Enterprise news-record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1910-1911, 1911-04-08
attended by two faithful grooms from

attended by two faithful grooms from
the royal stables.
81 was in for longer ride than usu-
al" she said. with sudden constraint.
She looked away from her eager listen
er. Il was nervous and had not slept
the night before. A girl never does,
suppose"
| He looked askance. "Yes?" he que
ried.
She was blushing. he was sure of
It. 81 mean girl is always nervous
and distrait after-after she has prom
ised. don't you see."
| mo; don't see."
Il had promised Count vos Engo the.
night before that L Oh, but it really
has nothing to do with the story. r.
| 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. "Well, that's
over! Whew! 1t was a dream, by
| Jovew
She waited moment and then, look
ing down, said very gently, I'm so
| sorry for you"
Then she resrlncad her story
She 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
f, f,1rt OFF
into another road until 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 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 dash for
freedom. One Of them was killed, but
sne 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 mouth. She would
have shrieked out in her terror had
not her gaze rested upon the figure of
a 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 snake holds the bird 1t has
charmed M
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 abb
horrent to her--the leathery head of a
caduver with eyes that lived. She
broke down and cried herself into the
sleep of exhaustion.
All the next day she sat limp and
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 his back, his
attitude one of designing calculation
| x-hn I 49,
he should restore me to my friends.
He chided me when pleaded and beg
ged for mercy. My questions were
never answered. Where am l, Mr..
KingG oh, this dreadful place! Why
are we here-you and IL"
| 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 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.
| &tiNh. hC CIitu. Lie
Light fresh one. My hands are
| bound"
She crept to the candles and Joined
the wicks. A new light grew as the
old one died. Then she stood erect,
looking down upon him.
"You are bound forgot"
She started forward. dropping to her
knees beside him, an eager CLEAN In
her eyes. "If l can unite the rope
will that help? There must be one
little chance for you-for us. Let me
try"
"By Jove," he whispered admiringly,
his spirits leaping u meet hers, you've
got pluck. You put new life In me.
Il was almost IA quitter"
At last, after many despairing tugs,
the knot relaxed. "Therer' she cried.
sinking back exhausted. "Oh, how 1t
must have hurt youl Your wrists are
raw!
His arms were stiff and sore and
hung like lead at his sides. She watch
ed him with narrowed eyes while he
stood or and tried to work blood and