The Washington herald., 1909-05-01
CHAPTER (.
The woman Comes.


On up the light green level stretch came
the little troupe. the men ragged. IN
kempt, buIlies, and outlaws. all YEARLY
plodding along; the horse. IN the fore
front. jsded AID heavy; but the woman
swaying as she was 10 its every step,
with head erect, peering eagerly before.
right and left.
TIE Duchess Of Mario, Yes, true as
heaven or as he'll. by face and figure the
Duchess Of NartoI
The king uttered an involuntary excla-
nation, and took hasty stride forward as
Il to check her and turn her back 4
feeling OF rage al her temerity rose
within hin He had no welcome for her.
The party had almost reached hawk
nose, standing waiting with folded arms
And now. looking past MIN. the duchess
beheld the king With a little CRY. Pene-
trating by reason Of its leng-pent ap-
peal. she stretched out both hands She
would have faiien had not one OF her
rufilan escorts quickly gTasDed her as
she toppled, and swung her roughly 10 the
ground Whimpering with her eagerness
her long dress, dead black with a slash
Of cunning scarlet at the throat. sadly
impeding her. jeering applause following
her. and Capt. Del Orc turning. curiously
10 watch, she came running across the
turf.
At her goal she tripped upon her gown.
and pitched forward TO the kings feet
He had only coldly witnessed her ap-
proach, and now as coldIy looked down
upon her as she clung 20 his knees. and
laid her cheek against them while she
painted forth her story. Her Jet hair was
in piteous disarray. for she was bare
headed; her garb was drabbled; but she
stin was beautiful
"Oh. Henry Is Il yoU2 have search
ed so long See my poor hands-look.
Henry, how they are scratched and torn:
and my feet But I d0n't mind Indeed.
I don't. Henry. They told ne about you
that you hsd been taken from them by
robbers-by Del OrO's men. on. wha+ a
fright have been IN, The city Is al be
leagUered. Henry, but 7 got OUT got out.
I was in the forest all night. alone. and
the wolves hOwled, and Il raiaed and /
was cold and hungry. and afraid But /
wanted 10 find you. Henry. See how I
have suffered But YOU have suffered.
TOO. ! did not mean that YOU should
suffer. You would not have been harmed
they had promised ne You would
have only been kept a little while
and would have joined you But there
was some mistake I did not fail YOU at
the gate. I was there at 3. and there was
no coach What was the matter2
waited half an hOur-a long half an hour
! thought I would see YOU in the morn
ing. but instead I learned thar you had
gone and had been captured -by. Del Orc
You Do not blame me, do you. Hen-y2 7
have come, too I left everything. Just 70
be with you. Half the day and al last
night I wandered alone in the awful for
est, just 10 be brought UP here See my
hands. how they are bleeding But I do
not care You win kiss them and make
them well Henry.
HawknOse and Sir Hugo had drawn
near, and were looking and listening:
the one sneeringly. vet with keen interest.
the other gloomily. Where they had
halted the group Of bandits gaped and
grinned. Furious. but cold, the king
stopped ard UnceremoHiousiy raised the
grOveling duchess 10 her feet
Are you crazy. Myrtle, With all look
ing on" and as 2 signal OF warning,
which could not be spoken. he tightened
his hand upon her arm
''Oh. VIII be careful. I viii be careful, /
Henry. She Clung. sObbing hystericaiiy. |
to his breast. only tell me you are not
angry"
I shall be angry If YOU don't calm
yourself" Kissed the king, testify. striv- !
ing TO thrust her back
A single piercing scream startled them
apart. and turned every face in the one
direction The queen was lying. appar- |
entity Hfeless. by the gray granite out /
crop. whence she had advanced but 2
step or two
with an oath wrung Of heart protest
and despair. the king. 1inging of the
duchess still imploring hand. rushed TO /
the prone, Imp form and lcneIt beside il
Fetch her in, and We VIII let this new
doxie tend 10 her" called hawknose.
TIE king bore the queen toward the 4
cabin. Her pink and gold brown traEed /
from his arms. The rouge showed Shastlv 1
upon her cheeks Behind. upon the
rocks. lay the black domino, and mid 1
WY. as If Yainly it had essayed to follow. /
the far.
-she2 Here2' breathed the duchess.
wide-eyed, staring
Go II. bade hawknose. sharply.
No interposed Sir Hugo. with sud
den energy.
But the duchess. obeying. walking as
Il hypnotized, passed through the door
way
BY my soul,~ said hawknose- laugh
ing. One woman may easily make he'll /
a paradise but Two make paradise"
and he shrugged his shoulders. Who
IS this pretty gypsy. BY the cross. but
that Henry must be a bigger knave than
he lo0zs-and a fool into the bargain
% lei her hang about his knees 50 long.
v'ouiG have raised her right quickly.
Zip high. az the least Who Is she?
What do you know2"
= woman he has met she loves him
and has followed HIN. suppose the