The state herald., 1894-01-05

called II, Is drifting over his coun-
tennncc. In his eyes there is n look
which no woman can misundcrstand.
This is but the emblem Of another"
he says, ut last In y low, but intensely
passionate tone.
The lady drops her eyes and pom
ders. Her gay smile has faded; there
is troubled frown family carved
upon her smooth brow.
I've will consider this drawn
game" she says, very quietly; and in
stead Of playing another, l will, II
you choose, tell you story. II will
nmuse nnd-and instruct you"
Pale and hopeless, Mr.. Stanley leans
upon the shining chess table with his
cy es half-shaded by his hand.
With quick glance at his detected
attitude. and deepening of the
troubled frown, the lady speaks.
| Have you ever been ut Baden
baden? But Of course you have; who
has not? Do you remember Die Hohe
Feisen, and 'Das Alte Schloss.' on the
side OF the bill, and how the road
winds down into the valley through
the Black Forest, with the lovely vii
age lying beneathp
"Some years ago ] was spending n
few months at Baden with my mother"
she chances Mt her black garments
with n heavy sigh-''who was ordered
there to drink the waters One after
noon we had driven up to the 'Alte
Schloss,' and while my mother rested
there climbed up above to see the
''lIohe Felsen.' You know they are
within ten minutes walk Of the castle,
and never dreamed OF danger. How.
ever, was imprudent. 1t was so
early In the season that the forest was
not swarming with tourists and
pleasure parties-in fact. 1t seemed
quite deserted"
"a sat down Mt the foot OF one OF the
rocks and was soon lost In contempln-
lion OF the sublime view below. 1t
was not long before heard voices,
and before could rise from the sort
Of niche which l had chosen, two
rough-loolting Frcnchmen flung them
selves upon the moss within six feet
Of me, and. all unaware of my pres
cncc, began to discuss plot which
caused me to trcmb,e with horror.
at appeared from their convcrsa-
tion that certain baron was bccom-
ing celebrated In the Kursnnl for his
unprecedented run Of luck ut the
gaming tnblcs-that, In fact, the bank
crs had that day entrcated him to
seek some other field wherein TO pur-
sue his success, rs theysswere well-nigh
ruined; that he wns, In consequence.
going TO leave Baden BADEN. and
should drive through the Black Forest
on his way TO Freiburg. starting Mt
midnight
"Thc plan OF the two robbers-for
to my terror I discovered them TO he
nothing else-was TO waylay the
bnron's carriage near the 'Altc
schioss.' demand his money, and, II
he resisted, to back the horses over
the precipice. and. descending after
tho wreck. help themselves to the
plumber II was not without much
wrangling, however. that they finally
agreed upon this Hcndlsh course OF
action, aud meantime, crouched in
my nook, quaking lest they should
discover me, while the sun sank low,
and the music from the 'Convcrsa-
uonhans Gardens stole uTon the
bi ceze, warning me that II was time
for mother TO be ut the 'Trinkhalle'
for her draught Of water. and tina.
she must even now be in state of
great disquietudc concerning my long
| absence.
Il think I have told You that my
mother died OF hcart-dlseasc. and that
for years before her death. our great
aim was TO preserve her from every
mental shock Imagine. then. my cx-
tre..., anxiety TO return 10 her, and to
| return safely.
80 urgent did this necessity be.
come. that ut length ! rose, deter.
mined To slip away so softly that they
should not perceive me. | had not
gone many paces, however, until mn
angry exclamation from one Of them
warned mr that | was discovered. |
rushed down tho path Mt the top of
my speed. without looking behind:
but ] heard their heavy feet close on
my heels, and knew that did they but
lay finger on inc my life was gone.
| Scarcely had this last thought
shaped Itself In my mind. when my
foot slipped, and I stumbled TO my
knees The next moment ] was In
their hands
"'spyf hissed one, furlously; who
rent you hcrc?'
III had had any presence Of mind.
would hav, fcigncd Ignorance of
French, but began to ,mpiorc their
mercy. aud to explain how happened
"a DO alone on the 'liohc felacn.'
Throw her over the rocks, NUT.
tered ono OF the wrctchrs. 'or she'll
alarm the whole duchy before morn.
Ing
They threw one Of their clonlts
over my head, and began To drug me
back 10 the High Rocks despite my
frrn1icd struggles All nj once there
was crushing among tho fallen
branches, and while u soft. strong
hand caught mine. n threatening
voice cried out In English, my own
blessed tobguri
"'thhapd her, you yillninsi or ri
sboot you through tho hcndsi
In mn Instant was In the grasp Of
the stranger. who wbirlcd m. behind
him, and before could tear the cloak
from my head. tho sharp report of u
ristoi told me that he was M good a.
| his word when I could ace, | found
them nil engaged In a iicrse melee,
while my dclivercr fnir.haired
young Epgllshmnn, cried. fran,icnilyi
Fly. madame, 10 the Alto Schloss
.-nv"
"yon may b, sure obcycd him. In
i've minutes had reached the old
castle. and was telling u party of
French inuriaia, who had Iuat arrived,
~ the combat going on,
"My mother was Wild With alarm,
Hhe had hsa "a thu r.oar, al tha al nj