The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-13

As the distressed girl sat that night by her easement looking out on the moonlit mountains she suddenly heard strain of music coming apparently from the wall below her. 1t sweled out into the night
 with mournful cadence, seemed to finger on the mountainside and died away The sentry who watched below did not seem
 to notice it. but paced his round with measured tread. The next night. when
 Emily sought the window In the hope of
 hearing the music again, she noticed as she looked forth that heavy clouds ob- scured the sky, and in the distant noun tains heavy thunder rumbled with hoarse and solemn sound
 As she gazed down upon the platform she saw a figure glide ghostike along and pause by cannon mounted at the
 further extremity. Just then the sentry passed below her window. and she saw the point of his halberd glowing with q pale. luminous fire that seemed to waver
 over it as if just alighting His compan- ion of the watch came mp to him and on the point of his halberd also shone the
 same weird name--the St. Elmos fire.
 Santa Maria" said the first what Is abroad tonight? See you the death-glow
 on your halbred?"
 Aye" responded the other, "and there
 glows the like upon yours-what does this
 portend?'
 "I know not" was the response; but saw you just now a figure glide along in
 the darkness"
 Indeed. I did 1t vanished just by the old gun there-the one they say is haunt
 ed" wild gust swept down the noun tain gorge and in the distance q loud peal of thunder sounded. while vivid
 flash of lightning lit up the giant noun
 tains with an unearthly light and seemed to play around the towers and battle ments of Idolpho. santa Maria. ora
 pro nobis," eiacuated the sentries, cross ing themselves. Shall we keep our , watch together?'
 As they passed on Emily closed her easement and withdrew to the companion
 ship of her own gloomy thoughts; yet even as she left the window she thought
 she heard again that ghostly strain of music amid the tumult of the gathering storm. Emily was in such an agitatcd s.ate of mind that she threw herself. dressed as she was. on the bed and heard tine castle clock strike before she fell
 into q htful slumber From this disturbed sleep she was awakened by noise with in the chamber. and springing to her feet she saw the door on the mysterious ! stairway open and the Count Morano.
 who had pursued her in Venice. standing before her. Emily attempted to flee by the door leading to the corridor, but the Count seized her hand and prevented her. "Why all this terror?' he said. I come not, Emily, to alarm you, but to
 rescue you. l love you. love you too well
 for my own peace.
 "rhen leave me sir said Emily, re covering herself. Leave me instantly '
 "It shall not he so." replied Morano. ''Know that Montoni is villain-a vti- lain who would have sold you to mel f. lao n villain who would have bought me?' retorted Emily.
 "I lose time" said the Count. 'l came
 not to exelaim against Montonl. Yet his schemes are terrible l warn you. Mon toni has plans for your future more prof jtablc to him than selling you to me.
 Fly then with one who adores you. My carriage waits below. Through bribng the warder l have obtained access to vou and have provided for your safe es- cape
 Excite,lly and fervently as the Connt nourej out his love. painting the danger < to the girl of remaining longer at udoi-
 pl,o and begging her to fly. Emily re- nained steadfast in her refusal. As they stood thus the door of the apartment was burst open and Montonl rushed into
 the room. followed by the old steward
 and several attendants. swords were ln- stantlv drawn and Montoni and the colnt. fighting furiously. gradually made their way into tho corridor, where they continued the combat. Montoni threaten ing to kill any one who lnterfered. Morano received wound that caused him to fall back into tho arms of a
 servant and Montoni would have dis matched him had not his arm been stayed bv one of his guests who stood by. He finally consented that the badly wounded man should be taken fo a cottage in the neighborhood and after heaping re-