The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-20
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q glass Of wine.
''To the success Of Nassau and Of Eng
land" she said. Then touching II with her
lips In the graceful fashion Of Nassau, she
handed II to him.
"Hark! / think 1 hear my father arriv-
ing, and there is something must say to
you before he comes
She clasped her hands nervously, the bare
shapely hands with their cleaning rings,
and Hollywood watched her and felt as II
capt, Rallywood. want to thank you.
I can never thank you enough for that
night at Kofn Ford, I understood-pray
believe I understood it-and think you
are the noblest gentleman alive!"
Rallywood did not hesitate. There was
one thing Valerie should know and be GER
tain Of In the uncertain future.
"Give me a moment, mademoiselle." he
exclaimed. OBTAINING her. II see you do
not quite understand. l could not expect
You to understand. But now-now that I
am leaving NASSAU, I must tell you the
truth. Perhaps you will believe II some
day. I am proud"
II know 1t. and yet you--o. say no morei
For my sake you stopped to say II. 1t was
not true! But I knew that"
He took her hands between his own in o
f1rm, strong clasp.
Listen, mademoiselle. II was true! Since
FIRST saw you 1t always has been true
IT remember!" she said breathlessly She
could not help saying 1t.
do your" he answered. The temptation
to wander a little was too sweet. You
wore this cloak"-he touched II softly with
his fingers. then laid his hand over hers
deliberately, in the quiet, confident way in
which he aid everything, and which she had
grown to love-'and ever since have car
ried the glove you despised. And, though
this lie nv good-by. win carry IT
always"
"oh, I don't ask you to believe mo now"
he said bitterly. II am not noble, made.
moiselle. was only too proud to say
loved you that night, as'-with another lit
tie smfle-"I was only too proud not to say
Valerie raised her face, and her eyes were
full OF light.
"Then It was true-thank Godl''
But Rallywood, though he saw the pur-
pose of her speech, would not understand
its significance. He led ner towards the
door by which she had entered.
you must go, mademoiselle. I-dare not
keep you with me longer. Good-by, and may
God 60 with you, valeriel'
She stopped suddenly and kissed the hand
that held hers.
IT, too, am proud" she whispered. And
the door closed upon her.
CHAPTER xvii
''Selpdorf is the man Of tho hour" Coun-
sellor once said to Hollywood. and the ma
TORS sayings had q trick Of lingering IN the
memory. with the Chancellor then still re-
NAMED the key to the situation. He was
implicated in the conspiracy. but he had
less to gain and far more to lose than the
others. A dangerous condition and one pos
sible of development
All this passed in fash throug Rally
woods mind the opposite door opened to
admit NJ Selpdorf, who replied stifay to
Rallywood's bow.
II was not prepared to see you this even
Ing" began Selpdorf.
II have brought the dispatches. your Ex-
cellency," replied Rallywood, taking the
packet from his pocket but continuing to
hold them in his hand.
selpdorf eyed him.
"FEom whom"
Lieut.. Unzier."
The affair was falling out IN an unexpect-
cd manner. Selpdorf was o student Of hu-
man nature, as all Of his craft must be.
and Rallywood offered for his observation q
character out Of the common and hard
for a Nassau to read. How had he
escaped from the dilemma in which he had
been SO carefully placed? The Chancellor
was curious to hear. The man was an ar
list in the human passions
From Lieut.. UnZiar?" Selpdorf repeated
tentatively. And your prisoner? The man
whom ! ordered you to keep at the block
housef'
The Chancellor half expected to hear that
Counsellor was also in Revonde, and that
speakable effrontery, had called to explain
his own view OF the matter.
"Unziar Is with him-with Major Coun-
sellor at Kofn Ford. Unfair was unable to
which Is in food. Therefore I have come"
Because soldier should see no further
Was it possible Hollywood had merely
shirked facing the difficulty In this way!
thought Selpdorf
"Ah, Major Counsellorf And these are
These are Major Oounsellor's private de-
spatches, which were stolen from him with
In the frontier OF Maasau!" said Hollywood.
Selpdorf's round eyes showed their lids In
an odd flicker. The attack was sudden.
He brushed his mustache upwards with q
thoughtful movement of the finger and
thumb, regarding Hollywood as he did 30.
Then why have you brought them to
me?" he said at last.
"ecause a soldier should see no further
than the point of his sword, your Excellen-
cy." replied Hollywood slowly.
Good And how do you come to know
what the packet containsH"
THE person who robbed Major Coun-
sellor did not even take the precaution of
placing II under another cover. He recog-
nized 1t at the block house
ut seems to me then that you had Q
decision to make at the block -houser''
YES" said Hollywood simply.
But 1t was not a subject to bear discus
sion.
"As a soldier OF Maasau you decided
rightly" selpdorf misjudged Hollywood for
the m oment; 1t crossed his mind that this
was a mercenary after all. and to be
bought.
But as a man now wish to resign my
commission"
Selpdorf raised his brows.
but why? At the very moment when you
have proved your faithfulness and your
zeal? When owe you a recognition OF
these high qualities?"
II want nothing. your excellency. but to
go out of this house q free man." returned
Hollywood coldly.
Reconsider your words Capt. Rally
wood
Even II other difficulties had not arisen"
went on Hollywood. II may remind your ex-
cellency that a soldiers oath does not
cover robbery and assassination"
Selpdorf was. and looked, astonished.
II don't understand you." he said gravely.
"Pray tell me what you mean"
II found Major Counsellor alone and I'M
conscious in a single carriage that had been
sent rolling down the incline on the line
where the outgoing mail-train could not
fail to collide with 1t, The inference Is