Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-03-15
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perfectly candid with you. You'll have
to be very, very brave. But wait.
Perhaps it will be easier for you to
tell me what has happened to you, so
far as you know. l can throw light
on the whole situation, think"
She became more excited. Her eyes
flashed; she spoke rapidly. On the
morning of the 23d she mad gone for
her gallop in the famous Ganlook road,
attended by two faithful srooms from
the royal stables.
Il was in for a longer ride than usu-
al" she said, with sudden constraint.
She looked away from her eager lis
tener. Il was nervous and had not
slept the night before. A girl never
does, l suppose.
He looked askance. ''Yes?" he que
ried.
She was blushing, he was sure of
it. Il mean a girl is always nervous
and distrait after-after she has prom
ised, don't you see"
No; l don't see"
Il mad promised Count Vos Engo the
night before that /. Oh, but it really
has nothing to do with the story. T.
Truxton was actually glaring at her.
You mean that you had promised to
marry Count Vos Engo." he stammer-
ed.
How very strangely you talk! Are
you sure-I mean, do you think it is
fever? One suffers So
He sighed deeply We'll, that's
over! Whew! 1t was dream, by
Jove!"
She waited a moment and then, look
ing down, said very gently, I'm 50
sorry for you
Then she resumed her story.
Sne had gone six or eight miles down
the Ganlook road when she came up
with five troopers of the royal guard.
One of the troopers came forward and
respectfully requested her TO turn off
into another road until a detachment
passed, in charge Of gang Of despera-
does taken at the inn of the Hawk
and Raven the night before. Unsus-
pecting, she rode off into the forest
lane for several hundred yards.
1t was a trap. The men were not
troopers, but brigands got up in the
uniform of the guard. Once away
from the main highway, they made
prisoners Of her and the two grooms.
Then followed a long ride through
roads new to her.
When night came they were high
In the mountains back of the monas-
terry, many hours ahead of any pur-
suit. They became stupidity careless,
and the two grooms made a dash for
freedom. One of them was killed, but
one had escaped.
Some time during the slow, tortur-
ing ride through the forest she swoon-
ed. When she came to her senses she
was in a dimly lighted room, surround
ed by men. The gag had been re-
moved from her month. She would
have shrieked out in her terror had
not her gaze rested upon the figure Of
on the back of the chair which he
straddled, his chin on his arms. He
| was staring at her steadily, his black
eyes catching her gaze and holding 1t
| as snake holds the bird it has
charmed.
She recognized the nard, hawklike
face. There could be no mistake. She
was looking into the fact that made the
portrait of the Iron Count so abhOr-
rent to her-the leathery head of a
| cadaver with eyes that lived. She
broke down and cried herself into the
sleep of exhaustion.
| All the next day she sat limp and
| helpless in the chair they had brought
to her She could neither eat nor
| drink Late in the afternoon MarlanX
came again. She knew not from
whence he came; he stood before her
| suddenly as if produced by the magic
of some tabled genie, smiling blandly,
his hands clasped behind mis- back, his
attitude one of designing calculation.
He laughed when l demanded that
| he should restore me to my friends.
He chided me when pleaded and beg
ged for mercy. My questions were
never answered. Where am |. Mr..
King? oh, this dreadful place! Why
are we here-you and -"
Kings heart throbbed fiercely once
more. A vast hunger possessed his
soul In that moment he could have
laid down his life for her with a smile
of rejoicing.
! Then he told her why she was there,
why he was there and of the 26th-
the dreadful 26th!
God in heaven" she repeated over
and over again in piteOus whisper.
the light was going out
Quick" ne cried The candle,
Light a fresh one. My hands are
| bound"
She crept 10 the candles and joined
the wicks. \ new light grew as the
old one lied. Then she stood erect.
| looking Gown upon him.
You are bound l forgot"
She started forward. dropping to her
knees beside him, an eager CLEAN in