Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-06-14


pressed-which contingency they did
not just then expect, since at the
moment was his Excellency more con-
cerned with affairs on the land than
matters pertaining to the sea What
these paramount interests were, the
young man, on whose thin cheek now
burned a little color, did not at once
ask; only gazed inquiringly over the
group, where one, whom he might have
expected, was absent.
''Sanchez-he is not with you?"
A look Of constraint appeared for
an instant on the poets face.
mo, he's with the people, expect.
You see," he went on, things have
been happening since you elected to
enact the mountebank. The bees have
been busy, and this little hive they
call France is now full of bother and
hustle. The bees that work have been
buzzing about those that don't; they
made a great noise at Versailles, but
the King Drone only listened; did not
try 70 stop 1t. fearing their sting They
hummed at the door of the Bastile,
until the parasite bees, not liking the
music, opened the doors, let them all
in"
"The Bastile has fallen?" The
listeners voice rang out; his eyes,
searching sharply the features of the
bard, seemed to demand only the
truth, plain, unadorned.
1T has," answered the other gravely.
And the tune sung in and around
Paris. has kept on spreading until
now it is everywhere! You may hear
it in the woods; along the marshes;
out over the strand! The very Mount,
immovable, seems to listen. When
will the storm break? Today? To-
morrow? 1t needs but word from
Paris, and then"
The poet broke of, and silently the
Black Seigneur seemed to be weigh.
ing the purport Of the news; for some
moments stood as man deep in
thought; then, arousiag himself, spoke
few words, and gave brief order.
Swiftly the riders swept away in the
direction from which they had come,
and only when they had gone some dis
lance did the young man once more
turn TO the poet with question.
Whereupon the latter, squirting his
horse nearer his chief, launched into
eloquent explanation.
And then ended the bard, "the
Governors daughter walked into our
ambush as unsuspeCtingly as a mouse
into a trapi'
"The Governors daughter cozened
by Nanette!"
"That she was! A clever wench
and brave one, Nanette! Although"
the poets jovial eyes studied the Ozark
face, unless I am mistaken, she found
the task to her liking!"
"you treated her, the Governor;
daughter, well?" said the other
abruptly.
Gave her your cabin, mon CAPT
taine, where" chucklng, she ruled
like despot. Not once did she whi0n'
per, or beg favor-for herself! For
the Marquis, it is true, she did plead
that day we took them"
Hes her betrothed!' said the
young man shortly.
"a marionette!" gibed the poet.
Some of the men were for making
short shrift of him, ard they might
bove-On1v for h9rt"
"They will soon be safe enough to-
gether now" remarked the Black
Seigneur.
Again a :, ,culiar, MISUNDERSTANDING en-
preston sl;.ded the poets eyes, while
furtitely be regarded the young man.
Yes, they ought to be-"
"The terms Of exchanGe-whatw were
they?"
"You for her! That was our de-
mand. After the place had been
agreed upon, his Excellency asked to
name the hour, and further intcrjectcd
q condition. binding both parties TO Sc
crecy in the matter. that the people
might not know. They acted badly
when the soldiers returned 10 the
Mount without his daughter: they
might behave worse, no doubt he
thinks, when they come back with
her"
$50 will she be safely returned in
the darkness! A wise prorision!"
That" murmured the poet. study
ing the horizon, was evidently his
thought. But" as the Black Seigneur.
relaxing his pace, drew rein at fork
in the pathway, "yonder lies our
cove, mon capitaine, and"
do you and the men go there!"
commanded the other and gave few
further instructions.
See that the ship is Eept in readi.
ness!" he ended. "As for ne" He
made vague gesture.
That evening found the Black Seign-
eur in the Desaurac forest: where, Is
n boy, he had fed for shelter. now
some instinct. or desire he did not
strive to analyze, drew him. As slow
" he made his way through the wood,
on every hand familiar outlines and
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