Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-11-03

go; You are only JesrIng," che 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
it into my hands? Mono! I mean to
take good care of you, my fair Rose. /
mean you shall marry me shortly, wheth-
er you will or not You cannot say nay,
if you would. How does that suit you?"
But his words fell ON ears that heard
them not. A mist fioated before the eyes
of Rose; rushing sound, as Of swelling
waters, was about her, and she fell sense
less to the earth.
At that moment q man sprang hastily
through the bushes. 1t was Jacques Le-
roux. He gazed, first at the PROSTATE
figure of Rose, and then at Gasparde.
well, what now" asked the ruffian,
angrily.
$50 you have got her? Poor Rose! 1t
shall not be-it must not be! Leave
her!' he said, excitedly. Little Rose,
will save your
"Ah" shouted Gasparde, in tone of
rage; "out of the way! Do you dare at
tempt mutiny? Touch her, and you die!"
And drawing from his belt a brace Of
Acdfy PISlC4Sp uG presented Will
an oath. at jacques.
The action was so sudden that the man
started back. Gasparde took the moment
to blow a call upon a silver whistle hang
ing at his breast. Almost instantly half
dozen brigands surrounded him.
"Seize that fellow" uttered their lead
er, sternly, "and take him to the care.
Bind him hand and foot, in one of the
cells, and put guard over him. will
teach you," he added, threateningly.
what it is to meddle with my concernsw
The men lost no time in executing their
orders. jacques. knowing 1t 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 the insensible
Rose. On and on they went, through the
lonely depths Of the forest, till they reach
ed 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 it, the party entered 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 ruff1an 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.
rde-demon-release mev' she
uttered, with mad fear.
Hold your tongue, my beauty! I mean
to keep you safe. Go in there and keep
yourself quietr' he cried
And unlocking as he spoke heavy
spike-studded iron door in the rocky wall,
he threw 1t open and attempted to thrust
her into the cell II 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, "untill
choose to release you, and that time will
be fixed according to your own conduct.
II you are savage, perhaps I may keep
you here three>months or q year or two
years, it doesn't matter much which.
But II you make up your mind to treat
me little more favorably, why, 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.
81 will never marry you! and you shall
not keep me here! What place is this?'
were her indignant words.
"You are under ground, az perhaps you
know already. And as for talking SO
bravely about having your own way, why,
l think I 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-Esady at your
biddingw cried Rose, trembling with an
ger and fear. wretch! who-vhat are
your
he laughed lightly.
''Easier asked than answered, my pref
ty maid" he said. "The question is. will
you marry me or not?'
"No-neverv' was her answer; "and
less now than before; for now I begin to
recognize you fully. Now recognize
your terrible trade. Robber-murderer-l
brigand! MOI will either go forth from
this dungeon free, or die by my own hand
in my captivity
(To be continued.)