Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-08-09
looN1ulu1o.J
CHAPTER TX.
I'M MASK FALLS LOWER DOWN AND RE.
VEALS THE HEART

4H1 MASK FALLS LOWER DOWN AND RE-
vEALs THE HEART:
It was early evening ere Zenobie
entered the apartment of her young
mistress. AS she opened the door
she found all dark within. She
moved into the room, and, shading
her candle with her hand, she gaz-
ed about. The wind still howled
3earfully without, and the snow
came driving against the windows.
When the girl had reached the e.
tremity Of the place, she called her
mistress name, and she was answer
ed by low groan from the couch in
the corner. Thither she fastened,
and there she found her mistress.
'Rosalind my mistless!" she
cried, kneeling down.
"Who is it?' the maiden asked,
starting up and gazing frantically
around.
ut is l, Zenobie. Say, my dear,
good mistress, what is it? What is
the matter? What has happened ?"
With quick movement Rosalind
put her attendant away and sat up,
and, having gazed about her for
some moments, she murmured:
"Where am /? Who is here?"
ut is I. You are in your own
chamber. Come, you are cold here"
Without resistance the maiden
suffered herself to be led to the
place where the heated air came up
from the furnace below, and there
she sat down.
**What is it?'' again asked Zeno-
bic eagerly. '*What has happened %
Rosalind bowed her head upon
her hands, and after some moments
of thought she looked up. She was
very pale, and a fearful -tremor
shook her frame.
''Zenobie," she uttered in low,
strange whisper, task me no more
now. | am not we'll. Oh, ask me
no more ROW.
*Ny MISTRESS" returned the
faithful girl, placing one arm about
Rosalind's neck, '<you know what
you may tell me and what you may
not. But whom will you trust if
you trust not me? Oh, give me
your love, and if can serve you let
me do so"
II would trust you with life it.
SELF" the maiden returned, *sand
some time you shall know all that
has happened here, but not now
not now. Oh, l cannot speak it
nowp
"Say no more, my mistress; only
let me serve you. You will have
some refreshments something to
eat.'
'Nou may bring me some wine.
Zenobie.''
And .thereupon the young girl
fastened away
In the meantime the duke was in
his private room below. He was
pacing to and fro across the floor,
with his hands behind him, and his
brow was dark and lowering. Ever
and anon he would stop near the
door and listen and then proceed.
At length there came a rap upon the
door, and the duke said, "Enter."
1t was a priest who entered the
apartment-a small, deformed man,
somewhere about so years of age
His face was very dark, his features
sharp. and angular, his eyes dark
and sunken deep into his head, his
brow heavy above the eyes, where
the shaggy brows hung over, but
sloping back from thence, leaving
the points whore phrenologists To-
cate benevolence and veneration de-
ticlcnt and fiat. Upon his shoulders
he wore huge, ungainly hump, and,
all in all. he was just such man as
a timid person would shun. His
name was Sayotano. The duke had
been the mesns Of getting him into
the church, and in consideration
thereof he had bound himself to do
the dukes evil work. But this is
not all.
Some years before there had been
a murder in Moscow, and Savotano
did the bloody deed. It was a work
Of pure vengeance. Olga had him
apprehended, bat he was : not
brought to justice. The duke found
-: :" ::
him to be q slrevd, unscrupplous
wretch, willing to serve those who
would pay him well and ready. to let
himself then to any enc who could
save his life. Olga was man Of
plots and schemes. He fancied that
such a man as Savotano might be
Of use to min, so he proposed to
save him if he would serve his bene-
factor. The villain was glad enough
70 accept the proposition, and the
bargain was made. Could Savotano
/ enter the church and assume the
sacred garb he might in many cases