The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-05-18
CHAPTER discontinued.

A glance about showed her that her
code book was gone. In the tray
above, her jewels remained untouched ;
her pearl collar, the diamond knick-
knackS the archducheSS had given her
on successive Christmases, even, q
handful Of gold coins, all were safe
enough. But the code book was gone.
Then indeed did the countess look
death in the face-and found it ter
rible. For q moment she could not so
much as stand without support. 1t
was then that she saw paper folded
under her jewels and took 1t out with
shaking fingers. In fine, copperplate
script she read:
Madame-Tonight at one o'clock closed
fiacre will await you in the Street Of the
Wise Virgins, near the church. You will
go in 1t, without fail, to wherever it takes
you.
(Signed) The Committee of Ten.
The committee Of ten! This thing
had happened to her. Then 1t was
true that the half mythical committee
of ten existed, that this terror of Ii
vonia was q real terror, which had her
by the throat. For there was no es-
cape. None. Now indeed she knew
that rumor spoke the truth, and that
the terrorists were everywhere. In
daylight they had entered her room.
They had known of the safe, known
of the code. Known how much else?
Wild ideas Of flight crossed her
mind, to be as instantly abandoned for
their futility. Where could she go
that they would not follow her?
When she had reacted from her first
shock she fell to bordering the mat
ter. pro and con. What could they
want of her? If she was an enemy to
the country, so were they. But even
that led nowhere, for after all, the
terrorists were not enemies to Livonia.
They claimed indeed to be it's friends.
to hold in their hands its future and
its betterment. Enemies of the royal
house they were, of course.
She was nearly distracted by that
time. She was a brave woman, ply
.sically and mentally of hard fiber, but
the very name signed to the paper set |
her nerves to twitching. 1t was the |
of ten which had murdered |
Prince Hubert and his young wife; the
of ten which had exploded
a bomb in the very palace itself, and
killed old Breidau, of the kings coun-
ell: the committee Of ten which had
burned the government house, and had
Tod the mob in the student riots q
year or so before.
In this dread presence, then, she
would find herself that night! For
she would 60. There was no way out.
The countess rang for her maid.
She was cool enough now, and WHITE
with a cruel line about her mouth that
NJinna knew well. She went to the /.
door into the corridor, and locked 1t.
Then she turned on the maid. Il
am ready for you, now.
Madame will retire"
"You little fool! You Know what
I am ready forT
The maid stood still. Her wide,
bovine eyes, filed with alarm. watched
across the room to her wardrobe.
when she turned about again. she held
!, nor hand a thin black riding crop.
W;nna,s rudy color faded. She knew
.he Loscheks, knew their furies.
"Madame she cried, and fell on
-, rnees "What have done7 Oh,
what have doneE ..l'
"That is what you Will tell me- saio
he countess. and brought down tne
,rop. A livid stripe across Tue siri > ,
ace turned slowly to red.
81 have done nothing, l swear IT,
dother Of pity, help me! nave Done
49,. ., :
THE crop descended again, this tune
N one of the great sleeves OF her
,easant costume. So thin 1t was SO
&c, tho blow. that it cut into the