The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1912-10-17
cCPTRHHT 1908 BY The BoSB5 MERRILL &C
CHAPTER |.
A Chance Encounter.

Don't you KNOW, boy, you ought
not to get in my way?"
The tide was at its ebb; the boats
stranded afar, and the lad addressed
had started, with tish-his wage
in one hand, to walk to shore, when,
passing into the shadow OF the ram
part of the Governors Mount, from
the opposite direction white horse
Swung suddenly around a corner OF
the stone masonry and bore directly
upon him. He had but time to step
aside; as it was. the animal grazed
his shoulder, and the boy. about to
give utterance to a natural remon-
STRANGE, lifted his eyes to the Offend
Ter. The words were not forthcoming;
Surprised, he gazed at tiny girl, Of
about eleven, peTched fairy-like on the
Broad back Of the heavy steed
Don't you know you ought not to
Iget in my way?" she repeated i'm
periously.
The boy, tall, dark, unkempt as
young savage, shifted awkwardly; his
black eyes, restless enough ordinarily,
Expressed a sudden shyness in the
presence of this unexpected and
dainty creature.
"I-didn't see you" he half STAN
mered.
4 We'll, you should have" And again
the little lady frowned, shook her dis
ordered golden curls disapprOvingly
and gaZed at him. a look of censure
Nm her brown eyes. But perhaps you
don't know who l am" she went on
with lift of the patrician doll-like
features. 81 don't think you do, or
you wouldn't stand there like
Ebooby, without taking off your hat"
More embarrassed. he removed a
worn cap while she continued to re-
gard him with the reverse of ap-
Iproyal. Il am the Comtesse Elise"
She observed; the daughter of the
Governor of the Mount"
oh" said the boy, and his glance
shifted to the most important and in
sistent feature of the landscape
Carrying it's clustered burden Of
houses and palaces. a great rock
reared itself from the monotony OF
the bare and binding sands. Now an
oasis in the desert, ere night was
lover he knew the in-rushing waters
would convert it into an island: claim
Ut for the sea! A strange kingdom,
yet g mighty one, it belonged alter
inately to the land and to the ocean.
With the sky, however, it enjoyed
perpetual afFHation, for the heavens
were ever wOoing it; now winding
pretty ribbons Of light about its air
drawn castles; then kissing It with
the tender, soft red glow of celestial
fervor.
Eyes; ] live right on top among the
clouds, in a castle, with dungeons I'M
.derneath, where my father puts the
bad people who don't like the mobiles
and King Louis XVI But where"
categorically, do you Iive?"
His gaze turned from the points
and turrets and the clouds she spoke
.of-that seemed to linger about the
lofty summit-to the mainland, per
maps a mile distant.
There" he said, and specifically
indicated a dark fringe, like cloud
on the lowlands.
I'm the woods How odd" She
looked at him with faint interest.
And don't the bears bother you?
Once when l wanted to see what the
woods were like, my nurse told me
they were filled with terrible bears
who would eat up little girls. don't
have a nurse any more" irrelevantly,
"only governess who came from the
court Of Versailles, and Beppo Do
you know Beppo?"
NO"
q don't like him." she conhded.
HE is always listening. But why do
you live in the woods?'
"Recapse!" The reason failed him.
elss45"" ' o''n you ever i've anywhere
] A shadow crossed the dark young
face. Once" he said.
4 81 suppose the bears know you"
Eshe speculated, and that is the rea-
sson they let you alone Or, perhaps,
1 they are like the wolf in the fairy
stale. Did you ever hear OF the kind
shearted wolff"
I He shook his head.
I MY nurse used to tell it to me-
sWell, once there was boy who was
ian orphan and everybody hated him
$50 he went to live in the forest and
sthere he met wolf. Where are you
sgoing. little boy? said the wolf No
kwhere,' said the boy; I have no home
s'No home! said the kind-hearted
ewolf; then come with me, and you
fshall share my cave Isn't that a
knice story?"
He looked at her in puzzled man
liner. Il don't know" he began, when
kEhe tossed her head
"What stupid boy" she exclaimed
kseverely. A moment she studied him
Tentatively through her curls, from
1.-THE vantage point OF her elevated
Sseat. That's a big fish," she re-
kmarked, after a pause
"Do you want it?" he asked quickly,
khis face Frightening.
You can give 1t to BeppO when he
seomes," she said, drawing herself up
Eloftily. He'll be here soon. I've run
Havoc, FvCr, him rr1dIon emilia