Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-13

the throne 70 talk over the event Of the night.
LIE Lady OF the Cave again gazed In tender Ameie
convulsively. Filhppo had watched the
scene that had Just been enacted with
the easy indinerence Of familiarity and was
that they seemed TO smoke as they met. There
was stir In the outer edge of the throng and the
very feet OF the Lady. "Why this uproar?" de-
manded the Lady sternly. as she rose to her feet.
mere was silence In the throng, as II no one
dared TO speak Then an old man tottered forward
"Cementr'
Cement! !" repeated the Lady, her clarion voice
ness.
yes, my lady, cement"
And Is the wretch known?D
Az TINS Malvolio pushed his way through tne
ward show Of humility. though there was CLEAN
OF devfsh malice In his eye. He bore In his nand
q little whitiSh- brown lump.
SIt is here, my Lady. !, he said; "reai cement .,
upon the Iu@p NM he held in his hand. Tney had
never seen real cement But, obeying majestic
motion OF the Ladys hand, they fell back, leaving
Malyolio standing alone few PAGES from the
throne.
"Where didst thou obtain it, Malvolio?n
'.My Lady, found it as hurried hither Just
.Canst thou say In, whose section this hated
| thing was found? Canst thou name the doomed
man?"
81 can" said Malvolio, slowly, as If reluctant
"Remember thy duty Malvolo. Let no false
sense Of pity or sympathy, no weakness Of aeart
duty TO the order. Name the wretch, II 1t be even
thine own father"
toward the Lady, he said in stage whisper: 'TJ
vast was Fillippo."
The Ladys face turned asny pale Philippe
down upon the lower Step Of the throne. Malvolio
bent low TO hide q grin, that scanned and CORFU
gated the lower part OF mis- face. The Others In
Rartt YNnin firxy vuff nIlf-
stretched arms to the crouching Ffllppo
bastard! Traitor!" they shrieked, ''Blast himI
IL was q fnghtful scene. Even the torches
seemed to burn more luridly.
The Lady turned with immovable face upon the
"Back," she said, back! The rules OF our order
permit the accused TO speak for himself. Back,
Malvolio and the others then withdrew some
DISTANCE from the throne leaving Philippe and the
lady alone.
shark. treaeherous Philippe" said the Lady in a
loud voice. "What hast thou to Say2 Hast thou
not forfeited myself to the blast?"
Philippe had thrown himself upon his knees be-
lore the throne, and, with eyes upnfted beseech-
"It must have been mistake, my Lady. Some
stupid workman must have thrown II In while
'.Ha! hal" came jeering laugh from the venge-
full crowd, ''to the blast! TO the bast!"
'By the law Of the cave" said the Lady, .thou
must de" Then she looked down at the figure
before her. Her gaze was az ain locked in his. She
said In a low voice, which only Philippe heard,
Take heart, Flllippo, but do not betray me by
word or sign. think can fix this thing up."
tilhppo smiled To the Lady, but gave a groan of
agony for the crowd. just then a series oil shriekS
and screams awOke the echoes OF the cave. A fe-
male came rushing forward. she stopped on the
edge OF the circle OF light about the throne. She
pushed back the dlsordered hair that blinded her.
"tfllppO, my Flllippo! she screamed. IL was
violeLta. Rushing forward, She fell ON her knees
beside Fillippo hung one arm around his neck and
stretched the other upward toward the lady.
70 m M In, 81 nod
The lady returned her appealing gaze with a
stony, rocky, caye-queen stare.
"Spare him J" pleaded ViOletta. ave were to be
married tomorrow"
married." shrieked the Lady, clutching mo-
ment with one white hand at her throat. "Never ~
Then she SAID with a strange calmness, "Let the
false Philippe be bound and made ready for the
blast"
Now you hare done it," said Philippe aside to
Violetta. 81 would have worked 1t all right II you
had not come" As Two cave men were pinloning
Fillippo's arms the dark brOwed Malvolio again
retired behind a rock, not TO grind his teeth but
TO hug himself and smile dia6Olically.
When F1llippo was bound the Lady again CON-
mandei the tnrong 10 stand back, and bade VIo-
ietta TO retire Philippe stood proudly erect before
her; his face was pale but determined. Her glance
again engaged his She spoke in low passionate
tones.
Choose" she said, 'svioletta and death! The
Lady and iifei Be quick or you're de-. No, don't
mean that. Choose quickly Or perish"
be heSitated moment The Lady reached up
and took down from q stalactite, where she had
stuck IL, her chewing gum and restored 1t to her
mouth FLlilppo watched the movement and
made his choice.
81 Will die ~ he said.
ITO the blast with himr' shrieked the Lady,
There was hoarse, savage roar from the mob
that rushed forth and seized FtllippO. violetta
threw herself sObDtng at the feet OF the Lady, but
she saw no mercy In those naughty eyes Then
she sought TO throw herself upon Fllippo but was
pushed aside roughly. Philippe was borne out OF
the great cavern and taken TO spot In the tunnel
where rock excavation WAS going on. There the
doomed man was placed In q crev1ce In the rock,
just large enough 10 ADMIT his figure, and huge
Stone was rolled up 50 as TO close the Orifice and
make IL tomb. The dynamite cartridges were
adjusted In drill-h0eS all around the spot. At q
distance In the dark tunnel q group stood in awful
silence. The ntful CLEANS or the tunnel lamps
touch the key OF an electric battery. Near her
crouched a female figure whose strained and tear
less eyes told OF speeches. agony.
The men who had placed Philippe in bis rocky
shroud came stumbling through the tunnel When
said 'All Is ready"
"Tnen," said the Lady, "let the blast claim its
own"
She pressed her hand upon the key. There came
dull and rumoling roar, as II the earth had split
to its center.
Something like the wind swept through the
tunnel, blowing out all the lights and leaving all
In midnight darkness.
With tine reverDerations OF the blast there was
mingled, too, shrin shrek, as II the demon OF
.he rocks had Joined his voice to the horrible
sound.
"Quick, lightw said Malvolio
match Was struck and the torch fared forth,
Its light fell upon the form OF the Lady, pros
trate on the floor, a carmfne Hood gushing from q
great wound over her heart. Vloletta stood above
her, holding on high a crimsoned dirk and as NAL
vollo stepped forward she plunged IL into her own
bosom, and, falling, expired by the side OF the
Lady.