The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-04-08
MY LADY ROTHA.
A ROMANCE.
By STANLEY J. wEYMAN, Author Of
"a Gentleman OF France" "The
House Of the wolf." &c.
ovsrsm 1904. " Ss-'y = wv-.>
CHAPTER XVIII
A SUDDEN EXPEDITION.


eve, searched the fields at the back. and every
ditch snd water hole. l had the loss cried in
ths camp; my lady. on her return. offered
reward; We sent even to the nearer village. We
pstrollsd the roads, We omitted nothing that
eould BIZ any chance avail ua Yet evening
fell. and night and found Us still searching;
no nearer, ss far - We could see. to success
The child was gone mystsriously. Left to play
slon. for two minutes In the stiffness OF the
sitsrnoon. he had vanished ss completely ~ II
the earth had opened and swallowed him
BafIied We began to ask. while Marie sat
male and brooding In . corner. or now and
again stole to the door to listen. whe could
have taken him and with what motivs1 There
ware m en- and women In the camp capable OF
anything. 1t seemed probable that some OF
these had stolen the child for the sake OF his
clotbsa others suggested witchcraft- But In
my own mind leaned to neither OF these the
oriea suspected, though dared not utter
the thought, that the General had done 1t
without knowing how much OF the story
Count Hugo had confdsd to him. took 1t a.
certain that the father had said enough to APP
prise him OF the boys value And this being
40 what more probable than that the General,
whom l was prepared to credit with any stroc-
ity, should take instant steps TO possess him
self OF the ohild1
NY lady ssid and did all that was kind on tn
secession; and for q few hours 1t occupied ALI
our thoughts. At the end OF that time. about
sunset. Gen. Tzerclas rode to the door. and
with him. to my surprise, the Waldgrsve.
They would see her. and detained her so long
that whom she sent for me on their departure.
was sore on Marie's account. and Inclined to
blame her a. Indifferent to our loss But
single glance at her face put another color on
the matter. I saw that somsthing had 90
CURED to excite and disturb her.
Martin" she said earnestly. u am going
70 employ you on an errand OF Importance.
Listen to me and do not interrupt me Gen.
Tzsrclas starts to- m orrow with the larger part
Of his forces to intercept one Of Wallsnstsin's
eonvoys, which 10 expected to pass twelve
leagues to the ssouth OF this. There will be
sharp fighting. I am told. And my cousin. the
walderavs Rupert 10 going. He 10 not at
prsssnt-I mean. ! am afraid he may do some
thing rash. He 10 young" my lady continued
with dignity and heightened color. and 1
wish he would stay here. But he will not"
guessed ut once that this AFFAIR Of the con-
yoy was the business which had brought
Count Hugo to the camp And / was begin
ming to consider what advantage We might
make Of It ana whether the Generals absence
might not afford US both . pretsxt for de-
parture and the opportunity. whom my lady's
next words dlsrelled my visiona
Il want you" she said slowly. to 70 with
him. He has q high opinion OF you. and will
listen to you"
wn, o oeas. =, ,,,o y, an. .,.isin.S sn~r,,x
Il said the waldgravs Rupert I wish you to
10 with him to sec that he does not run-any
unnecessary risk"
Icoughed dryly. and stood silent
"wsllp" my lady said with frown. DO
ysu understand"
IL ~Iund.rstsnd; my lady NJ answered firml''
murmurod. unable I think. to believe her
pleaser
B's,pss nv mrs. GUY ,a 20 lou ooaf .i con
Ieuv,.
AS si LONG a. I am here shs rstorssd. red
with anger and surprise You have still that
Master Martin. IL We were at home would
Ana man. 10 Sriv. n outI But know vbat n
isl What you really want is to stay BY the side
Of that pulling gIrll oh. am not blind" my
II ss the %sy q ss
Shat has been going on"
Count Saa: Si% Is .dg s4,.G in
yp S.. tod dared 81 q him ~ fuf'Sd
sumptuous boobyF she eontinusd. flashing
q me a sisnes Of seorn. which made me trsm,
IA Hut will thwart you'll / have . way to
sSit since You viii not leave me. 1 viii 20
myssli i will go but Mattress Marie shall
sfsy here till We return"
"ff there IL to DO lighting, my lady 2" said
humbiy
"Ahf 80 you have changed your note. have
inS"-she mock cd my tone. well, there IL to
bS. but / shall 20. And now do you GO and
have ali ready for 4 start at day break or 1t will
be the worse for you'll My woman will sc-
com pany me. FrAuleln Anna will stay here
With yOur.-other mistrsssF
once more charged me to be ready and went
AWAY dAzed- Everything seemed on q sudden
to De turn cd upside doWn-the child lost my
lad aHandad tha Waldorava Aaanarata TN
~ Ts,ye. .oniS 80 sSsrSShish -
ny duty lay. / would fain have stayed In tho
camp q day to make further search for the
child but must 90. would gladly have got
clear OF the camp but We were to travel in the
Generals company. As to leaving Marie, my
lady wrongsd ma. knew OF no danger which
Skrsatsned the girl, nor any reason why she
should net be safe where she WaA III the child
warA fau0 "A ha Uouid h. haPa m raeaiya