The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1895-06-07

Ehe trembled as one trembles in the
sudden gust from long unopened vault.
One trembles. But why? The dead lie
so very still within, and it is perfectly
quiet
Zach, goede hemelp' says the girl.
"My father, be kind to himr'
"What do you want?" roars the
mayor again.
eff it please you, ask your excel
lence's permission and authority" the
man began in halting Dutch and with
evident effort in the uncouth northern
tongue, ''to give for week my play in
fl. We have"-
"I'll have none of itl'' thundered his
excellence, kicking over the Venetian
footstool till it rolled into the darkness,
where the black cat climbed up and sat
hideously upon it.
"But, your excellence, we are starv-
| ing" The mans face was strangely
meager and gaunt. 1.-The lady is from
the south. - He glanced at the girls
dark eyes and held them for second,
! then at the pictures upon the walls of
the Grand canal and the Rialto. "She
will know how difficult it is to live in
the north. For the sake of the waters of
la belle Italia be merciful to us on these
northern seasf'
1t was then that the lady stretched
forth her white hand and entreated her
| lord father to help, to be merciful to
the poor, to allow, to grant but just
this once the mans request-to be mer
ciful!
1--WE are starving, my lord," the man
said again very quietly, but he bit the
thin, gaunt, restless lip. "Your gra-
cious permission will give us the right
and the way elsewhere through the
country"
1t was then that the lords fist was
brought down with such vehemence on
the table that the fair white hand of his
daughter held out in supplication trem-
bled. He swore heavy oath that the
man should leave his presence; he
swore that no permission should be
granted; he swore that the company
should be expelled that night from the
town of H, where they had set up
their lodging, and he swore-
Out of breath from the torrent Of
words. his justice stopped.
Again the girls white hand was
stretched imploringly. The same strange
chill swept over her as she looked at
the figure standing so very still. But it
seemed to move forward Tho shiver
shook the long shapely fingers and the
jewels ON her hand.
The man drew his cloak around him,
again bit the restless, gnashing lip,
turned and with his gaze fixed the roll
ing eye of my lord mayor. He stretched
out his arm. For moment there was
silence. Then curse was hurled out
across the darkening tapestried cham
ber, curse on him and his forever.
Was the man moving across the red
twilight?
No. He had gone.
The light of the dying day smeared
the floor in tide of crimson. The two
| listened.
II heard step, father. 1t is behind
me-. F" The girl sprang to her feet, her
face paler than the white waters of the
midnight Rialto. She stretched out her
hand again. The fingers reached across
| the red light.
You are fool, his excellence said,
laughing ponderous laugh and slowly
stroking his great beard. II heard the
rascals move off good ten minutes
ago."
Father" the girl shrek ed, "the
step is up and down behind me! 1t is
moving" She clung to him with white,
trembling grasp.
"Griselda, we will 60 to dinner" his
excellence said, land this folly will be
forgotten. Comen'
Not the wines on the glittering table,
nor the stout jokes of my lord mayor,
brought a tint of color to her pale
cheeks. Her eye was restless and ex-
pectant. Now and again sho glanced
fearfully around as if counting some
thing that was moving nearer. At the
angry glance from the face opposite she
strove to laugh apallid little laugh and
| to be herself again.
MAY it please your excellence
butler stood at the doorway as the two
arose from table-"the player that came
| into your excellence's presence tonight
was found dead in the canal an hour
ago.
MAY the devil shrive him." his ex-
cellence said, with laugh, "and assist
him to kindle his footlights Come,
| Griselda"-.
did they bury him, father?" The
| girl clung to his arm. Did they bury
him?' she repeated, fixing the butler
with a strange, glittering look.
"Yes, my lady-on the salt meadow. "
'Requiescat in pace again the
mayor laughed. Come, Griselda."
The giil did not leave his ann
The next day things had partially re-
sumed their old course. The girl was
again singing to her guitar in the twi-
light red, My lord mayor looked up
suddenly from the desk At the farther
end of the room.
"Griselda, two of my choicest pipes
are missing from the rack. Did you re-
move them!'
why, no, father" she answered
simply, rising to move toward him, but
stopping with a cry that rang out across
the shadows. The mayor turned to sea
the white hand reaching forward to-
ward him.
1.-The steps, the stepsr she shrieked,
now daring to turn toward the twilight
corners of the room. They are behind
me again and are coming onl'
His excellence sprang from his chair