Middletown transcript., 1912-10-19

ney Will NOT spare Hou+
now gripped him closer. What did
it portend? Whence came all these
people?
Not all Of them from the immediate
neighborhood! Voices, among the as
sailants, had called out in what was
surely the Partisan dialect Of the
rabble; here to propagate the revolu-
ton; extend the circle of flame! And
they had seen that arms were not
wanting! Muskets, pixies, swords,
must have been kept concealed for
some time in the town at the base Of
the Mount or on the shore. In his
minds eye, too late perhaps, his Ex-
cellency could see now how the as
sault had long been planned, how all
these people had only been waiting.
For what? The opportunity afforded
by a treacherous word! Spoken by
whom?
But a moment these reflections
surged through his brain; an instant,
and his gaze swung around, at towers
-turrets-as magician might appre-
hensively survey fabulous architec-
tural creation, handiwork Of his dark
craft, threatened, through an infiu-
ence beyond his control, with destrue-
ton; then with quick start, his Ex-
cellency wheeled; walked toward the
stairway. About to descend, the sight
Of figure coming up, caused him,
however, to pause; in the fare Of the
tight below, something in the manner
of the mans advance impressed the
governor as peculiar.
The movements Of this person, who
was under-sized, wiry, were agile and
cat-like; first would he stop, look
around him and listen; afterward
spring forward a few steps as not
quite sure Of his course. But still he
came on, keeping as closely as might
be to the cover Of the shadows, until
a growing impression he had seen the
fellow before resolved itself into posi-
tiveness in his Excellency's mind. And
with the conviction and sudden re-
membrance Of the place and the char
acter Of their previous meeting, def
mite disinclination to encountering the
figure on the stairs caused the Cover
nor abruptly to draw into the en-
trance Of the church. There, concealed,
impatiently he waited for the man to
pass on, thus affording him the oppor-
tunity to slip by and return to the
gate.
Meanwhile, the Lady Elise had re-
paired to the palace; a prey to haras-
sing doubts her fathers words had
failed to remove, she listened to those
sounds Of the strife she no longer saw.
But that she wished to obey her father
unquestioningly now-at, perhaps, a
supreme moment for both Of them!-
she could not have remained where
she was. Never had the palace looked
so blank and deserted; she rang her
bell; no one answered. The servants
had apparently all left-gone, it might
be, to look down on and behold this
guerre la mort waged near the gates.
Or, perhaps, had they all, except the
old nurse, fed from the palace, never
to return?
AS she asked herself these questions,
in the distance the noise Of the con-
fict grew louder; the shouts Of the
people more distinct, nearer! With
sudden premonition Of disaster close
at hand, the desire to see what was
happening-to know the worst-seized
her. No longer could she remain in
her apartments; she must return to
the ramparts-to her father; and then
If need be- The thought drove some
Of the color from her cheek, but in a
moment her braver instincts spoke;
there awoke within her the courage
and spirit Of her Norman ancestry.
Pale, yet determined, she fastened
down the long, dimly lighted corridor,
and was nearing the door leading to
the street when it suddenly opened
and man, tall and dark, showing in
his appearance many signs Of the fray,
stepped in. At sight of her a quick
4.Sl-s as-sse .'4se
exclamation fell from his lips; his
bold, anxious eyes lighted. my Lady,"
"YouI" Her startled glance met his:
'T heard the firing; hastened to the
Mount-herel 1 trust not too late!"
"Too late!" she repeated wildly:
f'Where else should the Black Seigr4
eur be than here, at the Mount-at
such a momentl"
"Truei" he returned quietly. where
else?"
She noted not the accent; behind
him, through the open space bright
fork Of fame, in the direction Of the
soldiers barracks, shot into the air,
and, at the same time, she saw that
the officers quarters and out-buildings
glowed red. The knowledge Of what
1t meant-that her apprehensions had
been realized, sent shudder through
her, and quickly as the door closed,
shutting out the sight, she ran toward
the threshold, one thought in her mind
her father, and where she had last
seen hinI That she was seized, held,
restrained, seemed but a natural,
though terrible, incident Of the mo-
ment.
Pardon, my Lady, In a moment
they win be here, and they win not
spare you! Your father is not at the
gate; he left before the soldiers gave
wayl Believe me, or not--it is the
TRUTH AS true as that, Il yOu so out,
they viii kill you'll"