The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-11-19


filed her mind she trembled and turned
deadly pale.
Gasparde smiled. 1t was the smile of
an incarnate fiend. His hand was laid
<pon her arm.
one!' he said.
LET me go, Gasparde!' she cried, af-
frightedly. Il am faint" murmured she,
to herself, land there is no help near. y,
pity-pity.
"Nay-don't be in a hurry, my sweet
Rose you see | am not" he said. still
Holding her arm. "Yes-yOu are right:
your father is not here, nor will he be. L
sent for you to come. | waited for you.
And now it is your turn to beg. You
know how scornful you were once. You
would not listen to my prayers. Times
are changed now. l have trapped you
cleverly; you shall not escape, | promise
your
20, have mercy, Gasparde! she plead
ed.
go on, my dear! 1 like to hear you.
All, this is charmingr
'|Gasparde, you told me once you were
sorry for prosecuting me so, and L be-
lieved you'll fergave you You do not
mean to keep me here; you will let me
go; you are only jesting," she prayed in
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 l get
it into my hands? Mono! L 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 you27
But his words fell on ears that heard
them not. A mist foated before the eyes
of Rose5 a rushing sound, as of swelling
waters, was about her, and she fell sense
less to- the earth.
At that moment a man sprang hastily
through the bushes. 1t was Jacques Lee
roux. He gazed, first at the PROSTATE
figure of Rose, and then at Gasparde.
well, what now?" asked the ruffian,
angrIIy-
$50 you have got her? Poor Rose 1T
shall not bet must not be! Leave
herr he said, excitedly. Little Rose,
will save your
AIR shouted Gasparde, in a tone of
rage; tout of the way! Do you dare at
tempt mutiny? Touch her, and you die"
And drawing from his belt a brace of
heavy pistols, he presented them, with
an oath. at Jacques.
The action was so sudden that the man
started back. Gasparde 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 fellow" uttered their lead
er. sternly, land take him to the care.
Bind him hand and foot, in one of the
cells, and put a guard over him. l will
teach you," he added, threateningly,
what it is to NEEDLE with my concernst"
The men lost no time in executing their
orders. Jacques, knowing it was useless
to resist, submitted. He was bound and
led through the winding paths of the al
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.
IL WAS tue uduuL VI the TODDeTS.
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 a cry of terror, the ruffian who bore
her. A cold dew, like that of death, gath
cred upon her brow as she behed the
rocky walls of that dreadful passage.
"Gasparde -demon-release mel! she
uttered. with mad fear.
Hold your tongue, my beauty! l 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 it open and attempted to thrust
her into the cell it revealed. But she
resisted.
you shall not put me in there-I will
not enter" she cried.
"Now, Mademoiselle Rose, you will
stay here" said Gasparde, until
choose to release you, and that time will
be fixed according to your own conduct.
If you are savage, perhaps l may keep
you here three months or year or two
years, it doesn't matter much which.
But if you make up your mind to treat
me little more favoraby, 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 nerhana Won