Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-11-23

church were travestied and degraded
by devilish ingenuity; in which chill
dren one and two years old were sacri-
feed to Satan as at a heather festival.
There, too, came Madame de Monte
span, and in an elaborate service, with
impious priest and desecrated altar,
rendered full homage to the Prince of
Darkness, craving his aid to win for
her the love of the king, the confu-
sion of her enemies, and the gratifca-
ton of her desires.
Within a small waiting-roorn, the
visitor awaited his turn to interview
the mistress of the establishment. He
removed his cloak and hat, and stood
revealed to an observer as a young
man of rs, tall, with dark hair and
black over-arching eyebrows which
seemed to scowl continually. His face
was smooth, save a few hairs on the
under lip, which he pulled at
ly as he stood or walked up and down
the floor of the apartment. His eyes
were deep-set, and cleaned with the
light of the unquenched fires &C. dark
desire within their depths. His cheek
bones rather accentuated the deep
s~eatedness of his eyes; a sg..eIcSs
mouth betrayed the voluptuary, while
a receding chin gave a mixed impress
sion of instability and waywardness.
A finely curved aquiline nose showed
good birth, and hands, white aES we'll
cared for, demonstrated a life of idle
ness and pleasure. A certain air Of
ease and lack of self-consciousness in
all his movements indicated associa-
ton and ever familiarity with those
in authority. On the whole, he seemed
a fair sample of the well-bred courtier
of his day.
At length, just as a distant clock
chimed IL, a door opened and another
dwarf appeared, and approaching him
asked for his name.
lie Comte de Miron," was the re-
ply made in a low voice.
Again the dwarf disappeared, but
returned shortly, and motionirg to the
young man, led the way into the adj
joining room.
Here were found the same rich
hangings and priceless tapestries.
High carved chairs, their seats banked
up with varicolored silken pillows,
were arranged against the wall on
three sides of the room. A dim light
came through the center of the ceiling
from an unknown source, and was
suffused throughout the apartment by
means of glass prisms, forming a soft
ened yet serviceable glow. In the mid
die of the floor stood a small foun-
tain of translucent marble, whose tiny
jets of perfumed water rendered the
cir as agreeable to the nostrils as the
other furnishings attracted the eye.
The musical cadence of a lutte, played
by a hand invisible, always soft and
low, but sometimes dying away to the
finest attenuation of sound, greeted the
ear of the newcomer. Across the fur
Their end of the room were stretched
silken curtains. From behind these
hangings issued a soft voice command
ing the young nan to advance. He
did SO, and knelt directly in front of
the mysterious drapery. From his
close proximity he discovered that the
silk was almost transparent, so that
the form of a woman could be family
discerned, yet>not with sufficient clear
ness to enable n to recognize her
face.
What seek you of the Powers of
Darkness" demanded the voice.
81 seek first, most powerful Priest
ess, a charm to win the hand Of one,
Renee d'Outrelaise, friend and COM
panion of Mademoiselle, whose lovely
sure and speedy death of a relative
whose heir | am, And lastly, | crave
thy aid TO nerve my arm and protect
my body in a duel | shall shortly fight
with a foreign soldier"
Truly, thy wants are many and
great. What offering have you to
make before the DEVILS shrine?"
Ten thousand livres;" and, as he
spoke, he drew from his bosom a bag
Of blinking gold and stretched it forth.
A hand protruded itself through the
curtains and seized it. There was 81
lence for a moment or two, as the
priestess examined the contents. All
seemed satisfactory, for in a moment
the hand reappeared bearing a tiny
charm of silk an inch square attached
to a fine gold chain.
Take this" was the command.
Gain but a single hair from the head
of her whose hand you seek to win, in-
close it in this silken bag, and wear
it. Within a year the girl is yours"
The Comte de Miron seized the chain
eagerly and placed it about his neck.
Again the hand appeared from be-
hind the curtain. This time it held a
small phial containing a rose-red fluid.
Drop II drop daily into your rela-
tive's wine. He will soon begin to
droop and weaken, and before this
precious liquid is used up he will die,
and no leech can save him nor dis
tinguish his malady."
The young man took the poison. A
moment later the hand was again be-
fore him, this time holding two pieces
Of thin, strengthening metal about
the shape of a pistole.
Sew these at midnight before the
duel, one on your right sleeve to give
your sword-arm strength and cunning,
the other over against your heart to
protect your body"
So saying, the voice ceased and the
bits of metal fell into his ortstretched
palm. A slight noise at his elbow
caused the comte to start and turn in
that direction, when be heheld the
same dwarf that had ushered him in
to the room standing with his cloak
and hat ready. He quickly donned