The San Francisco call., 1901-12-22


10 the tombs of his ancestors, all Edel-
weiss witnessing the imposing procession
that made its way through the north
gates Of the town. Far up on the noun
tain top a man, looking from his little
window, saw the black, snake-like pro-
cession wind away across the plain to the
northward, losing itself in the distant
hills.
XXI-FROM A WINDOW ABOVE.
The longest month in Lorry's life was
that which followed his romantic fight
from the tower. To his impatient mind
the days were irksome weeks. The cold
monastery was worse than a prison. He
looked from its windows a convict
looks through his bars, always hoping, all
ways disappointed. With each of the in
frequent visits of Captain Quinnox his
heart leaped at the prospect of liberty,
only to sink deeper in despair upon the re-
ceipt Of emphatic though kindly assur-
ances that the time had not yet come for
him to leave the haven Of safety into
which he had been thrust by loving hands
From his little window he could see the
active city below, with the adored castle;
TO his nostrils came the breath of summer
from the coveted valley, filling him with
almost insupportable longing and desire.
Cold were the winds that swept about his
RESWSOM6 the
pallid and desolate the days. Out of the
world was he, dreary and heartsick, while
at his feet stretched life and JOY and love
in their rarest habiliments. How he en-
dured the suspense, the torture of uncer-
tainty, the craving for the life that
others were enjoying, he could not under
stand. Big, strong and full Of Vigor, his
inactivity was maddening: this virtual
captivity grew more and more intolerable
never take him from the tomb in which
he was existing? A hundred times had
he, in his desperation, concluded to fee
from the monastery, come what might,
and to trust himself to the joyous world
below, but the ever-present though wan
ing spark of wisdom won out against the
fierce, aggressive folly that mutinied
within his hungry soul. He knew that
she was guarding him with loving, ten
der care and that when the proper time
came the shaclles Of danger would drop
and his way would be cleared.
Still there was the longing, the craving,
night went by and the end seemed no
nearer. Awake or asleep, he dreamed of
her, his heart and mind always full of
that one rich blessing-her love. At
times he was mad with the desire to know
what she was doing, what she was think
ing and what was being done for her down
there in that busy world. Lying on his
pallet, sitting in the narrow window, pac-
ing the halls or wandering about the cold
courtyards, he thought always of her,
hoping and despairing with equal fervor.
The one great question that made his
Imprisonment, his inactivity so irksome
was. Was he to possess the treasure he
longed so much to call his own? In those
tantalizing moments of despair he felt
that If he were free and near her he
could win the fight against all ODDS. AS
it was, he knew not what mischief was
working against his chances in the world
from which he was barred.
The prior was kind to him; everything
that could be done to provide comfort
where comfort was a stranger was en-
ployed in his behalf. He lived well-until
his appetite deserted him; he had no
questions to answer, for no one asked
why he was there; he had no danger to
fear, for no foe knew where he lived.
From the city came the promise of ulti-
mate escape; verbal messages from those
who loved him; news of the world-aI at
long intervals, however. Quinnox's visits
were like sunbeams to him. The dashlng
captain came only at night and in dis
guise He bore verbal messages, a wise
precaution against mishap. Not once did
cess. an omission which caused the fugi-
tive deep misery until a ray Of intelli-
gence showed him that she could not give
to Quinnox the speeches from her heart,
proud woman that she was.
Anguish sent words Of cheer, with COM
mands to be patient. He never failed to
tell him, through Quinnox, that he was
doing all in his power to find the real
murderer and that he had the secret CO =
operation Of the old police captain. Of
course, the hidden man heard of the re-
ward and the frenzied search prosecuted
by both municipalities. He laughed hys-
terically over the deception that was be-
ing practiced by the blue-eyed, slender
woman who held the key to the situation
in her keeping.
1t was not until the night of the 18th
of November that Quinnox confirmed his
fears by telling him of the conditions i'm
posed by Prince Bolaroz. For some rea-
son the young officer had deceived Lorry
in regard to the all-important matter
The American repeatedly had begged for
information about the fatal twentieth, but
on all previous occasions his visitor dog
gedly maintained a show of ignorance,
vowing that he knew nothing of the cir
cumstances. Finally Lorry, completely
out of patience and determined to
know the true SIdl6 VI dlldlA .,
soundly upbraided him and sent
word to the Princess that if she
did not acquaint him with the inside
facts he would leave the monastery and
find them out for himself. This authori-
tative message brought Quinnox back
two nights later with the full story of
the exciting conference. She implored
him to remain where he was, and asked
his forgiveness for having kept the ugly
truth from him. Quinnox added to his
anguish by hastily informing him that
there was a possibility of succor from
another principality. Prince Gabriel, he
said. not knowing that he was cutting
his listener to the heart, was daily with
the Princess, and IT was believed that he
was ready to loan Graustark sufficient
money to meet the demand of Bolaroz.
The mere thought that Gabriel was with
her aroused the fercest resentment in
I.orrv's breast He writhed beneath the
knowledge that she was compelled to en-
dure his advances, his protestations Of
love. his presence.
As he paced his narrow room distract
edly a horrid thought struck him so vio-
lentlv that he cried aloud and staggered