Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-11

ke0uancSS o. nef rO9e-1nd-Stlver suite.
parrot Wed with the ercidered parrots on
the wall; and now. as then. the air was
n>avy with sc~nt and musk, while the
hght. cunninziy arranged. fell on the part
where the countess sat, now grumbling
and now swearing, or now. while the cards
were dealing, thnDping the floor impatient
~ with herw sticA She had SO perfectly
the grand alr OF past generation that
when her eye turned in my direction
trembled and thought no more of resist.
ance;s yet. when sae resumed the game
she graduslty-and more and more com.
piefefy, "a I watched-sank into a quer-
ulous. feeble. fierce old woman, whose pas.
sion, where it did not terrify. moved TO de.
rtsion, and whose fads and fancies, as pa
tent as the day, placed her at the mercy
OF an who cared to Halter or cozen her.
Madame was about 1t now. letting her
win and again getting q slight advantage
mingiing hints at old vanities and con
quests (whereat my lady grew garruious)
with new scandals. coarse and spiteful;
whining little when my lady, in a fury
caused by bad hand, struck her across
the face with q fan to teach her to be
awkward. but cheering up at once when the
countess mood changed with the cards. In
word. as she had betrayed me young. she
cozened my lady old: but seeing her fea-
lures grown hard with time, and her eyes
grown Hfeless. and the devil grinning more
nia.niy from behind the mask, that had once
been so fair. 1t was wonder to me that
even the countess WAS deceived.
PRESENTLY my lady threw down her cards
IN rage, and calling her opponent a
creating slut. proceeded to turn her anger
on me. hat Is the gaby doing standing
there like gawk ?ss she shrieked. why
Is he not about his bus.ness?'
Montefcy whispered her that I had not
mad my instructions.
fhen give them and let him xor' she
crieo. here is the ring? Here, you daw
IN peacocks feathers-like my son, indeed?
About as like as that squirting Villiers is
70 beauty! Take that and ride with Mat
NEW smith and give 1t to the gentleman
you Will meet at the inn at Ashford and
say-Montercy tell him what to say"
Say Col. Talbot sends this ring and his
services And Ii the gentleman asks
winner! or this or that. to whatever he
Jonn, tn answer questions. Favor me by
conveying that ring and my services
Wnlther You are going. l do not talk, but
"nen the time comes I shall act"
= est tout" said the countess nodding
approval. IF you are not man enough to
repeat that, whip you for a noodle! Say
It, man."
But when went to say it first 1 could
then when my lady, storming at me for a
Iooi and an imbecile, I had got to the SEN
fences into my head, 1 but whimpered
,nen' bringing no heart to the task Ny
Iuoy Wnen. she saw that flew out at me
afresh. and threw first the yapors hottie
ana then her cane at me; which latter.
breaking a piece Of china, put her fairly
beside herself
and fro IN her chair. 'sDo You hear Won
Puhng psaim-singing canter Come here
I say! AND when, trembling and scared.
l mad approached, she leant forward. and
o..1hs s. noid OF my ear, as Ferguson had
once seized 1t. she twisted it with such I'M
eApected strength and spite that I roared
side her. ee' oe-
1T There e.e is for you, gros cochonr' she
GIleo. so you can speak I'D when Won
IKE! Now go to the end of the room INV
man, ana play Your part again, and play
II peter! Oreby -, I will have I'D those
Mho shaIl lash your back to the bone.
Hoity-toity! These are fine times. when
scum ike you, my lad, put on airsr'
This was not the,discipfne, nor were these
the threats. to give an actor courage: h,,t
IN N sneer desperation spoke up and, this
e ee haa tnei gooa fortune to please her;
ana, monterey mocking me and pushing me
tnis way andithat, went through nv part
dozen times. AtIlength the Countess ex.
pressed pre- ed herself satisfied and with a grim
unlike after anr' gave me leave to - 90 no' 81
But when I was half way to the door
sne called me back; and after had timid-
~ opeyed, she sat awhile, glowering at me
II! IN. silence; Al last, No" she said irritably
with her stick. "1t's too late to turn hack
The cross devil did nothing but thwart
me me To-Day ba IA and what he win not do bon
brought it on himself. and he must hide
his destiny! Yet-Montercyy
me woman was at her side in a moment.
Yes, madam" 70 =
Il suppose that there is no danger of
in her chair. "Sir John will get away?
They will not take him and find the ring
and learn whose 1t is?''
On that. If had been quick, and had
nad both wits and courage at command. /
should have thrown myself at her feet: and
so l might have opened her eyes. Eur /
Wavered, and before had found heart to
90 II, the waiting woman, smooth and
watchful, was In the breach
Ashford, my lady, Is only three hours,
riding from Dymchurch in the marsh" sac
said, where the boat waits for him to-
MORROW night. Sir John is well mounted.
and 1t will be odd II, after battling pursuit
time
Yes: yesr' my lady said garrulously.
Let him 60 Let him go. Though you are
a fool to boot. A man is taken or not
taken In less than three hours Even now.
II that contrary devil Of a son of mine had
rot argued with me. and argued with me
today-but let him go. Let him go!''
The woman lost no time in taking her
al her Woro ana hurrying me out; not by
the main entrance through which 1 had
come in. but by the little side door leading
to the dingy closet at the head of the pri-
Vate staircase In the closet a bright I'M
shaded lamp burned ON the dusty table. and
beside 1t stood Matthew Smith wearing a
cloak, riding boots and great tapped hat.
He hooked eagerly at the woman, his eyes
shining in the glare Of the lamp; but he
did not speak until she had closed the door
behind her. Then rs it right?' he whis-
pered.
She nodded.
You have got the ring?'
She gave 1t to him with a smile of tri-
umph,
He looked at it. and with a grim face.
slipped it into his pocket. Good" he said
land now, my friend. the sooner we are
away the better
But my gorge rose. On the table beside
him, in the full glare of the lamp, lay a
cloak and holsters. a mask, sword and rid
Ing whip. knew what these objects meant
and for what and for whom they were pre-
pared, and at the prospect of the plunge
into the dark night, of the journey and the
perils of the unknown road, 1 cried out
that would not go! would not 20.
And tried to force my way back into the
countess room-with what intention heaven
knows
But Smith whipped between me and the
door. You fool!' he said pushing me
back. Are you mad? Or don't you know
me yet?'
II know you too well!''. cried. beside
myself with rage and with approximations
% 4