The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-11-29

forward up the grand STAIRWAY. Pan
knew him. Ii was Won HtlzEath And
he knew Paul. He advanced reckless
ly to the edge of the barrf,cade and
Paul sprang up to meet hi m Won
Holzrath saluted.
viii her highness deign to retire
that we may fire also?" he asked.
Paul turned. There stood flothilde
at his elbow, defiantly regatding Step
ans chief confidant
Il shall stand here" she Unanswered
And if you fire. shall be o5Ie Of the
victims of your bullets.
but. MISUNDERSTANDING high.
ness murmured the captat8, regard
ing her in a helpless manns3 Very
well, he said, we shall givts you the
sword. a vOus. monsieur,"s He sa.
luted Paul and. turning. made5 his way
slowly down the wide stairway. He
reached the hall and the defenders
heard the murmur of voiced. Then
came the rush.
Twelve abreast they bounded IN the
marble stairs, in ranks four detp, bran
dlshing their swords and shout Ing the
name of Stepan. who, Paul noticed
with a grim smile, remained In the
rearmost rank. That was his hist con-
scious observation for some time. for.
an instant later, sword was crashing
on sword-pOint, thrust. thrust. point
The twelve men in the first rank were
expert fencers, and while they par
ried and thrust, those In the rank, he
mind them tore at the barricades,
pulling and heaving at the great logs
with all their strength.
Point, thrust One of the defenders
was down, pierced TO the heart, and.
as he fell. the key-log loOsened, crash
ed down, and, like cataract. the en-
tire structure collapsed and tumt' :.
down the stairs. burying the slain
man under it. But ii tripped up the as
sailants, and in a moment victory de-
clared itself for the defenders. The
attacking party retired in hot haste,
leaving three dead behind them.
Now, Paul GglIt bravely for-for
me" he heard a voice in his ear. He
turned. 10 LOOK into the face OF the
princess. whoI apparently devoid Of
fea:. stood at his side. His hopes
revived. Asithe assailants, reform
ing. charged bravely up the stairs. he
singled out Won Holzrath and shout
ed challenge at him. He lsaw the
captains eyes flash their answer, and
sword in hand, waited.
Won Holzrath came towaId him,
brandishing his sword. 1t clashed
on Paul's. One moment theJ fought
fiercely; the next the rush of the CON-
batants separated them. Driven back
with the defenders. Paul saw Won
Holzrath spit Van Arnim through the
body and twist loose his sword as one
pulls a skewer from a joint. Then
they were together again. Swifter
and more fierce grew the movements
Of his enemy's blade, outmatchng his
own, till it flashed before Paul's eyes
like sphere of living light. Ii point
ed, threatened now here, nowhere.
Paurs arm grew weary. A dozen times
he laid bare his guard. Still Won Holz-
rath forbore to strike, but there was a
sneering smile on his lips. Paul felt
HIS strength leaving him, he Thrust
with all his force, he saw VOID HolZ-
rath's blade meet his and par IL,
point itself for the final blow and
then
Out of the emperor's apartten !
where, fighting desperately foa their |
lives, the four men stood packs |
against the wall, there totte1d a
frail old man with pale, blue trl Ibled |
eyes. And. as he emerged, stiden- |
ly the din grew quiet, and. There
there had been murderous shout and |
clashing blades, there might lhave |
been a tableau in marble. TIL old |
man came into the passage alp his |
eyes fell on the assailants, whoetood
before him with lowered sIOrds.
Then instinctively Franz tseph
Strengthened himself, his form b came
erect and his voice grew stha.
Officers of the Guards" h hout-
ed. THE Magyars are at our htes.
Follow me, Courage" 81
He stopped and took a swoih from
the clutch of dying man, an tood
feebly welding it, calling the
names Of his great captains, dew fifty
years before. The last survivor Of all
those stirring years, he seemed like
one re-arisen from the grave. SUI
perstitious fear fell on all p TENT.
The assailants retreated towaN the
head of the stairway, and, gat FIRING
there in little knots, looked wit 1rou-
bled eyes upon the pathetic faue Of
their once mighty emperor.
Suddenly without there cafh a
trumpet call 1t echoed through the
halls, electrifying all into life.
The regiment from Freibug."
shouted the princess, and her ace
took on the aspect of an anna on.
You are trapped, dogs. You sail
swing high for this Ha! Freibug!
Austria, Succor."
Into the hall below burst a detch-
ment of the loyal regiment, their lay
onets set, their fingers on the triggers
OF their rifles. One moment, and the
assailants fed down the stairs md
broke into the midst of the newom-
ers. They Glove their way into the
heart of them, struggling wave AMID
the white-coated veterans of the IN
peror; in a moment the hall was fill