The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-10-09
Your Ladyship would command

Your Ladyship would command
me-"
To give the play no more!"
But" Expostulation shone from
his look.
I'm which event you shall be suf-
fered to 60 free tomorr -"
But my livelihood. What shall T
do. Il ] am forbidden to earn"
She gave him a colder look. "I have
spoken to the commandan.; told him
wnat h"6 >''r. aAd that | did no,
think yea 'ICfl 10 make trouble.
your ca2e NilI therefore. not be -
ported to lis 2XctNepcy. Only" vi /
warnirg fish, II you are again
caught giving The Play. you must ex-
pect to receive your deserts"
"Of course II your Ladyship com.
mands." dejectedly
Il do! But, as an Offset to the cen.
pers you might otherwise receive. |
VIII give you a sum of money suff!-
clent to compensate you"
Your Ladyship is so generous!" He
made an uncouth gestr~ re Of gratitude
and covetousness. May / ask your
Ladyship how much"
How much?" scornfully. But I
suppose"
The words died away; her glance
fell; fingered on the hand he had
extended. Muscular, shapely. 1t
seemed not adapted to the servile
gesture; was most unlike the hand
OF clod or clown. Moreover, It was
marked with a number of wounds.
half-healed. which caught and held
her look.
'Of course, am 80 poor, your Lady
ship" he began, in yet more abject
tone, but stopped, attracted in turn
by the direction Of her gaze; then.
meeting 1t, quickly withdrew the hand
and thrust 1t into his pocket. Not
IN time, however, TO prevent a startled
light, swift gle1m Of recollection
from springing into her eyes! The
very movement itself ii ironically
enough!-was not without precedent.
"You!" She recoiled from him. "The
Black"
As man who realizes he has be-
trayed himself, he bit his lips; but at.
tempted no further subterfuge. The
shambling figure Strengthened; the
dull eyes grew steady; the bold self.
possession she remembered we'll on
another occasion again marked his
bearing.
Your Ladyship has discerning
eyes," he remarked quietly, but as
he spoke glanced and moved a little
toward the window.
MY lady stood as II daxed. He, the
Black Seigneur, there. in the palace!
Mechanically she raised her hand to
her breast; she was very pale. On
the balcony the nightingale, grown
confident, burst into food Of varia-
tons; a thousand trills and full
throated notes filled the room.
Il understand now," at lensth she
found voice, why that fancy came to
me below. when l was listening to the
play on the platform. But why have
you come-to the very Mount itself?"
Her voice trembled q little. you!
On the beach the people tried to stop
you"
You saw that, too?"
And you knew the play would
make trouble! You wanted It to-"
quickly. For what purpose? To get
into the upper part Of the Mount? To
have them arrest-bring you here?"
She looked at him with sudden ter.
ror. my father Was II to"
A low, distinct rapping at the door
she had entered, interrupted them.
She started and looked fearfully
around. At the same time the noun
tebank stepped back to the side OF
a great bronze in front OF the balcony.
where, standing in the shadow, he
was screened.
"Elise!" voice called out.
The flower the girl had been hold
Ing fell to the floor.
My" she began, when the door
opened and the Governor stood on the
threshold.