Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-08-24


/ Il would rot commit his offence 0
thrusting unwelcome company on you
| replied; "hut would gladly offer yo'
for few leagues the sword that hal
already put him to flight.
She was for some time silent. Ther
she answered slowly IN low voice, u
ride towards Clochonne, monsieur.
| Taking this for an acceptance OF my
offer, | sheathcd my sword, and replied
with an animation that betrayed my
| pleasure:
"And | towards the. ssme place
mademoiselle. When you choose TO set
out, am ready
Il am ready now, monsieur, she
said, lingering over the word mon
sieur, as if trying to recall whether OF
not had told her my name.
| 1t was no time at which to disclose
the title under which | was known
Throughout the province as one espe-
cially prescribed, and yet | was un-
willing to pass under false name.
Therefore, ] said:
Il am M. de LaunaS, once of Aniou,
ut now of nowhere in articular. The
great have caused my chateau to be
scattered over my lands, stone by stone,
and have otherwise encouraged my
taste for travel and adventure
At this moment, glancing towards
Blaise, | saw on his face look of alarm
and disapproval, as if he feared that the
lady or her maid might be aware that
De Launay and La Tournoire were one
man. but it was manifest from their
faces that he had no cause for such an
apprehension.
The lady smiled at my description,
and adjusting her gloves, replied:
"And am Mile, de Varion, daughter
of gentleman of Fleurier-"
WHAT i interrupted, "the Catholic
gentleman who has been imprisoned for
sheltering Huguenot2
"Yes," she answe ed, sorrowfully, and
then with strange trcpidation she
went on: "and it is to save myself from
Imprisonment that / have determined
TO flee to the south, in the ope of find
ing refuge in one of the provinces con-
trolled by your King of Nayarre."
But" ! interposed, chow can you
be in danger of Imprisonment 1t WAS
not you, but your father, who violated
the edict."
Nevertheless" she answered, in a
low and unsteady voice, averting her
glance to the floor, "M. de la Chatre,
the governor of the province, has
threatened me with imprisonment If
remain in Berry"
Doubtless said with indignation
''the governor does this III order to
escape the opportunities you would
make in your fathers behalf. He would
save his tender heart from the pam OF
being touched by your pleadings.
'.It NAV be so. she answered family.
/ did not tell her that the idea OF re-
leasing her father had already entered
my head. In order TO bring him safe out
of the Chateau of Fleurier, it would be
necessary for me to return to Maury tor
ms company. The attempt would be
hazardous one, and / might fall, and
did not wish to raise hopes IN her tor
disappointment. She should not learn
of nv intention until after its fulhii-
ment. In the meantime, less because l
| thought she would really undergo
danger by remaining at Fleurier, than
because / was 10th TO lose tn new
found happiness that her presence gave
me, | would conduct her TO Maury, on
the pretext of its beIn the best place
whence to make, at q convenient tune,
a safe fight TO Guienn"-
Having sum noned the landlord and
paid him, / waited for Mile de sanon
TO precede me out of the door. There
was q moments delay while her maid
sought the riding whip which made
moiselle had laid down on one of the
stables At this moment, there came to
me the idea of jest which would furnish
me with amusement on the road south
ward, and afford mademoiselle an in
teresting surprise on her arrival at
Maury.
'sIt occurs to me, mademoiselle, said
|. that you viii be glad ~ have some
guidance across the border. Let me
recommend to YOU one, whose services
| think ] can assure YOU, and whom
we may fall In with in the vicinity OF
Clochonne, Sieur de la Tournoire.
NJ deInoiselle turned white, and stared
at me with a look of terror on her face.
4