The Huguenot Bartholomew Dupuy and his descendants

STORY OF A HUGUENOT'S SWORD. 133
delighted to entertain you. Your guardsman's uni- chap.L
form is quite sufficient introduction !" ^Z^
"Thanks," said Dupuy, "but I must hasten on." night
"So quick? Your page looks weary— a very to the
handsome boy ! ^'^°"*^®'^-
Come, Messire ! page induce the
Seigneur to draw rein for a moment."
"I can not, Sieur."
"Ah ! he is a determined master, is he?" said the
dragoon, smiling.
"A very good master, Messire,"
"Perhaps something more," laughed the soldier,
keenly scrutinizing the feminine figure of the
Countess. "Seigneur guardsman, you have really
a beautiful companion there.'"
"Companion?"
"Yes ! Why
'tis plain your page is nothing less
than a girl."
"Pshaw, Messire! what are you dreaming of?
But I have no time to talk! Give you good-day,
Messire— I have the honor to salute you !"
And making a sign to his pretended page, Dupuy
put spurs to his horse, and passed on at full speed,
accompanied by the Countess. In half an hour
they passed beneath the dense foliage of a wood
of Germany, checked their foaming horses in a
secluded glade, and looking around saw that no
signs of man were visible.
They were saved !
Dupuy tied the panting animals to a tree, lifted
his wife from the saddle, and in an instant she was
weeping in his arms, pressed to his beating heart.
" 'I waited patiently for the Lord, and he inclined
unto me, and heard my cry,' " said the soldier.
" 'He brought me up also out of an horrible pit
out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock.
He called me— then said I, Lo, I come.' "
" 'Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from
me, O Lord,'" murmured the weeping Countess;
" 'let thy loving-kindness and thy truth continually
preserve me.' "