New-York tribune., 1904-10-30


grave face lighted now with tenderness, "tha-
cannot bear to think of sorrow touching her agan
My father and brother died in battle, my mother
followed them from grief l the only link hat
binds my sister TO earth.
His guide stared down at him mutely. Then as
rutely She went slowly up the next flight Of steps
When she halted on the second landing, he, ng
below her. said cheerfully: " Do think am en
to dismal subjects, madam. Believe that al the
perils have encountered. all the hardships lave
endured, repaid by such moment as this
Repaid by such moment as this In her r..-ls
eye the gaunt figure above naked sword IN reec ess
hand heard the words and laughed. But for bar he
world was reeing She must either remake her Whole
scheme of life, and Puritan against cavalier. VI
the man she led would lie dead after his foot "a
the head. Puritan against cavalier, Oh could
she ever have dreamed of hesitation in such a
1t seemed TO her eternity between the second
landing and the third and last She had -.--
strength left that she could hardly crawl uc he
steps yet mechanically she held to the Pr,
sword Now that they the last Ian
only dozen steps more lay between her foe md
eternity
dim vet rich light from the Moorish svingrg--aa.p
filtered down his upturned face he too leaned
the rail, lifting his eyes to hers
Madam. he said suddenly, will YOU let come
back if CAM
Let you come back:' she faltered She I.i her
face in her right hand. Dared she give his bloody
ghost permission to return.
The man below her mounted swiftly 10 the landing
and with a soldiers brevity and daring, drew her
hand from her eyes and boldly kissed It. The Earl
above the act, and terrible curse rose In his
throat and nearly choked him He had little Affection
perhaps none for his cousin. Only the voiuptsousy
seductive type in her could appeal to him, but
he the less resented the commoners Kiss as a
piece of insolent audacity afront to the Earl
personally
But as for the girl herself making no EFFORT to
withdraw her fingers the light from the lamps went
scarlet in her eyes scarlet grew the world about her
Already the Puritan dead. and she r.aving
with pool of his blood condemned forever and for
to do nothing She still felt his kiss, and
knew that it sealed her something hitherto ssed
vet stronger than the death which she hat .l him.
And the pity of it that tomb and -he ,eers
Of her guardian all that should be --- Of that
upright presence those hazel eyes whose Kin Illness
she had kindle into splendid an passionate
beauty.
Then the mist of scarlet passed She saw tha- ne
alive, and that she stood with him the last
landing, the stair-head vet to be reached.
There curtained alcove to the right. tu1 Of
soldiery brought by her father. Her clasp
closed the Puritan's wrist like steel n hore'
she whispered. There IS something I rus- show
YOU"
As they disappeared behind the curtains -1- Earl
moved impatient1y. Does the little fo. t.re [
not ready?" he uttered savagelv &, himself.
Then as the Puritan reappeared the c4r4e-
bitter cry of rage for his foe armed and r- up
the steps with a cOrntenance terrible to sec.
The Earl was no coward Before the .l-.-,-i'
could reach the top, he leaPt forward with the agility
of a boy and attacked the stranger hercey -r- his
COlgn of vantage, meaning to Kill him uoH. he
could reach the top gallery.
As the two men fought desperately above .l.e
figure the landing below cIung 70 the
of the alcove and gazed upward with wide le.e
eyes.
TIL, o1,.,.;,,r Hill ,1,--1s.4 t,-. 1..,-