Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-11-04

thought passed through Mr.. DHerbie
brain that she had fooled him.
''lf by any chance she is awake and
up, perhaps concealed behind the
blinds Of her bedroom window, how
she will laugh to sec me waiting here
patient and disappointed. shall look
ridieulousl Ali if only she were not
quite SO lovely
But at this moment new impulse
of hope made his heart beat. He had
just seen Tiger before the railing of
the cottage. The dogs lean body was
trembling with The jeyy q dog shows
when he hears friend approaching.
Almost at the same minute Miss Ethel
made her appearance. Her golden
hair fell in waving lengths from under
her little straw hat. She wore a pink
dress; her tiny feet were eased in yell
low leather shoes, her hands in pretty
brown gloves.
"Good morning." she said.
This was uttered in a tone so dry
Rnd frigid that tho gushing thanks
Mr. D'Herb!e had prepared stuck
lin his throat and refused to come
tout.
In silence they both entered the little
path that led through the woods to the
tower.
An odor of damp earth rose from
the leaves and grasses. All was
wrapped in profound silence. Not
sound stirred the air There was an inn
preston of loneliness and solitude.
The strangeness of the hour and the
place and the unusual earliness of
their rising hour, combined with their
impressions to produce in the young
couple certain feeling of melancholy
met without its charm. 4
They were also aware Of feeling
Of awlwardness between them, which
their modeslv rather made them
shrink from. Each at his and her own
audacity.
However, they had gone too far to
turn back, aud feeling the charm of
an adventure which brought them thus
together, they kept most of their
thoughts for the sunrise. Moreover,
as the hour approached they felt a
presentiment that the oracle really
was about TO decide their engagement.
They soon left the pine trees behind
them and entered groves, first of birch
and then of beech trees. Blue heath
er flowers grew upon carpet of moss
aud the pointed needles of resin
glistened in the dim light.
Rocks lay about ON all sides in
crumbling heaps, and the little noun
tain path wound in and out up the
steep sides of the slope on whose sum-
nit, though invisible as yet, the tower
stood.
Suddenly turn of the path brought
it into sight. rising up straight and
strong, its battlements and gray walls
outlined against the dull gray of the
sky.
in the midst of pile of ruins
covered with liehens and bristling
with tall wild grasses stood the last
vestige of the old feudal days of the
Chateau d'Alaspret.
Miss Ethel, slightly ont of breath
after her climb, stood looking toward
The east, where the first lights of the
dawn played over purple sky aud the
clouds seemed like flakes of floating
pink.
'Are we in timer" she asked.
Mr.. D'Herble bent his head thought
fully.
''There are great many clouds, F"
he sighed. 81 ain afraid the sun will
hidden"
"Ah. she said, and no one could
Aeaid it in tone
lr feet among
Ps describing
at gallop,
.o"s8 a. once gave
IN amused Miss Ethel,
.. ssGcn she saw the grey
.lrn looking sheepisll at not
;Eg his prey, which had speedily
i y W II r'ost in the mists.
They advanced together few steps.
They found themselves hesilating al
most in front of the central keep,
which led INTO the dark SHADOWS OF
the winding staircase. She cast shy
glance at her knight.
"Do you really want TO climb ur
there? think we can see quite well
enough from here" He turned upon
her a reproachfui look that was bosl
anxious and penetrating,
care you afraid. Miss Ethel? Tha
is not right"
His remark stung her pride. She
began brayely to climb the dark stair
case. D'IIerblc followed her.
They climbed up, and for Ions
U L