The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1910-01-29

terror crossed the
tired, tear stained face. She shrank
away from him.
what is it? Where am II" she
moaned. ooh, let me go! What hive
1 done that you should bring me here?
Let me go. Mr.. King. You are not SO
wicked as
Il bring you herer' he interrupt
ed, aghast. Then he understood. Ut
ter dismay filled his eyes. You think
that / have done this thing to you?
God above us. Look. |, too. am a
prisoner here. They are going TO kill
me after tomorrow"
"Oh, Mr.. King, what does it all
mean? Forgive me, / see now. You
are bound; you are suffering; you are
years older. What have you done?
What have i doneT''
Don't shrink from me-" he urged.
''Try to calm yourself"
Then, with the utmost gentleness, he
persuaded her to rise and walk about
the little room with him.
at will give you courage" he urged.
poor little girlr'
light coming into her eyes.
Don't talk now" he said softly.
'"Take your time. Hold to my arm,
please. THERE
For five or ten minutes he led her
back and forth across the room very
tenderly. At first she was faint and
uncertain; then. as her strength and
wits came back to her. courage took
the place of despair. She smiled wanly
and asked him to sit down with her.
Where are we? What is it all
| about?" she asked.
mot so loud" he cautioned. "Ill be
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. 1 can throw light
on the whole situation, l think"
She became more excited. Her eyes
flashed; she spoke rapidly. On the
morning Of the 23d she had gone for
her gallop in the famous Ganlook road
attended by two faithful grooms from
the royal stables.
81 was in for a longer ride than usu-
all she said, with sudden constraint
She looked away from her eager listen
err. Il was nervous and had not slept
the night before. a girl never does,
I suppose"
He looked askance. "Yesf" he que
ried.
She was blushing. he was sure of
it. 81 mean girl is always nervous
and distract after after she has prom
ised, don't you see"
mo; don't see
81 had promised Count Vos Engo the
night before that ! Oh, but it really
has nothing to do with the story. T.
TruXton was actually claring 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. "Well, that's
over! Whew, 1t was dream, by
Jovew
She waited moment and then, look
ing down, said very gently, Pm so
sorry for you"
Then she resumed her story.
She had gone six or eight miles down
the Ganlook road when she came IN
with five troopers of the royal guarG.
One of the troopers came forward and
respectfully requested her to turn off
into another road until detachment
passed, in charge of q 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 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 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 dash for
freedom. One of them was killed, but
one had escaped.
Some time during the slow, tortur-
ing ride through the forest she svoon-
ed. When she came to her senses she
was i'm dimly lighted room, surround
ed by men. The gag had been re-
moved from her mouth. She would
have shrieked out in her terror had
not her gaze rested upon the figure Of
man who sat opposite. his elbows
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 it
as a snake holds the bird 1t has
charmed
She recognized the hard, hawklike
face. There could be no mistake She
was looking into the face that made
the portrait Of the Iron Count so alb
horrent to her--the leathery head Of a