Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-12
CHAPTER XXI.
I,aSe'S PPErnr.

Loves PeEEnr.
AS Hollywood rode on the weather grew
rapidly worse and it soon became inpossi-
bic to see more than a few yards ahead.
The night was settling down thick with
falling snow. that he could only pull up
and listen when a faint noise, that might
have been a woInan's scream, came to him
through the storm He shouted in return
but there was no answer. Then out of the
gray curtain sleigh with two maddened
horses dashed across his path and was as
suddenly lost TO sight. Hollywood had Only
time 10 See a woman ciinging to the driver S
empty seat and clutching desperately at the
dangling reins.
They passed like Il vision. noiseless. swift
and dim. and although Hollywood folio we'd
quickly. he could not find them The gloom
and the snow had obliterated all trace of
the sleigh, and at last Hollywood himself
well he knew the country, became be-
wlideTcd: but luckily the horse he rode was
a charger he had had with him the from
tier. He left it to choose its own direction
yet it was long before a blur of light, which
he knew to be the open doorway of the
block house, grew oEt on the shifting dark
ness
Within the men OF the patrol were stand
ing in a group. talking eagerly. Flinging
himself from his horse, Hollywood entered
the house Just as a young cavalry officer
came from the inner room, and, recogniz-
ing Hollywood, advanced hurriedly to meet
him.
L say, who do you think we have in
there nc said, exctedly.
Tell me afterward,'' Interrupted Rally
wood; Il met d runaway Sleigh
They We're the horses from the CASTLE
interrupted the young man, with a nervous
laugh hille- Se!pdOrf managed to get
nod Of the reins after a bit, otherwise
he snapped his fingers sgnificaD
Then shs-th4 lady, - safe
Two OF them, my dear friend. One Is
- nd ErlT 81 No.
other IL Nine de Sagan herself And, by
J"Fe, shes an Internally pretty woman
too We're in luck, Hollywood, Have you
Gene To look for ths.n?''
Hollywood hesitated before he replied.
No thanks. / must get back to Re
vEnde by the hrst train. so l will ride on
with the next patrol to the station. Are
they hgrt?' he nodded toward the inner
ICon-
No. but how they escaped the deuce only
Knows. Ame. de Sagan was insensible
voice by the way. she has been saying
sumo queer things! She declares the driver
dashed up the horses and purp0sely threw
himself of the sleigh when they were on
the Slope OF the pine wood Just above the
4rS rn pTecipice. She swears he meant to
Kill them
She was frightened. That's all"
1T was about a certainty they'd Re
dashed To pieces. And look here the
young fellow looked oddly at Hollywood,
she hiEtrG that the count
-NJ!iSebSS- HSliSWOOd forced Il laugh
Shs was badly frightened. l tell YOU
i II take my cath there's something; in
II, though, She refuses 20 let US take her
back TO the castle tonight"
W hat have YOU given them-tea OF any
thing
Faith. no, made them each take a nip
OF blzUtte-far better. too. But wen have
soIne Tea made now if you think they
would like it
of course 1t will give them something
= do BY the way, you might as well ask
them if they would see me-
On second thought and in view of the
countess refusal TO go back to Sagan he,
felt he must offer his assistance
y s; ask them If they will see me now"
he continued, looking at his watch; II
have not much time to spare
The next moment IsoIde's high sweet
voice could be heard distinctly through the
open door.
Capt Raiywood! Pray tell him we
should like to see him"
Mime. de Sagan was lying on a narrow
camp bed. supported by wraps and pillows
brilliant red spot on each cheek. and her
eyes darker than ordinary under the in
ttuencc of the alternate fright and stimuia
ton Of the last two hours. She waited till
me door was shut, then she put out both
hands to Hollywood.
Thank heaven. we are safe and together
again. Jack, Come herei 1 want TO know
that you are alive and this is not all a
cream. she began, impulsiveiy. yet behind
the impulse Lay calculated design She
owed her life to Ealerie's courage, but that
weighed as nothing in comma fsnn wjth the
knowledge that in some indefinite manner
the girl stood between Hollywood and her
self; that Hollywood. for some reason. held
Valerie In special regard
Hollywood bowed, still standing by the
door.
Thank heaven you are safe madame. -
ne said Il saw you somewhere this side of
the pine woods. but lost YOU in the mist
oh. did not see youI / saw nothing
after that murderer leaped of / had a
horrible instant during which / imagined
myself swinging between the gorge and
The sky-after that | knew no morer' ex-
claimed Isolde. a sort of compiacency mix
Ing with her agitation They tell me that
valerie was very brave and that she saved
our lives, but for me these heroisms are
fmpossible,''
She glanced at Rallywood secure in his
approval but he had turned to Valerie.
who was sitting in a low wooden chair nv
the stove with her back TO the room
1t was magnificent. mademoisener, he
exclaimed.
Valerie shivered.
There was nothing at all magnificent
about it, she said eoldly '.Self-preserva-
ton drives one to do what one can. IL il
only BY chance that one happens to do the
right thing"
Isolde shrugged her shoulders and made
little srimace at Raiiywood
do not heed her. Jack People are al.
ways very pleased with themselves for do
ING what other people call magnificent
valerie Is cross. Take this chair by me
have very serious quarrel with YOU"
All the terror and peril OF that dreadful
drive had passed from Nine de Sazan.s
facile mind The little rivalries and co.