The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-12-23
CHAPTER TX.
THE MASK FALLS LOWER DOWN AND RE.
VEAIS THE HEART

THE MASK FALLS LOWER DOWN AND RE.
vEALS THE HEART.
It was early evening ere Zenobie
entered the apartment OF her young
mistress. As she opened the door
she found all dark within. She
moved into the room, and, shadil45
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 e1-
tremity Of the place, she calledNher
mistress name, and sheewas answer
ed by low groan from the couch in
the corner. Thither she fastened,
and there she found her mistress.
':Rosalind my mistress" she
cried. kneeling down.
"Who is it" the maiden asked,
starting up and gazing frantically
around.
1T is l. Zenobie. Say, my dear,
good mistress, what is it? What is
the matter: What has happened %
With quick movement Rosalind
put her attendant away and sat up,
and. having gazed about her for
some moments, she murmured:
"W here ann l.: Who is here"
"I1 is |. You are in your own
chamber. Come. vo:l are cold here. y
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.
"What is it," again asked Zeno-
bic eagerly. "What has happened %
Rosalind bowed her head upon
her hands, and after some moments
Of thought she looked up. She was
very pale. and fearful tremor
shook her frame.
"Zenobie," she uttered in a low,
strange whisper, 'sask me no more
now. am not well. Oh, ask me
no more now"
"Aly Mistress returned the
faithful girl. placing one arm about
Rosalind's neck, "you know what
you may tell me and what you may
NOT But whom will YOU trust if
you trust not me-. Oh, give me
your love, and if | can serve you let
me do so.
ssI 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, l cannot speak it
now!!''
"Say no more, my mistress; only
let me serve you. You will have
some refreshment = something to
eat
"You may bring me some wine,
Zenobic." !"
And thereupon the young girl
fastened away.
In the meantime the duke was in
his private room below. He was
pacing 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 rap upon the
door, and the duke said, ''Enter." :"
1t was priest who entered the
apartments 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 phrenolcgists To-
cate benevelence and veneration de-
ficient and fat. Upon his shoulders
he wore huge, ungainly hump, and,
all in all. he was just such man as
a timid person would shun. His
name was Savotano. The duke had
been the means of getting him into
the church. and in consideration
thereof he had bound himself to do
the dukes evil work. But this IS
cot all.
Some years before there had been
murder in Moscow, and Savotano
did the bloody deed. 1t was a work
of pure vengeance. Olga had him
apprehcnded, but he was not
brought TO justice The duke found
him to be shrewd, Inscriptions
wretch, willing to serve those who
would pay him we'll and ready to let
himself then to any one who could
save his life. Olga was a man OF
plots and schemes. He fancied that
such man as Savotano might be
Of nee n him. so he proposed to