The San Francisco call., 1904-08-14

can let US nave the news on the tnlTQ
day. We shall then ride on to Gust
and II we have any luck we should be
IN the palace within the week.
They dined at Orleans at half-past
six, in the restaurant car there at
tached TO the express. Day was just
glimmering in the heavens when the
first stage OF that long journey came to
fits end; and stepping out upon a wide
platform, Esther knew that she was at
Folk.
I'VE shall find my servants here, and
the carriages" Arthur had said while
he helped her to the platform and
stacked their dressing-bag beside her.
I'VE must have some hot coffee and
then get on. I told them to put fur
rugs IN the carriage and two OF my
heavy coats. Wen make a soldier Of
you. Esther; you won't complain Of the
uniform when you get UP into the
hills"
She was but half awake, and not a
little afraid OF the strange eyes which
here stared at her so curiously. Though
Il was then a little after six o'clock
IN the morning, quite a number Of peo-
pie had gathered upon the platform
at Folk to meet the express; and they
hustled hither and thither, shouting
and pushing and exchanging their ef-
fusive greetings In a way quite char
acteristic Of a southern race. Some Of
them, Esther observed, were soldiers,
and these she disliked cordially, for
they stared her out Of countenance. and
taking advantage Of her husbands alb
sence, proffered an assistance entirely
unnecessary. She had feared that some
demonstration Of welcome would have
awaited them at Folk, and It was not
without satisfaction that she found
herself just an ordinary traveller
alighting at a country station and do
ing battle with the difficulties of a ter
minus. Arthur, however, was anxious
that she should not misunderstood
such apparent neglect, and he offered
her explanations over their hurried
meal
L knew you would feel tired; and,
besides, we are in a hurry" he said.
These people would make speeches
, for a month II we gave them any en-
+, couragement. We shall have enough
OF that sort Of thing to go through
when we arrive at the palace. It is
a long drive from here and I don't
want my little girl to be dreadfully
tired. Come, drink up your coffee,
Esther; drink II while 1t is hot. We
sha'n't get such a chance again until
we reach St. Girons."
When breakfast was done, he went
out to summon his servants, and Esth-
er was left alone for a brief while in
the corridor Of the station. She did
not know what instinct made her turn
suddenly, or why she should have
been conscious Of some presence there
which was not friendly; but il chanced
that as she turned, she perceived a
man almost at her elbow, and recog-
nizing the bright dress and the white
bernouse of the Eastern, she saw. that
II was Yussuf, the Moor, Doctor Xav-
ier's servant. For an instant she be-
held his keen piercing black eyes re-
garding her ominously. Then he van
ished as mysteriously as he had come,
without word or sign, and almost be-
fore she had. realized how greatly his
presence frightened her. Arthur found
her still flushed and agitated and it
was difficult to tell him exactly what
had happened.
LAAN -AODA AAANH CdAA L uSSuls LII
Xavier's servant have just seen
him in the corridori" she stammered
a little wildly.
He laughed al her fears and instant
" reassured her.
"Of course you would. He is going
TO Cadi as we are. What are you
afraid of, Esther? What has the man
got to do with you?"
She could not tell him. She would
not say how much she feared the
omen.
In the courtyard of the station they
found an old fashioned barouche and
with il a fourgon for their luggage.
Esther noticed that the liveries of the
men servants had once been showv.
but were now a little worn and faded.
The carriage itself suggested the
France of the empire, but the horses
were magnificent and what was more,
there were four Of them.
1T is eight years since I was at St
Girons," Arthur said, like one a lit
tie dubious about the reception awit-
ing them in his house. "To be frank.
/ have almost forgotten what the
place is like. The steward says that
II needs a fortune spending on it
Most of these old castles in Spain do
but as no one has a fortune they re-
main uncared for. 1 have ordered the
housekeeper to light fires in every
room and TO do the best she can"
He ran on, anxious to please her
and pointed out many beautiful scenes
of that magnificent country.
They reached the castle at s O'Clock
that afternoon. For an hour at least
darkness had shut out those fantastic
pictures Of gorge and height which the
long afternoon gave them so abundant.
ly. Esther lay in her husbands arm:
and lost all sense of time or place
When she awoke he was lifting hel
from the carriage, and the light Of Z
lantern flashed in her face. Night haC
come down in earnest now; the winC
whistled dolefully through the cavernt
Of the hills, and Esther, but half awake
believed at the first that some acci
dent had overtaken them. A momen
later, however, she perceived the mar
row windows Of some building abov,