The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-08


 Iage which was situated at the other side of the wood. In this case milady was to cross the garden and gain the village on foot If the musketeers did not appear things were to go on aS had been agreed. Mime. Bonacieux was to get into the carriage as if to bid her adieu, and she was to take away Mime. Bonacieux. Mime. Bonacieux came in, and the lackey left.
 Milady made her sign to sit down before her, poured out small glass of Spanish wine for her and helped her to the wing of a chicken.
 But at that moment milady heard something on the road which sounded like the .rattling of distant gallop, the same time, she heard the neighing of horses. She. grew pale and ran to the window, while Mme. Bonacieux, rising all in tremble, supported her self upon her chair to avoid falling.
 Nothing was yet to be seen, only they heard the gailoping draw nearer. The horses could not be more than q hundred paces distant. If they were not yet to be seen it was because the road made an elbow.
 All at once, at the turning of the road, rnilady saw the glitter of laced hats and the waving of feathers; she counted two, then five, then eight horsemen. One of them preceded the rest by. double the length of his horse. Milady uttered stuffed groan. In the first herseman she recognized DAT tagnAn. -
 "They are the cardinalg guards!' cried milady, endeayorfng to drag Con stance along by the arm Thanks to the garden, we yet can fly. have the key, but make haste! Tn five min utes it will be too later'
 Mime. Bonacieux endeavored to walk, made two steps and sank upon her Knees.
 At this moment they heard the roll ing of the carriage, which at t4e ap- proach of the musketeers, set of at ga11op. Then three or four shots were fired.
 'sFor the last time, will you comeT' cried mllady
 T cannot walk. Fly aione!'
 1fFly alone, and leave you here! No, no, never!' cried mllady.
 All at once she remained still, livid flash darted from her eyes; she ran to the table, poured into Mme Bona cdeux's glass the contents of a ring which she opened with singular quick ness. It was grain of reddish color, which melted immediately.
 Then, taking the glass with 8 firm 1 hand:
 Drink. said she; ''this wine will give. you strength, drinkw
 And she put the glass to the lips of l the young woman, who drank me chanically.
 '"This is not the way that I wished 1 to avenge myself" said milady, re- 1 placing the. glass upon the table with an internal smile, 'sbut we do what we can" And she rushed out of the room.
 At length Mime Bonacieux heard the l grating of the hinges of the opening gates, the noise of boots and spurs re sounded on the stairs; there was a l great murmur of voices. All at once she uttered loud cry of joy. 'eD'Artagnan, 'D'Artagnan!'' cried she. ''Is 1t you? This way! This wayr' Constance, Constance replied the young man, where are you? Where are you?"
 Several men rushed into the cham Der. Mime. Bonacieux had sunk into a chair, without the power of moving.
 "oh, DArtagnan, my beloved DAT Hagnan, thou art come, then, at last! Thou hast not deceived me! It is in deed thee! Oh, it was in vain my com pan1on told me you would not comer'
 Your companionl' cried D'Artagnan, becoming more pale than the white veil of his mistress, "of what companion are you speaking dear OonstanceT's | "Of her whose carriage was at the gate, of woman who calls herself your friend, of woman to whom you have told everything. But my head swims. cannot seer' i Help, help, my friends! Her hands are icy cold!' cried D'Artagnan 'She will faint! Great God, she is losing her sensesr'
 Athos, standing before the table, his hair rising from his head, was looking ] at one of the glasses.
 'Oh," said he, "oh, no; it is impossi- bfe!"
 Water, water!" cried D'Artagnan. "Waterr'
 "Oh, poor woman, poor woman!' murmured Athos.
 Mime. Bonacieux opened her eyes un- der the kisses of D'Artagnan. "She revives!' cried the young man.
 Madame" said Athos, madame, in the name of heaven, who poured out l the wine for your" l ''Oh, I remember said Mime. Bona cieux, ''the Countess de Winter"
 The four friends uttered one and the same cry, but that of .Athos dominated over all the rest.