Omaha daily bee., 1899-08-06

ter OF history and was witnessed within the
walls OF the Conciergerie during the Reign
OF Terror, where men and women unfinci-
ingly carried on a hollow semblance Of the
old joyous comedy OF life till they mounted
laughing into the tumbrils.
Although nothing was known about the
events Of the previous night except by
those who took part in them. a sense OF
excitement pervaded the party. The
strained relations existing between the duke
and his possible SUCCESSOR gave rise to an
amount Of vague expectation and conjecture.
Anything might happen with such danger
Gus elements present in the atmosphere.
Therefore, when atwood, booted and
spurred, passed up the hall, his entrance
attracted every eye. He walked straight up
to the count at his distant window, and,
saluting, spoke for perhaps a minute in a
low voice.
At the first sentence Sagan swung round,
his lowering face growing darker as he
listened. Then, advancing to the head of
the table prepared for the Entertainment of
the duke, he called the attention of all
present by striking it loudly with the
riding-whip he carried.
An instant hush settled upon the room.
Sagan glared around into the waiting eyes
and in the pause the tsa broke in a crash
upon the castle front with the pebble SHIFT
Ing sound of a breaker.
Il have to beg the favor of your at
~tention for a moment" the counts words
rang out. Captain Rallywood reports that
an officer OF his highness' guard is missing
Captain Collendorp. Inquiries have been
made, but he cannot be found. 1t seems
that he was last seen leaving the billiard
room. If any one in the hall can give us
flrthnr Inflammation mill ALa,
enough to do 500"
Valerie raised her eyes to Rallywood, who
stood behind the count. AS he met them
the young mans stern face softened sud-
denly.
M. Blivinski, who happened to be sitting
beside her, caught the exchange of looks,
and for a moment was puzzled. Selpdorfs
daughter? Well, we'll, the English are a
wonderful people, he said to himself. Neither
subtle nor gifted, but lucky. Lucky enough
to give the devil odds and beat him! Here
was Selpdorf laying his plans deeply and
with consummate skill, while this pretty.
clever daughter Of his was ready to give
him away because a heavy dragon OF the
favored race smiled at her across a break
fast table. Pah! The ways Of providence
are inscrutable it remains for mortal men
to do what they may to turn them into
more convenient channels
Then there was Counsellor, whose
political importance could not be denied. Yet
he did the blum thing blufiy and said the
obvious thing obviously, and blundered on
from one great city to another, but blum
dered triumphantly! Still there were COM
pensations. The good God had given the
Russian craft and a silent tongue, and a
facility for telling a lie s~easonably.
ElmuF hU q fropttan 80 .z-l A..
late to see what the Russian had seen.
Valerie was very white, but she was talking
indiferently TO NJ. Blivinski, with her eyes
liked upon her plate. 1t was some time be-
fore she seemed to grow concious Of Elmur's
gaze; a slight feck OF color showed and paled
in her cheeks, and then at length her long
lashes futtered up and the German per-
ceived in the darkness OF her eyes a trace
of unshed tears.
"Mademoiselle. you are tired" he said
with solicitude.
Yes" she answered smiling. but we
are going back to Revonde in a day or two,
and then / will wipe out the remembrance
of everything that has happened at Sagan
from my mind foreyer!"
Elmur was about to reply when Sagan
spoke again.
n one appears to have heard or seen
anything OF Captain Collendorp. We will
have the dogs out, Captain RALLY wood Pray
ten his highness that in the course Of an
hour or two we hope to be able 70 tell him