Polk County news-gazette. (Benton, Tenn.) 190?-191?, 1913-09-11

-..,-s. ~ the moment. when sharp
exclamation fell from the girls hps-
II front OF them. between the sol
d,srs and the entrance TO that upper
mar. ~ the Mount. many dark forms
"a suddenly darted forth; al the
same time from nearby houses came
unmistakable sounds OF lie ana &C,
tIvitv. doors we're thrown open ana
windows raised. The town they thought
asleep had merely been watching; now
showed its bright eyes In muitituue
OF menacing lights around them De
low. where likewise a mysterious mar
sbal,ng had occurred, from alleys. cor
ners. and novels. Immediately aiteI
the passing Of the Governors party
what does 1t meant" Again she
heard the Marquis tones, less conn
dent now. as he turned to the COM
mandant.
aTreacbery!" The commandments
vo,ca rang out They've broken faith
with u.s."
"Dogsl" My lord gazed uncertainty
ahead: obviously behind. What are
we going to dor"
"Do?" The commandant suppressed
an imprecation. Push on to the up
per gates!" ,,,..
then wheeled quickly. But you
Elise!"
"Never mind mel" she returned
with steady lips and eyes.
There was no time for furtner
words. a sharp order from the COM
, mandant and the troopers spurred lot
ward toward the entrance In the wan
and those whose purpose II was u
oppose them. ~,
What happened thereafter the girl
5 was but vaguely cognizant OF; reports
t Of guns, flashing Of steel surrounueu
: her: the Gathering of hoofs mingbo
: with the loud shouts OF men.
! "The Bastile OF the North! Down
t with it,"
v This was their battle-cry; on every
. sideL she heard it, though hardly rear
o izing the purport OF the words; con
r. fused, she listened to her father naln'
her own-bandied about. she won
dered why those on the wall, the sol
:. diers within. did not fire and repei al
d these people.
y Then almost at once came the an
:. swer. The troopers comrades "ei
a mixed in the melee without; she an
- thew too-so adroitly had the momen
q for striking been planned-mlgnt
swept down in the volleys from IN
ramparts. A cannon doomed above
but it's deafening reverberations wei
answered only with laughter and Jeei
Mon Dieu! Did his Excellenc
NJ think to frighten them with sound,
:. IL they were timid children neelt
NJ from thunder? Was his Exceliens
nj aiming at starsT
~ And again that CRY: THE Bastiie
.. the North! we, too, Will take o.
., tile!"--dominate the clashing
arms and the tumult of strife.
For what seemed an Intern nan
~ neriod. the Governors daughter sa
- through flashes of light, men STU
- cling. striking; then launched sudot
ar. " forward, by an irresistible mo-
- ment OF the horses. found hersen WI
~ II the gates. The MARQUIS who Z
' early been separated frona her In I
strife. was nowhere In sight. Benz
~ now sounded the fray; a short .
. lance from the wall, and she looh
- hack: fiercer than ever, soldiers a
neonle contended within the entran'
. beneath the portals. AS she -iose
restrain her horse she heard the Vo
of her father,
"Mon pere! Mon PEREZ" she or
eagerly. divining his face in the ~
Of lamps on that side Of the wall.
answered only with laconic comm'
TO go at once to the palace; ana,
parding his features, tragically app
ing to her at the moment-so stra
and different they seemed!-she
pared to obey. But ere turning;
think the soldiers can hold the gar
she asked.
yves. yes!" he replied sharply.
IL annoyed at the question.
- "But If"
"There is no III" said the Go
nor and as the girl rode away.
look. hard, steely, shifting 10 tne
- diers. made quick mental note;
were holding the gates. Satlsheu I
tbe front his men presented, ana,
uvering a few brief orders 70
. commandment whose valor in rail-!
his forces had been commendaDie.
Excellency walked toward the 9
stairway leading up to the open q
near the church. Arrived at this
noint from which the town unfo
\ itself in the starlight and nicke
lamps, he sought, as best ne M
to acouaint himself further with
situation; to Judge the numbers OF
assailants and the extent OF their
arations. .
The scene that met his eyes was
40 reassuring as he had expected;
which until now he had considered
a spasmodic outbreak of a conn
. lively few townspeople. excited b'
- news of the Bastile and bent on
. petty mischief, resolved itself
. more than an orderless, desultor'
rising. To his startled gaze the
like an ant-hill disturbed. se'