The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-11-27

All oiu VI yOuIS, LdUy.
called out blunt Pierre.
A moment the clear. brown eyes
seemed to wayer; then became steady,
as schooled to some purpose. She
came forward composedly; gave the
Black Soigneur her hand.
lam always glad to see old
friends!" said my lady, with lift Of
the head. over-consclous, perhaps. Of
the concentrated gaze Of the company.
He looked at her; made perfume.
tory answer; she seemed about to
speak again. when the hand he let fall
was caught by another.
"Elise!" From among those who
had come ashore, man In fashionable
attire sprang forward, little thinner
than when last she had seen him, and
more cynical-looking. as slightly soured
by world-contact and the new tenden.
cies Of society.
MY Lord!" Certainly was my lady
taken unawares a moment looked at
the Marquis as IL little startled: then
at the Black Seigneur:
"A pleasant surprise for you, my
Lady," said the latter. But you owe
me no thanks! An order from the
chief Of the Admiralty, properly signed
and countersigned. directing me to
transport the Marquis de Beauvillers
hither, was not to be disregarded!"
"A somewhat singular dispensation
OF Providence, nevertheless" observed
the nobleman dryly. After our-what
shall We call it?-little passage of
arms? You must acknowledge, how.
ever, that In truth the Lady Elise and
myself had some reason to discredit
your assurances that night"
Far be 1t from me to dispute it. my
Lord" and the Black Seigneur turned,
while the Marquis. slightly Struggling
his shoulders. addressed my lady.
Half blithely, then half bitterly, re-
lapsing occasionally from the old,
debonair manner he had assumed, he
spoke Of his escape from the Mount;
months Of hiding In foul places, amid
fields and forest, with no word Of her;
his success. at last, In reaching Paris,
and, through rumor. learning where
she was, and Fastening to her
A bluff voice interrupted further ex-
plantations and avowals: the steaming
hesh-pots. 1t informed the company,
awaited not soft words and honeyed
phrases; monarch In his own dining
room, ostentatiously conscious, per.
haps, Of his own unwonted prodigality,
Pierre I.aroche waved them to their
places-whers they would!-so that
they waited not!
Quizzically my lord lifted his brow;
truly here was Republican fellow
who appreciated not an honor when
1t was bestowed upon him. nor saw
anything unusual in a Marquis pres
ence beneath that humble roof. Some
thing OF this he murmured to my
lady. tn tone others might have
heard; but she answered not: took her
place, with red lips the frmer. as II
to conceal some weakness to which
they sought to give way.
Not without constraint the meal
passed; the host. desirous to learn
the latest political news, looked at the
Marquis and curbed a natural curios.
ity. until a more favorable moment
when he and the Black Seigneur should
be alone. My lady. although generally
made to feel welcome and at home
there. seemed now. perhaps, to herself,
little out OF place, like a person that
has wandered from a world OF her own
and strayed Into another's. Cross-cur.
oents. long at strife In her breast,
surged and flowed fast; the while she
seemed TO listen to my lord. who ap-
peared now In lighter, more airy hu-
NOR. And as she sat thus, with fair
head bent a little. she could but hear.
at times. above the medley OF tones
and the sound Of servants footsteps
In Gathering wooden shoes, the voice
OF the Black Seigneur-now pledging
a toast to old Pierre; anon DISCUSSING
winds. tides. or ships! A free reck.
less voice. that seemed to vibrate
from the past-to stir anew bright,
terrible flames.
Daylight slowly waned; lights were
brought In. and. the meal over, old
Pierre pushed back In his chair. My
lady rose quickly; looked a little con.
strainedly at the company. at the Mar
Quis. then toward the door Anticipat.
Ing her desire. attributing to 1t, per-
haps. a significance fattering TO his
vanity. the young nobleman expressed
wish for a stroll; a sight OF the gar
den. At once she assented: a slight
Tint now on her cheeks, she moved
to the door. and my lord followed: as
they disappeared. the Black Seigneur
laughed-at one OF Pierre's jokes!
Have ] not told II before?" said
the host.
Have your" murmured the Black
H.