Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1899-04-06


GStX1gN ten. Clear and dis
.sszJf%xG tinct, in a pecnlial
QHyfeyASa mellow tone, ech.
~ goO oed on the still
,SStS evening air -four
blasts upon whis-
lie. Bernard sprang to HIS feet with a
rapidly changing face. Madame Valerie
also turned pale.
1T is your ivory whistle, certainly.
said she, have you lost II? are we
discovered?''
Bernard was lost in painful agita-
tion. Il must 60" said he; "at all
events must see who has approached
the cliff before we open the secret
door. The whistle is. or was, in Lady
Violante's possession. It cannot be
there is danger before her so speedily
as this. Get me the dark lantern,
mother, and will go out by the tun-
mel that leads to the cove, and II Il
= Is she will speak with her outside"
BE prudent, o, Bernard, be eau
tious. was never afraid of your dis
erection before; but, alas! love has be-
trayed so many brave man, and per-
He'd so many otherwise successful
causes, tremble now for ours"
Again the whistle sounded. "Quick,
quick, mother, this is no time for par
leying. ! will take my pistols to quie;
your apprehensions."
Frightened, trembling, with nerves
excited to the utmost, Lady violante
crorched on the ground beneath the
Topped withered larch; her cold hands
clenching the ivory tube, and her eyes
wandering anxiousiy around the stir
less shrubbery. Growing hopeless. as
she received no answer, she was turn
Ing dejectedly away, when her quick
ear caught the sound OF paddle-stroke
beneath, and In a moment more she
saw 1.-THE, active figure cautiously
ascending the cliff. The slender. grace
ful outline against the clear space of
sky behind reassured her fears, and
springing forward, wholly unconscious
Of the rich tone of Joy that .lled her
voice. she exclaimed:
%, Bernard, is 1t you? Have you
answered my call at last?"
Then 1t is you, Lady violante. who
gave the signal. / could scarcely be-
iieve 1t possible; what can have occurr-
ed In the brief time since saw your"
said Bernard, not daring to show the
delight he felt at seeing her again.
Nothing so desperately alarming as
you may infer. was to use the magic
whistle for my own safety, but ven-
tured to try it to warn you on your
own account"
ITO warn me! of what? OF whom?"
"Of Count Emile; my father told
me tonight be was on your track, and
.. added to my own misery. the fears
for you quite unnerved me. II I had
gone home without seeing you, think
I should have been crazed before morn
ing. Let me tell you all that has hap
pened since you left US hastily and
nnkindly. without parting word"
You found my note In the book,
aid you not? Lady violante. have as
high sense of honor as the noblest
In the land. I know my own weakness
Loving you SO passionately. dared
not linger to feed my hopeless affec-
tion upon your gentle words and ten
der deeds. Think you II I could take
you openly to a position your worth
and rank demands, ] would let forty
fathers or hundred lovers like Count
Germain take you from me, so long
as your own pure heart had responded
10 mine? but as It is. wretched, un.
fortunate. and lowly as I am, I mus,
bind down my frantic agony, and leave
you to q happier fate than 1t Is in my
power to offer. My only hope lies In
your possible misfortunes. II the time
ever comes you are In need Of what
protection I can give. o, my peerless
beautiful violante. come instantly to
the arms that will so joyfully unclose
10 you!"
His head dropped despondently to
his breast and folding his arms gloom
lly he waited for her to speak.
Her breast heaved eonvulsively, and
the warm tears poured down her
cheeks. How she longed. that ,mpul.
siye. loving girl. to cast herself at his
feet and cry, impetuously:
TAKE me now, o, Bernard, take me
now! no matter how poor, how lowly
how dangerous your life. to share II
WI be the happiest fate the world can
.ofRer mew
Z Instead. with sort of Icy calmness,
she said, "Shall tell you now all that
has occurred" 'b*
Bernard heard the whole narrative
without word OF comment. When
she had finished. he said coolly:
X do not fancy Count Emile has
made much progress In his search; he
would be likely to exaggerate. How
ever, do not give yourself any uneas-
mess. am going away In few days
10 be absent some little time. and De.
fore return he win have relinquished
search SO hopeless as this will prove
What you tell me about your father,
angry persistence alarms me much