The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-02-13

A fog seemed 10 blot my eyes
shook from hair 10 heel and laid m,
, head against the solid stone, Will,
the blank, throbbing seconds passed
, The Countess stood there, shocked
land breathless. / saw her sleeve II
/ rags, and the snowy skin all bruised
beneath.
What irony turks In blind chanc,
that / should owe this woman m!
life-this woman whose home | haC
come to conhscate, whose friends
had arrested, who herself was now
my prisoner, destined TO the shame oI
exile!
Perhaps she divined my thoughts
do not know-but she turned hei
troubled eyes to the arched window
where a painted saint imbedded in
golden glass knelt and beat his breast
with two heavy stones.
Madame" ! said slowly, your cour
age and your goodness to me have
made my task a heavy one Can
tighten it for you in any manner?"
She turned towards me almost tim.
idly, Gould ! go 10 Morsbroun be
fore-before ! cross the frontier? !
have house there; there are few
things ] would like TO take"
She stopped short, seeing, doubtless,
the pain Of refusal in my face. But
after all it does not matter. ! sup.
pose your orders are formal?"
Yes, madame"
Then IL is a matter OF honor?"
"A soldier Is always on his honor;
soldiers daughter will understand
that"
Il understand" she said
We had stopped, by mutual i'm.
pulse, at the head OF the stone stair
way.
Why do you shelter such man
as John Buckhurst?" asked. abruptly.
She raised her eyes to me with per-
feet composure.
why do you ask"
Because | have come here from
Paris to arrest him"
She bent her head thoughtfully and
laid the tips Of her fingers on the
sCulpluIeu DaluStrade.
ITO me-" she said there's no such
thing as a political crime"
1T is not for a political crime that
we want John Buckhurst." | said,
watching her. 1T is for a civil out
rage"
Her face was like marble; her
hands frightened on the fretted cary
ing.
What crime is he charged with?"
she asked without moving.
He is charged with being a com
mon thief" ! said.
1T is brutal to make such
charge!" she said. will you pledge
me your honor that if he answers
satisfactorily to that false charge Of |
theft, the government will let him
go freeT'
Il will take It upon myself to do |
So" said !. But what in Heavens 4.
name is this man to you madame?
He is a militant anarchist. whose
creed is not yours, whose propaganda
teaches merciless violence, whose pro-
gramme is terror"
She was gazing at me with dlated
eyes, her hands holding tight to the
did you not know that?" | asked,
NO" she said.
You are not aware that John Buck
hurst is the soul and center OF the
3elleville Reds?"
ut is-it is false!' she stammered
NO madame, it is true. He wears
| SNUG mask here; he has deceived
'ou all"
John Buckhurst will answer for
she said, steadily.
when, madame?"
For answer she stepped across the
all and laid one hand against the
lank wall. Then. reaching upward,
he drew from between the ponderous
locks little strips of steel, colored
Ike mortar, dropping them to the
tone floor, where they rang out
When she had flung away the last
ne, she stepped back and set her
rail shoulder to the WALL instantly
mass of stone swung silently on an
nseen pivot, a yellow light streamed
ut, and there was a tiny chamber, /"
Illuminated by lamp, and a man just
sing from his chair =,