The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-09

q to leave the country money was nee essary. The priest stole the sacred vases and sold them. But they were both arrested.
 within 8 week she seduced the son of the jailer and got away. The young priest was condemned to ten years of Imprisonment and to be brand ed. I was executioner of the city of Lille, as this woman has said, and the guilty man, gentlemen, was my broth. .er. I then swore that this woman who ! had ruined him should at least share his punishment. I followed her, caught her and impressed the same disgraceful mark upon her.
 tThe day after my return to Lille my brother in his turn succeeded in making his escape. I was accused of complicity and was condemned to re main in his place till he should be again prisoner. My poor brother was ignorant of this sentence. He re joined this woman. They fled togeth- CT into Berry, and there he obtained a little curacy. This woman passed for his sister.
 sgThe lord of the estate upon which the church of the curacy was situated saw this pretended sister and became enamored of her, so much 50 that he offered to marry her. Then she left him she had ruined for him she was destined to ruin and became the Coun- tess de la Fere"-
 All eyes were turned toward Athos, whose real name that was and who made sign with his head that all was true that the executioner had said.
 'sThen," resumed he, mad, desper- ate, my poor brother returned to Lille and, learning of my sentence, surren- dered himself and hung himself from athe iron bar of the loophole of his prison. was set at liberty. That is the crime of which I accuse her; that is the cause of her being branded"
 ..MM. d'Artagnan, Porthos, Aramis, De Winter said Athos, "what is the penalty you demand against this wo- man?''
 "The punishment of death" replied the four in stern, hollow voices.
 At these words milady raised her self up to her full height and endeav- ored to speak, but her strength failed her. She felt that powerful and i'm placable hand seized her by the hair and dragged her away.
 Lord de Winter, D'Artagnan, Athos, Porthos and Aramis went out close behind her and the executioner. The lackeys followed their masters.
 Two of the lackeys now led, or, rath- CT, dragged, along milady by her arms. The executioner walked behind them, : and Lord de Winter, D'Artagnan, Por- thos and Aramis walked behind the executioner.
 The.two lackeys led milady to the banks of the river Being few paces in advance, she whispered to the lack eys:
 "A thousand pistoles to each of you if you will assist my escape, but if you deliver me up to your masters I have near at hand avengers who will make you pay forsmy death very dearly"
 Athos, who heard milady's voice, came sharply up. Change these lack eys," said he. "She has spoken to them. They are no longer safe"
 When they arrived on the banks of milady and bound her hands and feet.
 Then she broke silence to cry out: { You are base towards, miserable as sassins, ten men combined to murder one woman! Beware! If I am not saved I shall be avenged!''
 .sYeu are not woman said Athos coldly and sternly. "You are a demon escaped from hell, to which place we are going to send you back again.
 41He who shall touch a hair of my head is himself an assassin.''
 "The executioner can kill, madame without being on that account an as sassin," said the man in the red cloak striking upon his immense sword ' '-This is the last judge"
 He took her up in his arms and was carrying her toward the boat.
 "Oh, my God" cried she, ''my God are you going to drown meY'
 These cries had something heartrend ing in them. D'Artagnan was the youngest of all these men. His heart failed him.
 "Oh, I cannot behold this frightful spectacler said he. .'I cannot consent that this woman should die thusv'
 MiIady heard these few words.
 "D'Artagnan, D'Artagnan," cried she remember that loved youm
 CTo Be continuedo