The Forrest City times., 1913-12-12

and irreconcila5le with the circum- stances Of the moment. when a sharp exclamation fell from the girls lips In front of them. between the sol ciers and the entrance to that upper part Of the Mount, many dark forms had suddenly darted forth: at the sane time from nearby houses came unmistakable sounds of life and ac tivity; doors were thrown open and windows raised. The town they thought asleep had merely been watching; now showed its bright eyes in a multitude Of menacing lights around them; be. low. where likewise a mysterious mar shaling had occurred, from alleys. cor. l ners, and novels. immediately after the passing of the Governors party.
 What does IL mean?" Again she heard the Marquis tones. less conf dent now. as he turned to the com. mandant.
 Treachery!" The commandant's 1 voice rang out They've broken faith with us,"
 "Dogs," My lord gazed uncertainty ahead; dubiously behind. What are we going to do?"
 Do," The commandant suppressed an imprecation Push on to the m. per gates."
 TO the gates'" cried the Marquis; then wheeled quickly. But you 1 Elise,"
 Never mind mel" she returned. with steady lips and eyes. There was no time for further words; sharp order from the com mandant and the troopers spurred for ward toward the entrance in the wall and those whose purpose 1. was 10 oppose them.
 what happened thereafter the girl was but vaguely cognizant of; reports of guns. flashing of steel surrounded her; the ciattering of hoofs mingled with the loud shouts of men The Bastile of the North. Down with it,"
 This was their battle-cry; on every side she heard it. though hardly real. izing the purport of the words; con- fused, she listened to her fathers name her own-bandied about She won dered why those on the wall. the sol diers within, did not fire and repel sll these people.
 Then almost at once came the an. sWer The troopers comrades were mixed In the melee without: she and they. too-so adroitly had the moment Tor striking been planned-might be swept down in the volleys from the ramparts. cannon boomed above: but its deafening reverberations were answered only with laughter and jeers Mon Dieu, Did his Excellency think to frighten them with sound. as if they were timd children fleeing from thunder? Was his Excelleacy aiming al stars?"
 And again that cry; The Bastile of the North. We, too. will take our
 Bastile dominated the cashing of
 arms and the tumult of strife For what seemed an intermirahle | period. the Governors daughter saw, through flashes of light. men st-ug- | glinS, striking; then launched sudden
 ly forward, by an Irresistible move.
 ment of the horses found herself with, i in the gates. The Marquis who lad 1 early been separated from her in the | strife, was nowhere ill sight Behind l now sounded the fray; short dis i tance from the wall, and she looked 1 back; ferCer than ever, soldiers and | people contended within the entrance; 1 beneath the portals As she strove to
 restrain her horse she heard the voice 1 of her father
 Mon pere. Mon pere." she cried eagerly. divining his face in the light of lamps on that side of the wall He answered only with laconic command ] to 20 al once to the palace; and. re- 1 garding his features. tragically appeal | ing to her at the moment-so strange and different they seemed,-she pre-. l pared to obey But ere turning. You
 think the soldiers can hold the gate?" ! she asked.
 Yes; yes," he replied sharply. as | if annoyed at the question
 But it-"
 There is no if'!" said the Cover.
 nor, and as the girl rode away, his ! look, hard, steely, shifting to the sol l AlN ., tHhit GuIIh EItHldl note, they
 were holding the gates. Satisfied with 1 the front his men presented. and, de 1 livering a few brief orders to the i cCmmandant whose yalor in ranyine 1 his forces had been commenGabe, his ! ENcoiiency walked toward the great
 stairway leading up to the open space
 near the church. Arrived at this high point frcm which the town unfolded
 itself In the starlight and flicker of lamps, he sought, as best he might. 10 acQuaint himself further with he situation; to judge the numbers of the assallants and the extent of their prep. ara'ions.
 The scene that met his eyes was not so reassuring as he had expected: that which until now he had considered but a spasmodlc outbreak of a compara- lively few townspeople. excited by ;he news of the Bastile and bent on any petty mischief. resolved itself into IT ore than an ordorless. desultory up.