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Show THE ESCAPE PRINCESS MARY‘S GIFT BOOK none of them moved. or ofi'ered to go up to discover what had actually happened in the village. After what seemed an interminable interval-in reality it was not more than a couple of lionrs from the moment the din ceased overhead-the door of the crypt was cautiously opened. and the Cure looked in. He was all dishevelled, his face blackened with smoke. and his whole appearance that of a man who had seen some terrible and haunting vision. " Ah. there you are. my children," he cried as they crowded round liiin; " I think you may come up presently. but be prepared to have your hearts broken. A regiment of the enemy has Mademoiselle, the passed through. and left nothing behind. Chateau is in flames, and the beautiful spire ot‘ the church has been But, blown to pieces, and at the Mairie the devastation is complete. above all, we mourn the death of so many helpless people-I myself escaped by a miracle." " Have they gone ? 'i asked Mademoiselle. with a shivering breath. " They have, and I think that they are pursued. and that this was the hurried work of destruction prompted by hatred and revenge. \Vill you come up now and see for yourselves. or remain here in safety through the night .' Alas ! you will find no other refuge, Mademoiselle, for your home is in ruins." Such fear was upon them that with one accord they determined to remain in the Crypt until the dawn of another (lay. Even the natural gaiety and high spirits of youth were not proof against the terror which all felt might swoop down upon them again at any moment. They had arranged themselves as conitortably as possible to pass the night. when they were suddenly disturbed by the grating ol‘ a door and the swinging of a lantern. All scrambled to their feet. some of them shrieking and hiding their eyes, certain that there had been a fresh arrival of the invaders, and that instant death would meet them. But once more the Cure smiled upon them reassiiringly. " Courage. my children ‘. ()ur trouble is for the moment at an end. ()ur own brave soldiers have arrived. It is as I said-tliey are in pursuit. but part of them will camp here tonight. Alas! we have little or no food to offer them, for the barbarians stripped the village of everything." Then .Iulie liedru, hurriedly throwing on her cloak, said she would ascend with the Cure and give what stores she could from the Chateau. " But it is no more. my daughter. You have forgotten how I told you yesterday that they have burned it to the ground." the garden. and " But my stores are hidden in the grotto in not time, or had they r. Il'athe think, I it. a secret passage to I have been there. things hnd take it, to explore. and we shall . them away since the war began.‘ 129 there is did not putting . e sight ivas'to be seen‘ in the So iii the pearly dawn, a strang ng ruins. au behind its smoki trampled, desecrated garden of the Chate nt of the troops that had halted Led by Julie liedru, the Commanda help assuage the hunger ot his in the \illagc l'ound stores stillieient to ‘ . H . . thanks his in e profus was men. He Mademorselle ! he asked, as he " \Vhat can I do for you in exchange. le ponited to her charges. oisel Madem tly stood at the salute. Instan who. still shivering a little with fear. yet profoundly, poignantly a tew scene of desolation, in what but interested in the extraordinary . ~ ‘ spots in Belgium. hours ago was one of the fairest (let them to their paients, " These are my English children. repaid. amply Monsieur le Capitaine. and I shall be , ' _ head. his shook The otficer see what can Madame: but leave it, and I will "Easier said than done, :1 ton so indiscreet‘ as to remain here be done. How is it you have been tlIIlC. still was there while them, yourself, and ought to have removed _ ,. Mademoiselle shook her head. we have had liU'IILiVjs and t. accoun no of were we " \\'e imagined that the tide ot battle had flown in for several days. \Ve were assured - . .‘ . ,, the lle-an evil flood, rolling over, d (ml‘uletdltisdgtei'yzliihere. I\Iadenioise I will see what can be dilrnc. . you, look But, ‘\'. COllIltl whole of our an and that evening atter' dais, in He was as good as his word, driien tor horns and her charges were :n'inonred motor-ear. Julie liedrn they kept them out of danger. niitill which ways us tortuo by and miles '. ‘ ‘ ~lf still possible to get a train tor ()stc'nil reached Ghent, where it was nd wrth Itose and lhddy. itise Two days later. she landed in Engla iiiOst pititul ot the winger}. .. the of one Utterly ruined, her home gone, Kll: and gratetully by Ihddy s tat But she was welcomed warmly home (lin-t'ie safe in a Warm. comfortable and in a few days' time was Welcome, until her own ie .itiits made was too, Rose, ll'ish coast, where _ icated with. '~ i‘ ‘ ' one ‘w‘hicli two girls would never lorgct, the e] 'lildiitl libetxpti ziisuii‘i 1" lullthiwi very poignant pusond lite as a Will remain with them through ence of the Great \Var. experi |
