdeloup. With a deep breath of
relief, l withdrew my head, n secur-
Ing one end of the cord to the great
hinge Of the shutter, made a loop in
the other.
AT that instant, NJ. lie Comte came
down the stair, bringing the women
with him. He noted my arrangements
at a glance and approved them with a
nod.
Now, my love-" he said, and mad
m came forward at once, pale, but
holding herself admirably in hand.
By the moonlight which flooded the
apartment through the open window, I
perceived, dark against her bosom, the
handle of a dagger, and instantly I
knew who had given 1t to her and
why.
II am ready, monsieur she said,
and lifted a radiant face to his. I
knew that she believed she was going
to her death and was not afraid.
Good" he cried. you are setting
us al an example Of courage. Sit here
on the window sill-so: now swing your
feet oversee; now place them In his
loop and grasp the rope tightly. Stay
close by the tower until we descend. 1t
will be but q moment. And now good
by, my love-"
She bent and kissed him, then let
herself slide slowly from the window
ledge, while we braced ourselves for
the shock. / could see the shudder
which shook her as h whfrled for a
moment in midair; / saw her teeth
sink into her lip to restrain the cry
OF terror which rose in her throat.
Then she succeeded in steadying her
self, and we lowered her hand over
hand.
God grant that she has not been
seen," murmured M. lie Comte, and
from my heart I echoed the prayer.
In a moment the rope slackened
and we knew that she had reached the
looked down at her and waved his
hand
"she is safe." he said. "she has not
been SEEN"
In a breath we had drawn the rope
up again.
Now, Charlotte" said M. lie Comte,
and / helped her to mount the win.
dow ledge.
"Mademoiselle," said hoarsely.
take this pistol; conceal 1t somewhere
in your gown. And If you are sur
prised, If you see there is no escape,
use It."
For an instant she did not under
stand: then, with a quick breath.
she held out her hand.
THANH you," she said Quietly, 1T
shall not forget" and she thrust the
weapon beneath her cloak.
"Goodby. my love-" I whispered,
and with a Quick blush she pressed
her lips to mine. MY love, my
love-"
She smiled at me and held her ewes
on mine; then she passed slowly down
ward, GU of sight. A moment more
and she, too, had reached the ground.
So concerned had we been in get
ting them safely down, that neither
of us had thought or fear for the tu-
multi beneath our feet; but now. as
we paused an instant to take breath.
1t seemed to me that it was mounting
toward us.
eYou next, M. lie Comte," I said, land
do not wait for me. Get under cover
the wood, and 1 will Join you-but
do not wait too long"
He hesitated an instant, then sprang
to the sill.
THAT Is best" he answered. 1--WE
shall wait for you at the edge of the
directly west of the tower. You
cannot miss us And we will wait until
you come"
He gripped my hand, caught the
rope and disappeared from the win
dow. At the same instant 1 turned
and darted down the stair.
At every step the pandemonium
below grew In volume until IL seemed
that all the fiends Of hell were fighting
that narrow stair; the puneent
smell Of powder assailed my nostrils
and through the darkness 1 caught the
of musket and pistol and the
flare Of torches. But with a grasp Of
relief I saw that the mob had not vet
gained q foothold in the room.
CONTINUED Next Weekly
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