The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1902-01-03
CHAPTER TX.
CHAP En- IN.
THE MASK FALLS LOWER DOWN AND NJ
vEALs THE HEART.

1t was early evening ere Lenopie
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
fearfully without, and the snow
came driving against the windows.
When the girl had reached the ex-
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.
ssRosalind = my mistress! she
cried, kneeling down.
"Who is it?" the maiden asked,
starting up and gazing frantically
around.
ct is I, Zenobie. Say, my dear,
good mistress, what is it? What is
the matter? What has happened r
With quick movement Rosalind
put her attendant away and sat up,
and, having gazed about her Tor
some moments, she murmured:
"Where am r? Who is here?"
cit is |. 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.
ssWhat is it?" again asked Zeno.
bic eagerly. "What has happened 2
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.
sZenobie,' she uttered in low,
strange whisper, task me no more
now. am not well. Oh, ask me
no more now.
eMy Mistress returned the
faithful girl, placing one arm about
Rosalind's neck, 'syou know what
you may tell me and what you may
not. But whom will you trust II
1 YOU trust not me? Oh, give me
your love, and if | can serve you let
me do SO"
81 would trust you with life IT.
self" the maiden returned, "and
some time you shall know all that
has happened here, but not now
not now. Oh, / cannot speak it
. now"
aSay no more, my mistress; only
Let me serve you. You will have
some refreshment - something to
eat"
sYou may bring me some wine'
Zenobie." i,
And thereupon the young girl
fastened away.
Tn the meantime the duke was in
his private room below. He was
nacing 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 I,
door. and the duke said. Enter"
It was a priest who entered the
apartmcnt-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 where phrenologists To-
cate benevolence and veneration de-
ficient and fat. Upon his shoulders
he wore huge. ungainly hump, and
III in all, he was just such a man a.
I timid person would shun. Hi.
name was Savotapo. The duke hao
been the means of getting him into
tho church, and in consideration
thereof he had hound himself to DE-
the dukes evil work. But this il
not all.
Some years before there had beer
: murder in Moscow, and Savptantt
Ala the bloody deed. It was worl
Of pure vengeance. Olga had hin
spprehended, but he was no
. brought to justice. The duke foun'
MIN to be a shrewd, inscription
wretch, willing to serve those WIN
would pay him well and ready to le
himself then to any one who coui'
ave his life. Olga was Q man Q
plots and schemes. he lancieG ths'
such a man MS Savotano might o
Of use to him, so he proposed .
save him If he would serve his bene
factor. The villain was glad enougl
to accept the proposition, and tn
bargain was made. Could Savotan