Middletown transcript., 1912-10-12

|
cerned with affairs on the land tha
matters pertaining to the sea. Wha
these paramount interests were, tn
young man, on whose thin cheek nov
burned a little color, did not at one
ask; only gazed inquiringly over tn
group, where one, whom he might hav
expected, was absent.
"Sanchez-he is not with your"
A look Of constraint appeared TO
an instant on the poets face.
mo, he's with the people, I expect
You see, he went on, things hav,
been happening since you elected t,
enact the mountebank. The bees hav.
been busy, and this little hive the,
call France is now full Of bother ant
bustle. The bees that work have bee1
buzzing about those that don't; the
made a great noise at Versailles, bu
the King DrOne only listened; did no
try to stop it, fearing their sting. They
| hummed at the door of the Bastile
until the parasite bees, not liking the
! music, opened the doors, let them al
| in"
THE Bastile has falIen?" The
listeners voice rang out; his eyes
searching sharply the features of the
bard, seemed to demand only the
truth, plain, unadorned.
ut has" answered the other graveIy
And the tune sung in and around
Paris has kept on spreading until
row it is everywhere! You may hea1
it in the woods; along the marshes;
oft over the strand! The very Mount
ir!movable, seems to listen. When
will the storm break? Today? To
morrow? 1t needs but a word from
Paris, and then"
The poet broke OFF, and silently the
Black Seigneur seemed to be weigh
ing the purport Of the news; for some
moments stood as a man deep in
thought; then, arousing himself, spoke
few words, and gave a brief order.
Swiftly the riders swept away in the
direction from which they had come,
and only when they had gone some dis
tance did the young man once more
turn to the poet with a 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 trap!"
"The Governors daughter cozenod
by Nanette!"
That she was! A clever wench
and brave one, Nanette! Although" !"
the poets jovial eyes studied the dark
face, unless am mistaken, she found
the task to her iking!"
you treated her, the Governors
daughter, well?" said the other
abruptly.
Gave her your cabin, mon capi-
taine, where" chuckling, "she ruled
like despot. Not once did she whim-
per, or beg favor-for herself! For
the Marquis, it is true, she did plead
that day We took themi"
Hes her betrothed!" said the
young man shortly.
"A marionette!" gibed the poet.
"Some of the men were for making
short shrift Of him, and they might
have-only for her!"
'They will soon be safe enough to-
gether now!" remarked the Black
Seigneur.
Again peculiar, half-questioning ex-
preston shaded the poets eyes, while
furtively he regarded the young man.
Eyes, they ought to bel"
"The terms Of exchange-what 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 interjected
a condition, binding both parties to Sc
crecy in the matter, that the people
might not know. They acted badly
when the soldiers returned to the
Mount without his daughter; they
might behave worse, no doubt he
thinks, when they come back with
her,"
so will she be safely returned in
the darkness! A wise provisionl"
"That," murmured the poet. study
Ing the horizon, was evidently his
thought But" as the Black Seigneur,
his pace, drew rein at a 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 kept in readi-
less!" he ended. "As for me" He
made a vague gesture.
That evening found the Black Seign-
EUR in the Desaurac forest; where, as
boy, he had fed for shelter, now
jome instinct, or desire he did not
itrive to analyze, drew him. As slow
y he made his way through the wood,
N every hand familiar outlines and
letails, seen vaguely in the last light
# day, invited him to pause; but
Without stopping he moved on to the
astle, and up to the chamber, where
sanchez, returning from America, had
ound him, vagabond lad. Through
he window the same unobstructed
lew Of the Mount dimly unfolded it.
elf in the dusk, and for some mo-
nents he regarded it-august, majesl
lc; CLOSING its hearts black secrets
Nth specious and well-composed bear
ng! As he looked, there suddenly
anne to him the remembrance Of an.
ther impression; the same picture,
cen through the eyes of a boy-stand-
1g where he was now! Then had the
lount seemed marvellous series Of |
tructures, air-drawn, magical-home
a small and fairy-like creature, with
air OF shining gold. Dusk turned to
light; in the distance the Mount van
shed, and through the break in the
orest only the stars twinkled.
Then lighting his fire, the young
ian sat down at the side; with facul-
es alert, listened to the wind; looked
the flames. Demon-like they leaped
efore his eyes, as when he had watt
and watched for the emissaries Of
Is Excellency; and mechanically he
laced his weapons on the same spot
had been wont to lay them in those
ays. There was little likelihood they
ould seek him now, however; the