The Lamar register., 1912-10-02

to his quarters, and graciously &C.
copied an invitation to enter.
We'll. you know the old saying"
the marquis closed the box with
snap, There's many slip'-but
how" airily brushing with his hand.
kerchief imaginary particles from a
long lace cuff. did he get away?'
He had got away before We were
down on the beach. 1t was a wild
goose chase, at best. And SO 1 told
his Excellency. the governor"
"A thankless task, no doubt! But
the shots we heard"
An imbecile soldier saw a shadow;
fired at 1t, and"
The others followed suit" laughed
the visitor
Exactly" The commandments face
grew red; fiercely he pulled his mus
tache. What can one expect, when
they make soldiers out of every
dunderpate that comes along?"
"True!" assented the marquis. But
this fellow. this Black Seigneur-why
is the governor SO anxious TO lay
hands on him? Who is he. and what
has he done? confess" Ianguidly,
Ito a mild curiosity.
Hes a privateersman and an out
law. and has done enough to hang
himself a dozen times"
when you capture him!" inter.
posed the visitor lightly. A moment
he studied the massive oak beams OF
the ceiling. why de they call him
the Black Seigneur! An ODD sobrt
quet!'
His father was a Seigneur-the
last OF the fief OF Desaurac. The
Seigneurs have all been fair men fol
generations. while this fellow"
Then he has noble blood in him?
The marquis showed surprise Where
Is the fief?"
beginning Of it
Butt don't understand. The father
was q Seigneur; the SON"
Bluntly the commandant explained;
the son was a natural child; the
mother. a common peasant woman
whom the former Seigneur had taken
to his house
II see!" The young nobieman
tapped his knee. And that being the
case"
Under the terms OF the ancient
grant, there being no legal heir, the
lands were confiscated to the crown
His Excellency. however. had already
bought many OF the membranes
against this property. and, in view OF
this. and his services to the king, the
nef. declared forfeited by the courts,
was subsequently granted and decided.
without condition. to the governor.
ITO the governor" repeated the
marquis
Who at once began a rare clearing.
out: forcing the peasants who for
years had not been paying metayage
to meet this Just requirement, or
move away"
| And did some OF them obtect?"
| They did: but his Excellency found
means The most troublesome were
arrested and taken to the Mount
where they have had time to reflect
his Exceilency believes in no halfway
measures with peasants"
"A rich principally no Doubt"
half to himself spoke the MARQUIS.
Il have heard" blurted the com.
mandant. hes going to give 1t to the
| -~eANy A<AAsSr iCotOIc Tue OlO castle and
turn the grounds surrounding 1t into
a noble park
The visitor frowned. as II little liz.
ing the introduction OF the iady.s
name into the conversation. .And
what did the Black Seigneur do then ;.
he asked colby. when he found his
lands gone?''
Claimed it was plot,-that his
mother vas an honest woman, though
Meth. 'le priest who performed the
| cc-er on, OF the marriage records
.,r he fJund. lie even resisted at
| '-rs.a- ID to be turned out-and,
sKuiiiin.; about the forest with his
gun. kept the deputies at bay. But
they surrounded him at last; drove
him to his castle. and would have cap
tured him. only he escaped that night,
and took to the high seas, where he
has been making trouble ever since!"
'Trouble?"
He has seriously hampered his
Excef1ency's commerce; interfered
with his ships. and crippled his trade
with the Orient"
"But-the governor has many boats,
many men. Why have they failed to
capture hint"
For q number OF reasons. In the
irst place he is one Of the most skill