The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1912-03-14

ROLES, again striking the table. You
have heard me, marquis; my hand will
do the deed"
But now," said the huge man. soft
ly, comes a question. Word must be
sent to our partisans in the palace, and
a signal agreed upon. Our stanchest
men must accompany the royal car
riage. At this hour what messenger
can penetrate so far as the south door
way? Ribout Is stationed there; once
a message is placed in his hands all
will go we'll"
81 will send the message" said the
lady.
You, countess?" said the marquis,
raising his eyebrows. Your devotion
Is great, we know. but"
"Listen!" exclaimed the lady, rising
and resting her hands upon the table;
lin a garret of this house lives youth
from the provinces as guileless and ten
der as the lambs he tended there. |
have met him twice or thrice upon the
stairs. | questioned him, fearing that
he might dwell too near the room in
which we are accustomed to meet. He
is mine, if will. He writes poems in
his garret, and | think he dreams of
me- He will do what say. He shall
take the message to the palace"
The marquis rose from his chair
and bowed. You did not permit me to
finish my sentence, countess" he said.
II would have said: Your devotion is
great, but your wit and charm are in
finitely greater.
While the conspirators were thus en-
gagged David was polishing some lines
addressed to his amorette d'escalier.
He heard a timorous knock at his door,
and opened it, with a great throb. to
behold her there, painting as one in
straits, with eyes wide open and
artless, like a child's.
Monsieur, she breathed, II come
to you in distress. believe you to be
good and true, and know of no other
help. How l flew through the streets
among the staggering men! Monsieur,
my mother is dying. My uncle is a
captain of guards in the palace of the
king. Some one must fly to bring him.
May hope"
"Mademoiselle," interrupted David,
his eyes shining with the desire to do
her service, your hopes shall be my
wings. Tell me how l may reach
him"
The lady thrust a sealed paper into
his hand.
Go to the south gate-the south
gate, mind-and say to the guards
there: The falcon has left his nest.
They will pass you. and you will go
to the south entrance to the palace.
Repeat the words, and give this let
ter to the man who will reply: Let him
strike when he will This is the pass
word, monsieur, entrusted to me by
my uncle, for now when the country is
disturbed and men plot against the
kings life, no one without 1t can gain
entrance to the palace grounds after
nightfall. If you will, monsieur, take
him this letter so that my mother
may see him before she closes her
eyes,"
Give it me-" said David, eagerly.
But shall let you return home
through the streets alone so late? /"
mo, no-fy. Each moment is like q
precious jewel. Some time," said the
lady, with eyes long and cozening, like
gypsy's, Il will try to thank you for
your goodness"
The poet thrust the letter into his
breast and bounded down the stairway
The lady, when he was gone, returned
to the room below.
The eloquent eyebrows Of the mar
quis interrogated her.
HE is gone" she said, "as fleet and
stupid as one Of his own sheep, to de
liver it."