Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1903-10-29
goi you ars only lesnnE.v .ne prayed

go; you are only Jesring," she prayed
her agony.
But he scowled at her with a glover.
Ing expression.
"You are mistaken entirely, my dear.
What!-let my prize go the moment get
II into my hands1 ko-nol I mean to
take good care OF you, my fair Rose. l
mean you shall marry me shortly, wheth-
er you will or not. You cannot say nay,
II you would. How does that suit you r.
But his words fell on ears that heard
them not. A mist foated before the eyes
Of Rose; a rushing sound, as OF swelling
waters. was about her, and she fell sense
less 10 the earth.
At that moment man sprang hastily
through the bushes. II was Jacques Le-
roux. He gazed, first ct the PROSTATE
figure OF Rose, and then at Gasparde.
well, what nowT asked the rufian,
angrily.
80 yon have got herr Poor Rossl II
shall not belt mtst not bel Leave
herr be said, excitedIy. "Little Rose.
will save your
"AhF' shouted Gasparde, In a tone OF
rage; "out Of the way! DO you dare at
tempt mutiny7 Touch her, and you dieT'
And drawing from his belt a brace of
heavy pistols. he presented them, with
an oath. at Jacques.
The action was 40 sudden that the man
started back. GasDarde took the moment
TO blow call upon a silver whistle hang
ing at his breast. Almost instantly half
a dozen brigands surrounded him.
"Seize that felloww uttered their lead
er, sternly, "and take him TO the cave.
Bind him hand and foot, In one OF the
cells. and put a guard over aim. l will
teach you." he added, threateningly,
what 1t Is to meddle with my concernsg'
The men lost no time in executing their
orders. Jacques, knowing Il was useless
to resist, submitted. He was bound and
led through the winding paths Of the ad-
joining grove, and onward to the forest
beyond; while Gasparde followed, bear.
Ing In his arms the form OF tine insensible
Rose. On and on they went, through the
lonely depths Of the forest, till they reach.
ed a place where the ground rose in an
abrupt swell; and now pressing over
steep banks and lodges Of bare rock, they
stopped at length before the entrance to
the cave OF which Gasparde had spoken.
1t was the haunt Of the robbers.
Lights were brought. The broad and
gloomy cave into which they descended
was illumined on every side. Striking
across 1t, the party entered a long, mar
row passage cut in the solid rock, and
which was also lighted.
By this time Rose was fully aroused.
Memory and consciousness were invested
with their full power. She recognized,
with cry of terror, the rufian who bore
her. A cold dew, like that Of death. gath
cred upon her brow as she beheld the
rocky walls of that dreadful passage.
"Gasparde-demon-release mev' she
uttered, with mad fear.
Hold your tongue, my beauty! mean
to keep you safe. Go In there and keep
yourself quiet" he cried.
And unlocking as he spoke q heavy,
spike-stndded iron door In the rocky wall,
he threw II open and attempted to thrust
her into the cell 1t revealed. But she
resisted.
"You shall not put me in there-I will
not enterr she cried.
Spite Of her struggles, he forced her In,
while the men bore Jacques farther along
the passage to another cell.
"You won't? But say you shallr'
"Now, Mademoiselle Rose, you will
stay here" said Gasparde, until l
choose to release you, and that time will
be fxed according to your own conduct.
II you are savage, perhaps / may keep
you here three months or a year or two
years, it doesn't matter much which.
But If you make up your mind to treat
me little more favorably, why, a priest
shall be ready at the earliest hour you
name. You see the terms are fair.
will give you till tomorrow to make up
your mind about it." And he released
her arm.
II will never marry you! and you shall
not keep me herel What place Is this?"
were her indignant words.
"You are under ground, as perhaps you
know already. And as for talking so
bravely about having your own way, why,
l think shall be likely to have a few
words to say on that score. You see
there are thick walls here, while there
are perhaps from twenty to thirty men
Just at the mouth Of the cave ready at
my bidding to bring you back, even IL you
should escape"
Twenty or thirty men-ready at your
biddingw cried Rose, trembling with an
\ ger and fear. wretch! who-what are
you"
He laughed lightly.
"Easier asked than answered, my pref
ty maid," he said. "The question Is, win
you marry me or not?"
"No-never! was her answer; "and
less now than before; for now l begin to
recognize you fully. Now l recognize
your terrible trade. Robber-murderer-
brigand No! will either 80 forth from
this dungeon free, or die by my own hand
in my captivity"
(To be continuedl