Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-03-18

Ethel leaned out into the dark, pu
she had neither strength nor courage
The wall below seemed to go down
down into some endless pit Of black
ness. Her weak, wavering hant
touched nothing but wet stone. TIT
heat and smoke made her faint, th'
flashes Of swift~pursuing fire blinded
her.
II cannot find the spout" she said
Save yourself, Finette, and let m,
die!" For answer, Finette, seized th'
shawl which clung to the countess
shoulders, and very securely knottet
II about her waist.
"By this" she said. II Will hold yo,
fast. Lean further over the sill. Yol
must not die Take courage. There J.
not a single instant to lose"
Perhaps he Is waiting below tht
window-he will murder us there"
Madame, / have a knife in my
BOSOM" answered Tinette, with grim
significance. go on; am scorching
I am dying here"
That instinct of preservation
which is so powerful In the mosl
miserable Of creatures gave Ethe
strength. She flung herself over the
stone ledge: her slight hands found
and grasped the spout. It was smooth
the tenacity of despair. Ffnette re-
leased the shawl. With the wind and
rain dashing upon her, she hung for an
instant on the verge Of an abyss OF
darkness, and then slipped and went
down, as IL shot from mortar, and
fell, stunned and unconscious, some
where In the depths below.
J It was Finette's voice that aroused
her at last-Finette who, strong OF
limb and nerve alike, had made the
descent with far more ease than her
mistress. She stopped and lifted the
countess. $500 fa
"Are any of your bones broken
madame" rr a- i"w hte
Il hope not-I think not" gasped
Ethel. am il;F
an instant madame. Let him think
that his plot has succeeded; Let him
believe US burned with the burning
chateau" y= HG :
For breathing space, Ethel leaned
helplessly on the shoulder Of her faith
full waiting woman; then she grew
suddenly strong. Yes, she must fly
she must hide herself forever from the
husband who sought her life. who had
deliberately attempted her cruel muir
der. Never on this side Of the grave
would she willingly see his face again.
The fire was now breaking through
the window by which she had escaped.
It's red glare lighted the darkness
around, and showed Finette a gate
near at hand in the high wall Of the
chateau garden. 1t was unlocked-she
pushed 1t back. and the two women
slipped through, ran across little en-
closure in which stood the cottage Of
~ h to nj xuff
and gained an open road, flooded with
rain, and black as night and tempest
could make II.
THANK God!" said Finette, stopping
to take breath, I'VE are safe! All, you
have the shawl still about your waist.
Let me fasten II over your head; you
will be drenched to the skin. I know
Verrieres; my brother Gustaye lives
not far away. He will give us shelter;
he Is kind and discreet. Come, mad
ame."
The chateau now began to make a
great light against the gloomy sky.
"But It will not burn long," mutter-
ed Finette, for 1t Is all OF stone. and
the night is very wet and help is
near" .'" ,.,.. ~.
They fed from the spot at a rapid
pace. Finette led the way, the coun-
tess followed.
They turned away from the broad
road, along which the dark figures of
men now appeared, scurrying in the
direction Of the old country house. into
another way, hedged by tall trees, and
leading toward the woods Of Verrieres.
The storm in the thick branches made
a melancholy sound over their heads.
Not q sound escaped Ethel. She was
bruised and shaken by her fall from
the spout. She was drenched, dis
heveled, exhausted, but 1t was no time
to think Of trifles like these. On and
on they went, for weary miles, as 1t
seemed. The light upon the sky be-
hind them was already fading-Finette
had spoken truly when she said the
chateau would not burn long.
At last great red star twinkled
through the distant trees. It was a
candle In some low window. Then the
barking Of dog was heard.
Thank heaven! we have reached a
shelter, madame" cried Finette, joy
fully, and she ran up to a wooden
gate, and drawing the countess after
her, hurried along a walk bordered
with sweet-smelling herbs, and un-
tremendously opened the door Of a
small, low cottage. ..-.- ..
"Gustave, my brother!" she called.
Late as the hour was, the owner of
the dwelling was still up and smoking
his pipe in its principal room. He was
q sturdy fellow, in a workman's blouse
and his bronbe face bore a strong re-
semblance to Finette's.
Saints Of heaven!" he cried, start
ing to his feet, and dropping his pipe
at sight Of the two women. Ftnette
was black with smoke and singed with
fire. Ethel's face could never be colder
or whittier under the coff1n-lid. The
shawl had fallen from her disordered
hair; she was dripping with wet, and
she looked as strange and wild as q
spirit. ..-
. "Gustave, it is thy sister," exclaimed
Finette, turning to make fast the cot
tage door, land this lady Is my mis-
tress-she deigns to ask the shelter of
your roof for the night. Behold our
plight, and call upon thy excellent
wife-Celeste. 1 will explain all to thy
satisfaction, by-and-by."
Gustave vanished Immediately Into
some unknown quarter Of the cottage,
and a few moments after his wife ap-
peared-a large, fair woman; a veri-
table tower of strength-pinning a
bright kerchief over her bosom, and
adjusting her white cap as she came.
"Merci!" she cried, ''is 1t thou, my
sister," and she embraced Finette,
who had placed the countess in the
nearest seat, and was bending over
her, breathlessly.
rs she dying?" asked Celeste.
Heaven forbid! But she Is hurt
she is i'll. Light q fire quickly, and
help me to .hange her wet clothes, and
prepare her some nourishment."
Celeste obeyed In admirable silence.
The two women drew Off Ethels soak
ed garments, and substituted others.
coarse in texture. but dry and warm.
Then they brought her cup Of choc-
olate, and finally laid her to rest in a
clean white bed in little lavender
scented sleeping room, after which
Celeste vanished, and Ffnette was left
alone with her mistress.
Thank God, madame, that your
husband brought you to Verrieres, the
home of Gustave!" said the maid.
Look out, and tell me II you see
the light Of the chateau upon the sky.
shuddered Ethel.
mo; the fire is out by this time,
madame-by this time, also. the count
without doubt, thinks you dead"
HE will soon discover that we es-
capped from the chamber. Merciful
heaven! Perhaps he will pursue US to
this spot"
BE calm, madame. he Is a coward
at heart-he will not dare. 1t is more
probable that he Is already flying from