Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-06-03
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ILLUSTRATIONS BY R4I WAk7=RS

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soldier, and the trio entered the grea
gate, which had opened at their ap
proach, and now closed quickly be
! hind them.
For the first time in that isolated
domain Of the dreaded Governor, the
morntebank appeared momentarily tc
forget his fears and gazed with inter
est around him. On every side new
and varying details unfolded to the
eye; structures that from below were
etched against the sky in flmy lines
here resolved themselves into vast
solid, but harmonious masses.
Those ribbons of color that had
seemed to fall from the wooing sky, tc
adorn these heights, proved, indeed
fallacious; more somber effects, the
black touches Of age, confronted the
eye everywhere, save on one favored
front-that of newer period, an
architectural addition whose intricate
carvings and beautiful roses Of stone
invited and caught the warmer rays;
whose little balcony held real buds
and flowers, bright spots Of pink dang
ling from, or nesting al, the window c
edge
"'Yonder looks like some grand
lady's bower" as he followed his cap
tors past this more attractive edifce,
the mountebank ventured to observe.
NOW, perhaps, lives there"
"Hark you, my friend" one Of the
soldiers bruskly interrupted; "a piece
of advice. His Excellency likes not
babblers. neither does he countenance
gossip; and IL you'd faro well, keep
your tongue to yourself!"
"IIl-IIl try to remember" said the
mountebank docilely, but as he spoke,
looked back toward the balcony; at
tho cleaning reflection full on Its win
dows; then turn In the way cut off
the pleasing prospect, and only the
grim foundations of the lofty, heavier
structure on one hand and the mas
sivo masonry ramparts on the other
greeted the eye.
For some distance they continued
along the narrow way, the mounte.
bank bending lower under his load
and observing the injunction put upon
him, until the path, broadening, led
them abruptly on to a platform where
a stone house of ancient construction
barred their further progress. But
two stories in height, this building,
an alien ediflce amid loft!er piles,
stood sturdIly perched on a precipi-
tous cliff. The rough stonework of its
front, darkened by time, made 1t seem
almost a part of the granite itself, al
though the roof. partly demolished
and restored, impaired to 1t ar anon
alous distinctness, the bright new tile
prominent as patches on some dilapl-
dated garment. In its doorway, be
neath q monkish inscription, well-nigh
obliterated, stood q dwarf, or lunch
back, who, jingling a bunch Of great
keys, ill-humoredly regarded the ap-
preaching trio.
What now?" The little mans wei
come, as mountebank and soldiers
came within earshot, was not rcassur-
ing. isn't It enough to make prison
ers Of all the scamps In Christendom
without taking vagabond players into
CUSTODY"
Orders, good JacQues!" said one Of
the soldiers in conclliatory tone.
THE commandments"
THE commandment" grumbied the
grotesque fellow ut is all very we'll,
mimicking: Turn them over to
Jacques. He'll find ROOM If this
keeps on, we'll soon have to make
cages Of confessionals, or turn the
wine-butts in tho old cellar into oubli-
ettes."
III any of our ancient flavor fingers
In the casks, your guests would have
little reason to complaint" returned
the other soldier. "But this fellow,
he'll make no trouble"
"Oh. suppose We'll have to take
care of himl" muttered the dwarf. in
the thieves inn there's always room
for one more!" Obeying the gesture,
at once menacing and imperious, that
accompanied these words, the mounte-