Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-05-27
CHAPTER VII.
A Distant Menace.


pastimes draw to close, and the
hour arrives when the curtain tails
ON the masque The friends OF my
lady. however reluctantly. were
Obliged at last to fOrgo further holi'
day.mal,ing. depart from the Mount
and return to the court. An imposing
cavalcade. cleaning III crimson and
gold, they wended down the dark
rock; laughing ladies, prankcd-out
cavaliers who waved their perfumeG
hands with farewell kisses to the
grim stronghold in the desert, late
their palace Of pleasure, and to the
young mistress thereof.
"Good-by, Elise" The marquis was
last to go.
"Good-by."
He took her hand; held it to his
lips. On the whole, he was not Ill
pleased. His wooing had apparently
prospered, for, although the marriage
had been long arranged, my lady's
beauty and capriciousuess had famed
in him the desire to appear a success
full sutton for her heart as we'll as her
hand. If sometimes she laughed and
thus failed to receive his delicate gal
lantries in the mood IN which they
we're rendered. the marquis vanity
only allowed him to conclude that a
woman does not laugh if she is dis
pleased. 1t was enough that she found
him diverting; he served her; they
we're friends and had danced and nd
den through the spring days in ami
cable fashion.
"Good-by," he repeated. when
are you coming to court again? The
queen is sure to ask. I understand
her majesty is planning all manner
of brilliant entertainments, yet Yer
sailles-without you, Elise.'
"NTe?" arching her finely penciled
brows. "Oh, I'm thinking of staying
here. bacoming a nun, and restoring
the Mount to its old religious pres
tige."
Then I'll come back monk" nc
returned in the same tone.
"If you come back at ALL" provok
ingly. There, go. The others vii
soon be out OF sight"
81, too-alas, Elise!"
He touched his horse; rode on, bu,
soon looked back to where, against
great, grim wall, stood a figure all
in white cleaning in the sunshine
The marquis stopped; drew from his
breast a deep red rose, and, gazing
upward, gracefully kissed the glowing
token. Beneath the aureole Of golden
hair my lady's proud face rewarded
him with a faint smile, and some
| thing-a tiny handkerchief-futt
| like a dove above the frownins, time
worn rock. At that, with the eloquent
/ gesture of a troubadour, he thre"
| his arm backward, as if to launch the
| impress on the rose to the crimson
| liDs Of the girl, and then, plying hi:
spurs, galloped off.
And as he went at a pace, head
long if not dangerous and fitting the
eXigencies of the moment, my lore
smiled. Truly had he presented q per
feet, dainty and gallant figure for an!
woman's eyes, and the Lady Elise, ht
fancied, was not the least discerning
of her sex. And had he seen the girl
when an unkind angle OF the wall hlt
him from sight, his own nice estimate
of the situation would have suffered
no change. The Mount, which for
merry had resounded to the life ant
merriment of the people from thu
court. on a sudden to her looked cold
barren, empty.
"He;gh-ho." she murmured, stretch
ing her arms toward that point wher
he-they-had vanished. Il shall di
of ennui, | am sure!" And thought
fully retraced her steps to her Owl
room.
But she did not long stay there
by way Of makeshift for gaiety, sub
stituted activity. The Mount. full O
early recollections and treasuTe-hous
mystery, furnished an incentive 10
exploration. and for several days .sh