The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-12
BLACK DOUGLAS.
BY s. II. CROCKETT.
COPYRIGHT. 1898. BY S. r. Crockett

lawn upon his innocent victims. Maud Linde-
saw was the earert to him, and her unbound hair
Fn back and touched the peak Of his pointed
,hoe Of crimson leather.
Tv,b 1uick movement ne caught up a hand
tl NJ its rich luxuriance and allowed IL TO run
through his fingers like sand nNaln and again.
with apparent delight in the:sensaiion.
Even IA he did so tho dim figure OF tho
horned demon above appeared to lean forward
,s Ito touch him.. and with n rushing noise
tho great hour.glass set upon a pedestal at the
Zoo, Of tho image turned itself completely over.
Gi'es turned also with a startled air. and see
Inc what IL was. he ~laughed'a% strange. hollow
laugh.
ut il indeed the hour. the hour OF doom.
fair maids" he said, looking down upon them
AZ deferentially "a II he had been paying his
court in the great hail OF Thrleve. but IL shall
not pnss without taking with It your souls to
another and. { trust. a higher sphere"
He paused. but no complaint nor appeal
cans to his cruel and inexorable ear. The
certain graciousness OF Providence to those In
,ytrene peril seemed to have blunted the edge
o' tear In tho innocent victims. They lay still
md apparently without consciousness upon
the iron altar. The red glow played upon their
faces. shining through from the innor cham
her. and the figure Of the Marshal stood out
blnck against 1t. -
On the floor Law the goblet from which he
had trunk the red milk.
Give me the kniie!" he cried. suddenly as a
trumpet that Is blown.
And. reaching a witheted hand within the
Msrshul's chamber "a II TO detach something
from the wall. La MefTrave hobhled quickly
across toward the altar platform. bearing In her
hand a shining blade OF steel. broad of blade
and curved Mt the point. She placed the ebony
49, ~ AV.-.Lul.. Ln-l ~ .-at-l. a.
lovingly. in his grasp.
Then. for the first time since the mon had
bound her. the sweet childish eyes OF little
Margaret we're Enclosed. and looked up at
GILES de Retz with the touching wonder OF
helplessness and innocence.
A. that moment the image appeared to
Laurence to beckon 10 him out Of the gloom.
A quick and nervous resolve ran through his
veins. His muscles became like steel within
his flesh. He rose to his feet and rushed
without pause for thought across the chapel
from the niche where he had been hidden.
Murderer, FiendI l will kill you'll" he
cried. and with his dagger bare in his hand he
would have thrown himself upon the Marshal.
But switter than the rush of the young man in
his strength there'came another from the door
Of the inner chamber.
With a deep.throated roar Of wholly bestial
fury Astarte. the she wolf. spranG upon Lau-
renee. and. though.he sank his dagger twice
deer into her hairy chest. abe overbore him
and they fell to the ground with her teeth
gripping his shoulder. Laurence felt the hot
blood Of the beast squirt forth and mingle with
his own. Then a flood Of swirllng waters
scanned to bear him suddenly away into the
unknown.
When Laurence MacKim came to himself he
" -
somehow infinitely lonely and forsaken. Next
he grew slowly conscious that his feet and
arms we're bound tightly with cords that cut
~nai.fully into the flesh. Then he realized that
he. too. had taken his place beside the maids
uron the altar OF iron. Strangely enough. he
did not feel afraid nor even wish himself else
where. He only wondered what would hap
pen next.
He opened.his eyes. and. 10! they looked di-
re,tiy into the leerinE countenance Of the
mon strous image. Yet-there seemed some
thing strangely encouraging and even benef-
cent about the aspect of the demon. But SO
often as GILES de Retz passed the array OF his
victims with his back to the image the re-
gard Of the sculptured devil followed him.
grim and hooking.
Words of-angry alteration came to the ears
Of Laurence MacKim.
Il tell YOU" cried the voice OF Giles dc
Retz. Il will not spare them. Wellnigh had I
succeeded. Almost was l young again. l
was tasting the first sweetness OF knowledge
wide as that OF the gods. ] felt the new life
stirring within ne. But | had Dot enough OF
the blood Of innocence. which is the only worthy
libation TO Barran -Sathanas, who alone can be-
stow new life"
Then the LADY Sybilla answered him. Il
pray you. GILES de RetZ. as you hope for mer-
cy. slav not these maidens and this youth.
Take me and bind me. instead. for the sacrifice
OF death, | have wrought enough OF evil.
Take OF my blood and work out your purpose.
Let me give you the libation you desire. GILES
de RetZ. II ever | have aided you. grant me this
boon now. ] beseech you let these innocents
60 and bind me upon the altar In their place"
Long and loud auGhed GILES de Retz-a
hard. evil and relentless laugh.
'Sybilla de Thouars an innocent maiden's
sacrifice! Barran-S athanas himself laughs at
the Jest. He would have no pleasure in your
death. Soul and body you are his already.
He desires only the blood and suffering OF the
innocent-of those on whom he has never set
nus mark. Nay. these three shall surely die.
ana In that bath under his altar | shall lave
me from head to foot in the red milk Of limo
cence. have no more need OF you. Sybilla
mine. You have done your work. aud for re-
"aId you can depart 70 your own place, out
Esm my WY tht:. I ! say: ,aenrtet; aoltou, GpisN!
Imam 'SAAA W. Nv 'fhhAh
Then, struggling strengthen their hands.
the ~stryttors carried Lady Sybilla t. the fur
ther end Of the chapel. where they abode on
enher SIDE. holding her fast. And rs the last
grains OF sand beg an TO swirl toward their fall
ara a little whirlpool to form funnelwise. In
NE midst OF the holIrglass. the butcher was left
alone with his victims upon the platform OF the
n.GiIirs de Retz turned toward the image. and
gong IN his hand solemnly he cried in n
Ges a.. I9 pc 10 Ma No, Barrqn cSathanH,s, be ,, VEL
Slowly IN thine honor. As the red fount ilows
ana the red fire burns. restore my youth and
make me strong. Faithfully will | serve thee
ana thee alone. renouncing all other. o. Bar
ran-sh'naanas, great, and only lord. receive
my sacrifice, 1t is the hour"
AID. SO saying, he laid hold 81 Maud Linde-
Jay ~ the hair and raised the curved knife
Then, from the end Of the chapel TO which
,h- Lazy, Sybilla had been taken there came II
Ss%nrhH' WIN a great .despairipg effort she
mIfsl from her captOr's hands and ran for
ward. She knelt down on the marble slab
Mhereon III" maids had stood at their first en-
crucillN.
IN there bc a God in heaven let him mani
iest himself now she cried. by the virtue
o',Iila cross Of Jesus Christ / call upon him.
lntn suddenly all the Dlape 1uS filled with a