The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-02-03

must be there this evening. He
shall not escape me now"
here is 10 fear Of that, my
lord. | will see that he is appre-
hended as soon as he returns"
Fright, Sa7otano, right! And now
to the other matter. | am to be
married this afternoon!"
"Ah! So soon ?"
eyes; / waste no more time.
What is the use?"
'None, my lord-none at all.''
ssThen you must remain, for the
ceremony shall be performed as soon
as possible"
"And does the countess know of
your determination" :"
eyes. She knew it ere she retired
last night. l told her she should
not escape again till she could carry
my name with her. By the mass,
sir, she sealed her own doom! Ha:
ha, ha! The Duke of Tula Will have
his Golfers filed again. Money must
come somehow, and how else so cas-
lily as this p
ssSure enough" returned the
priest. with that old, coarse, wick
q smile; sure enough, my lord
how:
'sIn no way. Io. I'll put the seal
upon that budget and stamp it
mine! SO here YOU remain until !
am married roday-until that GER
emony is performed am not sure.
But tomorrow they cannot harm me.
Oh, she shall be mine, Savotano!
Today she is my wife, tonight she
shares my bed, and tomorrow all
heaven and earth and hell combined
cannot undo the work. / have wait
ed long enough. l have worked and
schemed and have puzzled my brain
to one great purpose, and yet each
step | had marked out has failed
NE. Damonof lives, the gunmaker
lives, the black monk lives-but ],
too. live! Ha! | live, Savotano,
and now the work shall be done as it
might have been done at first had I
been so disposed!''
The duke had arisen to his feet
while speaking thus, and his man
ner had been frantic and excited.
AS he ceased speaking he sank into
his chair and gazed the priest in The
face. He was all iron now. Every
nerve and muscle was set, and
fierce determination was ;n-his soul.
There is one more scene in the
ducaI palace. and it goes on at the
very time while the duke and his
tool we're together.
Vladimir, the monk. was in the
chamber Of the countess, and the
fair occupant and her maid were
there with him.
ssAnd YOU are sure he means to
make you his wife today, said the
monk in continuation of conver-
sation which had been going on for
some moments; ',that he will have
the ceremony performed whether
you consent or not: -
ssYes, sir" the countess murmur-
ed. She gazed into the strange
mans face few moments after she
had spoken, and then, starting
quickly up, she threw herself upon
her knees before him.
"Oh," she cried, with her clasped
hands raised toward him, ''can you
not help me in this bitter moment? ?
Do not say so. Oh, I know you have
some strange power, and you may
help me. You cannot know the
misery / suffer. Oh, earth has no
pangs more cruel. In all the long
catalogue Of woes there is nothing
more bitter! Sir'-and the maiden
raised both hands toward heaven as
she thus continued-"sooner than
be that mans wife I would with my
own hand let my lifeblood out were
not the act sin against my God!
But you may help me-
"Alas, lady, cannot assure you
now"
ooh, say not so! You can help
me fec from here; you can find
some hiding place = some place
where my days can be spent in safe
ty from this great evil"
'But how can | help you away,
lady,
Because you know some secret
entrance to the palace. Ioa know
some secret passage, else you would
not be here now"
"True,'' the monk replied in q
perplexed tone, q do know such a
way for hy that WAY | came. and bY