The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-11-18
CHAPTER x~xi-Continued.

The secret chamber in the wall was
not %carpeted or decorated in any way
save only that exactly opposite 70
where they stood there was a DARK
curtain hanging midway on the wall,
concealing something. To their right,
clamped against the stone, was some.
hing which made their blood run cold.
II was a large cage OF polished steel,
six feet high, and perhaps sever feet
across-the cage of an animal-the
bars some three inches apart.
In the cage were two zinc troughs
On either side of the entrance gate,
which was secured by n heavy pad.
lock. One trough was filled with wa
ter, the other with some brown sub
stance hat looked like porridge. In
the middle of the cage, upon a heap
OF straw, lay an odd and grotesque
little Ggure-the figure OF a child
asleep.
The figure was dressed In a costume
OF tight-ftting skins-the skins OF
some animal, il seemed, which came
close up to the neck. Only the head
was bare, and the head was that of
the little Duke of London-pale, vast
ed and tear-stained, the tiny eyes
closed, the whole Of the little organ.
ism now sunk in merciful oblivion.
Fritz won Ravenstein had started
back and was looking with horror.
struck blue eyes upon this frightful
system OF revenge.
Princess" they heard him say, what
is this? Oh, my Princess, what is
this?"
There came a low and cruel chuckle.
like the cracking of thorns just IL.
nited.
This" said the Princess, "is my
revenge, Fritz Won Ravenstein!"
But what-what-'
Il will tell you came the low and
sinister reply. "ln the Middle Ages,
when my ancestors used to make
those who had scorned and fouted
them pay the dreadful penalty, they
knew how to do It! They would take
men and women. and ever children,
from those who loved them. Some
times they would torture them. You
have been down In the oubliettes be-
meath the Rhine, Won Ravenstein?
They would torture them with fire and
slow steel, the scourge, the water, and
the linen bag. But sometimes they
we're not so merciful as this. They
would make another torture-a nor
dreadful and q lifelong thing. They
would take men and women, whose
brains were their own and whose souls
we're living. and they would make
them live the lives of beasts, turning
them into animals, dissolving their
souls, netting their brains, and max
Ing them as the brute beasts of the
field.
And then they would come, day by
day. watching the slow degradation OF
proud people who had dared TO OF.
fend and fout the Princes of Wohlau-
Landskrona. II Is this that | am go
ing TO do with that piece Of flesh
there. Look you. Won Ravenstein! In
that cage Is the child of Alberto. Duke
of London, a great prince In his own
country, even as | am here. That
thing Is the son OF the man who left
me. who fled from a Royal alliance, at
whose hands / am here-old, unloyed,
and alone, He is the child also of
that devil-woman of England-that
young. lovely, and loving woman who
took him from me! And nov he is
mine, Minei Mine, He will live
there, Won Ravenstein; he will live in
that cage like a dog until he dies. 1t
may be hat the soulless thing will
not die for many years. II may be
that, dressed in the skins of animals,
he will grow like and learn the ways
of the animal | mean to make him.
He will feed out of these troughs. He
will learn to come and humble mar
ticulately when | deign to feed him
through these bars. He will become
lower than a spaniel, n thing"
sPrincess,' Won Ravenstein said
suddenly. and with q harsh. high voice,
YOU are mad! Such devilworking
cannot be-shall not be-in Christian
Germany today! Princess! | cannot
let it be- | will not let it be! 1t is
too terrible, think that Satan him
self must be in the palace of Wohlau.
Landskrona tonight
Int TAIL WOnldi thitW hRl h1dN
back, the diamonds in her hair shoot
ing little CLEANS of white lightnings as.
she did so.
"Ha. hal" she cried, In a strained
falsetto. so the revenge OF a Prin
cess frightens even you. my yassal
and my serf! Mad? Am | mad? Then
my madness Is a madness such as only
princes dare All! You eur, You
tremble. You are not made OF sucl
stun as | am made of! You dom
know the meaning of r~evenge,"
The Princess began to laugh-horrid
demoniacal laughter. She ~pirouetted
In front of the steel Il & which held
the little sleeping child. She bowec
to It: she lolled out her tongue. Once
she spat at the little sleeping figure
In its skins.
Won Ravenstein leant against the OPP
posite wall. His face was white as
linen, his hand was clutching his
throat; his great blue German eyes
were fixed In q stare on stony horror