The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-10-26

.a.5I,N,a.4- 49,
f5..Gc> 3. &11Et%y !
MY ~ II N.Y.
q E',A>-4sAl... -X.,-
/
Islashcd II cruelty across me nostrtis
cerned before mo dark, solitary tower,
the tower seemingly Of a church. for IL
was topped by a stumpy spire, which day
light would probably have shown to be Of
wood
There was a little dry ground round
the church, a mere patch In sea Of wa
ter but my horse rang its hoofs on It with
every sign of Joy and nrched its neck as 1t
trotted up to the nelghborhoOd Of the
church, whinnying with pleasure. From
the back of the building, | was not sur
priscd, came an answering neigh. As |
pulled up man, his weapon in his hand
came from the porch, and n woman fol
lowed him. | called to them gnyly. Il
fancicd you would be here the moment |
saw the church, l said, sliding to the
ground.
Thank heaven you arc snfol' the Ouch
ess answered, and to my aatunishmcnt she
flung her arms round my neck and kissed
me. what has happened she asked,
looking in my eyes, her own full of tears.
II think | have stopped them, an
swered, turning suddenly shy, though,
boylilc, | had been longing few minutes
before to talk Of my victory. They tried
to cross, and
had not sheathed my sword. Master
BERTHE caught my wrist, and lifting the
blade looked at It, so, SOL he said nod
ding. Are you hurtF'
mot touched" l answered. Before
more was said he compelled his wife to go
back into the porch. The wind blew keen
ly across the open ground, and we were
all wet and shiyoring. When we had fns
tened up the horses, we followed her. The
door of the church was locked, it seemed,
and the porch afforded the best shelter to
be had. Its upper part was of open wood
work and freely admitted the wind, but
wide caves projected over these openings
and over the door, so that at least 1t was
dry within. BY budding together on the
floor against the windward side we got
some protection. l hastily told what had
happened.
$50 Clarence is gonel" My lady's voice
as she said the words trembled, but not in
sorrow or pity, as l judged-rathor In re-
lief Her dread and hatred of the man
were strange and terrible, and so seemed
to me then. Afterward l learned that
something had passed between them which
mado almost natural such feelings ON her
part and made natural also bitter resent
ment on his. But of that no more "You
are quite sure, she said, pressing me
anxiously for confirmation, that 1t was
hel"
dead, l explained.
You seem to bear charmed life your
self, " she said.
"Hushl" cried her husband quickly
'Do not say that to the lad. 1t is un-
lucky. But do you think, " he continued
tho porch was in darkness, and we could
scarcely make out one another's faces
that there Is any further chance Of pur-
suit"
Not by that party tonight" l said
grimly. Nor 1 think tomorrow.
Good" he answered, "for l can see
nothing but water ahead, and it would be
madness to go on by night without n
guide. We must stay here until morning,
whatever the risk. "
He spoke gloomily, and with reason.
Our position was "a miserable, almost n
desperate one, even on the superstition
that pursuit had ceased. We had lost all
our baggage, .ood, wraps. We had no
guides, and we were in the midst of a
flooded country, with two tender women
and baby, our only shelter the porch of
Gods house. Mistress Anne, who was
crouching in the darkest corner next the
church, seemed to have collapsed entirely
\ -. tI..t I III
once hear her speak that night. The duch-
ess tried to maintain our spirits and hor
own, but in the face of cold, damp and
hunger she could do little. Master BERTHE
and took 1t by turns to keep kind of
watch, but by morning-it was long
night, and n bitter one-.we were worn
out and slept despite our misery We
should have been surprised and captured
without blow II the enemy had come
upon us then.
l awoke with a start TO md the gray
light of raw, misty morning falling up
on and showing up our wretched group
| The duchess head was hidden in her
cloak, her husbands had sunk ON his
breast but Mistress Anne-I looked at
her and shuddered. Had she sat so all
night-sat staring with that stony face
Of pain and those fearless eyes on tho
moonlight on the darkness which had
been before the dawn, ON the cold first
rays of morning2 Stared ON all alike and
seen nonef / shuddered and peered at her,
alarmed, doubtful, wondering asking
myself what this was that had happened
to her Had fear and cold killed her or
turned her braini "Anne" said timid.
ly "Annei'
She did not answer nor turn, nor did
ha III .g.f L.u \ -.
she did not hear. "Annei" / cried again,
SO loudly that the duchess stirred and
muttered something In her sleep. But the
girl showed no sign of consciousness.
put out my hand and touched her
She turned sharply and saw me and in
an instant drew her skirt away with n
gesture Of such dread, loathing repulsion
as froze me, while violent shudder con.
vulsed her whole frame. Afterward she
seemed unable to withdraw her eyes from
me, but sat in the same attitude gazing
at me with fixed look of horror, as one
might gaze at serpent, while tremor
after tremor shook her.
was frightened and puzzled and was
still staring at her wondering what had
done, when a foOtstop on the road outside
called away my attention. i turned from
her to see mans figure looming dark In
the doorway. He looked at us-I suppose
he had found the horses outside-gazing
In surprise at the queer group. i babe
him good morning in Dutch, and he an
swered US well as his establishment would
let him. He was short, stout fellow,
with IA big face, capable Of expressing u
good deal Of astonishment. He seemed to
| be peasant or farmer. "What do you
heref' he continued, his cultural phrases
| tolerably Ineligible TO me.
explained as clearly as l could that
we were on the way to Wesel. Then /
awoke the duchess and her husband, and
stretching our chilled and aching limbs
we went outside, tho man still gazing at
us. Alasl the day was not much better
than the night. We could see but very
little way, a couple of hundred yards
round us only. Tho rest was install
mist. We appealed to the man for food
and shelter, and he nodded, and obeying
his signs rather than his words we kicked
up our starved beasts and plodded out in
to the fog by his side Anne mounted ST.
lently and without objection, but 1t was
plain something strange had happened to
her Her condition was unnatural The
duchess gazed at her very anxiously, and
getting no answers or very scanty ones TO
her questions shook her head gravely.
But we were on the verge OF one pleas
ure at least. When we reached tho hos
pitablo Kitchen Of the farmhouse, ID was
joy indeed TO stand before the great turf
fire and feel the heas stealing into our half
frozen bodies, to turn and warm back and
front, while the good wife set bread and
hot milk before us. How differently We
three felt In half an hourl How the duCh-