The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-12
CHAPTER XXXv.

CHAPTER XXXv.
Rightly has the Latin poet sung OF the dura
lila OF the Fatcs; who either r~esistlcss, rout all
human resolutions. or where the mind has been
hardened to meet the attack, turn the poor
wretch's flank. and To-! while he squares his
sion, ,habet he has it under. the fifth rib.
So 1t is with me. While l dreamed OF resist.
ancc, and would harden my heart and set fast
not knowing. The Countcss's coach bore me
away unrosisting; and Smith, whom l hated as
ourled perqkq, the dravq,, ,rafiCs,. and hno sui
was but a step; 1 took it ]periorce. and being
conducted. when l was ready, into the Coun-
fsncicd tho last six months a dream-couid
have fancied th ,n conspiratSSrs s,ill at work mr5
s SfR'i a Strange T to m Sst the library Hns R;" q visi %s i IN a
word, / could have fancicd all those events.
which had filled half IA year, to be no more than
was tho great room, where my lady, while l
waited, played piQuct with Monterey, amid tho
gorgeousncss of her rosc.and silver suite.
The monkey gibbered rs of old, and the parrot
We'd with the broitered parrots on the wall. and
now, as then, the air was heavy with scent and
musk, while the light cunningly arranged, fell on
the part whctc.the Countess sat, now Rrumbling
dealing. humping the floor impatiently with
her stick. She had SO perfectly, the grand air
OF i a past r Eensra'iion ir ,hat %he ana der ,6 eSs e lnrn no
more of resistance; yet, when she resumed the
game, she gradually-and more and more com.
pltltls . L NhNNhSN SohN i"'" -" ~ ~ 49,
bic. fierce old woman. whose passion. whore it
did not ,~terrify. moved to dcrision. and whose
her at the mercy OF all who cared to Halter or
cozen her.
again getting a slight advantage, mingling hints
at old ~vanities and, conquests twhereat my lady
s~pitetni; whining a little when my lady. in a
fury caused by a bad hand. struck her across
the face with a fan to teach her to DO swkwart.
mood changed with the cards. In a word, as
she had betrayed me young, she cozened, my
with time. and her eyes grown lifeless, and tho
devil grinning, more plainly from behind the
der to me that even the Countess was deceived.
Presently my lady threw down her cards in
r prSs:e snd ' to turn n'f her 1pp anger on me-. What
j. the gaby doing. standing there like a Gawkf''
she shrieked. why is he not about his bust
Monterey whispered her that l had not had
Then give them and let him GO she cried.
cocks feathcrs-like my son. indeed! About
beauty. Take that and ride with Matthew
smith and give it to the gentleman you viii
terey. ell him what TO say"
say Col. TaIt lot ssnds this ring w and hi;
or this or that, to whatever he asks. answer
thus: II am not here. Sir John; to answer
and my :errieeS w hi yoh are ~ Going aqi Do
not talk. but when the time comes ! shall act
"C.est tort; said the Countess, nodding an,
that. whip you for a noodle! Say Y, man
But when | went TO say II first / could not
remember IL, and broke down: and thon when.
my lady storm ing at me Tor n fool and an i'm.
beetle. | bad got the sentences INTO my head,
I but whimpered them. bringing no heart to
the task. My lady. when she saw that, flew
out at me afresh, and threw first the yapors
breaking a piece OF china, put her fairly beside
herself. .o,. ,o. sw- .,a
fro IN bnr chair 'Dn Won hear Won Dulinp
psalm.sinsing canter. Come here, i say" And
when, trembling a.d scared. ! had appIoached,
shc leaned forward, and Selling hold of my
ear, as fcrsuson had once seized it. she twisted
it with such unexpected strength and spite
that l roaTed with pain and fairly fell on my
There Is for you. eros cochon" she cried
to n5G 3h sU end fs on I .Re ro ON T my n s1n and play GSy your sg
part again, and play it better, or, by = I will
b ssHs. UP R thHsG %9? 'h fSa. ia sro yaG nc e 'i%ss to %h 1ss
scum like you, my lad, put on airs"
Thi. wa not the discipline. nor were these
sheer desperation / spoke up, and, this lime, had
the good fortune to please her; and, Monterey
went through my part a dozen times, Al
length the Countess expressed herself satisfied
not SO unlike after ALI! gave me leave to go.
c, hS5 m whe Ssc ! % sns a aHif T ! hyyd to 9,m shs SG sSer she
she sat q while glowsring, at me in silence AZ
last, NO." she said. i%rritably, its too late!'
A Aqa s tos faFs't 70 G turn nhs bae cGGF T M,eh er nsr s ssHii
win not do bon IRE, he shall do by perforce.
his his n destinyi "YSestt1OMontereyl"" "u' DUO
The woman was at her side in a moment.
al suppose that there is no danger OF a con.
tretemps,'' she said, stirring restlessly. Sir
and find the ring and learn whose it isTT
On that. II had been quick and had had
b bSt9 t Tlfs and my Soafa 6 h ss fo@m and so ! I T mlsht
have opened her eyes. But l wavered. and be-
fore / had found heart to do II the waiting
woman. smooth and watchful. was in tho
Ashford, my, lady, Is only three hours rid
Sir John is we'll mounted, and 1t will be odd il,
after batilins pursuit for months, no should be
"'"Yes, yes!' my lady said gerrulously. LET
To boot sS. h 4 NAM ann Il. 81 9ake ehG or nG yU ssk aGS IA a f 1sss
than three hours. Even now. II that contrary
devil OF n son Of mine had not argued with nc
and argued with me to-day-but let him go.
The woman lost no tins in taking her at her
entrance through which ! had come in, but by
the little side door leading to the dingy closet
closet a bright, pnshaded lamp, burned on The
dusty table, and beside it stood Matthew Smith,
tapped hat. He. looked, eagerly, at the WOMAN
his eyes shining In the glare Of the lamp; but he
% %iad not 6er speak e an !is she Il r hsa c!1 lie w The dqSs DO
She nodded.
You have got tho ringf'
She gave IL TO him with n smile of triumph.
lilo looked at it, and With a grim face slipped
II into his pocket. Good" no said. land now
my friend, the sooner We are away the better
But my gorge rose. On tho table beside him
in the full glare OF the lamp, lay a cloak and
holsters, a mask, sword, and riding whip.
knew what these objects meant and for whal
and for whom they were prepared. and at The
|. prospect OF u plunge into the dark night, OF tn,
Journey and tho pcrils of the unknown road
] cried out that / would not 20! l would mo-
go! And l tried to force my way back into tn,
2 | Tnttptnaa'a rnnIn-yyifh what lntnntinn hon var
r knows.
But Smith whipped between me and the door
r "You fool!" he, Hnid, pushing me back. "Ar'
. you Inadi Or don't you know mo yeti"
II know You too well!' ! cried, beside my
self with rage and with apprehensions of III,
plunge on the brink Of which stood. "Yo,
r Ware. You have been the curse OF my life
You. and that JcZebcl."
0 Are you madf' he said again, and threat
: cncd me with his hand.
. But sho came u step nearer TO me and pecrcC
Y at me. and after one look took the lamp iron
tho table ana held it TO my face. AT Warei
/ she said. AT Warel' And then, putting tn
r lumn back on the table, she fell TO laughing