The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-05
THE THREE GUARDSMEN
By ALEXANDRA DUMAS

Here 1t IS, my lord.
 ''Give 1t to me-" said the duke. He took It from Feltcn.
 'T ask your pardon, my lord, but does your grace know that the name of Charlotte Backson Is not the true name of this young womany'
 s'Yes, sir, do know it," replied the duke.
 A'I cannot believe" continued Felton in a voice that became more sharp and rough, ''that your grace knows that it Is to Lady de Winter this re lates?''
 .T do know it perfectly we'll"
 'And will your grace sign that or der without remorseY P
 Buckingham looked at the young man with much hauteur.
 ''Do you know, sir, that you are ask ing me very strange questionsT'
 Reply to them, my lord," said Eel ton. "The circumstances are more se- rious than perhaps you imagine"
 Buckingham reflected that the young man, coming from Lord de Winter, perhaps spoke in his name"
 tDoubtless," said he, "the baron knows as well as myself that Lady de Winter is very guilty woman, and it is treating her very favorably to remit her punishment to transportation. should do justice to my lady by send ing her to Tyburn. She is an infamous woman"
 My lord, Lady de Winter is an angel. You know that she is, and I demand her liberty of you" ; 's ssWhy, the man must be mad to talk to me in this manner!'' said Bncking- ham. Master Felton, you will please to withdraw and place yourself under arrest immediately
 ''You shall hear me to the end, my lord. You have seduced this young girl. Repair your crimes toward her, let her go free, and will require noth- ing else of you.' . "You will requirer said Bucking- ham, looking at Felton with astonish- ment. s
 My lord,v continued Felton, becom- ing more excited as he spoke my lord, beware! AllsEngland is tired of your iniquitiesS God. will punish you hereafter, but I will punish you here ?
 ''Well, this is too muchr cried Buck ingham. f~s
 "I ask it humbly of you, my lord, ? said Felton. 'sSign this order for the liberation of Lady. de Winter,' He held paper to the duke.
 Never! Who waits there?v cried the duke and at the same time sprang toward his sword.
 But Felton did not give him time to draw It. He held the knife with which milady had stabbed herself open in his bosom. At one bound he was upon the duke.
 At that moment Patrick entered the room, crying:
 "A letter from France, my lord.'' Felton plunged the knife into his side up to the handle.
 "Ah, traitor cried Buckingham. ''thou hast killed me!''
 sMurderp' screamed Patrick.
 Felton cast his eyes round for means of escape and, seeing the door free, he rushed into the next chamber and precipitated himself toward the stair case, but upon the first step he met Lord de Winter, who, seeing him pale confused, livid and stained with blood both upon his hands and face, seized him, crying:
 'T krew' 1t! I guessed 1t! But too lats by minute, unfort mate, unfor tunate that I amp Felton made no resistance. Lord di Winter placed him in the hands of tn, guards, who led him, while awaiting fresh orders, to little terrace lookin, out upon the sea. And then the barol hastened to the duke At the cry uttered by the duke ant the scream of Patrick, the man whom Felton had met in the antechambe rushed into the closeU He found ths duke reclining upon sofa with hi hand pressed upon the wound.
 "Laporte," said the duke in fain voice. "Laporte, do you come from her?''
 'Yes, monsieur replied the faithfu cloak bearer of Anne of Austria, "bu too late perhaps Silence, Laporte! You may be over heardl Patrick, let no one enter! Oh I cannot tell what she says to me! M, God, am dying!'' And the duke tainted.
 In the meanwhile Lord de Winter l the deputies, the leaders of the expedi ! ton, the officers of Buckingham' 1 household, had all made their way int, | the chamber. Cries of despair re l sounded on all. sides.
 Lord de Winter tore his hair in ago ny. He had learned of milady's escape l had remembered the verbal caution D'Artagnan had transmitted to him b. l his messenger had trembled for tn duke and had galloped off at full speed
 The duke, however, was not dead He recovered a little. "Gentlemen." said he, Weave Ill l alone with Patrick. and Laporte. Al