The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1912-11-14

+ ana l4ey vanished through trap
all save one, a misshapen dwarf who
remained to shut the iron door. ad-
just the fastening and turn a ponder
Gus key. For moment she stood
staring
why did you do that?'' she asked
angrily
The governors ORDERS" said the
man, bowlng hideously. They are to
see no one"
Then let them up at once! Do
you hear? At once"
And as he began to unlock the door,
walked off. After that, her interest
in the rock waned; the Mount seemed
but prison; she, herself, desired
only to escape from it.
Have my saddle put on Saladin,"
she said to Beppo the next day,
toward the end of a long afternoon.
Very well, my lady. Who accom-
panies your ladyship?"
mo One!" With slight emphasis.
y ride alone"
Beppo discretely suppressed his sur
prise. rs your ladyship going far?
If so, l beg to remind that tonight is
the change of the moon, and the
grand not the little tide may be
coming in
L was already aware of it, and shall
keep between the Mount and the
shore. Have my horse sent to the up
per gate she added. and soon after
ward rode down.
The town was astir, and many
looked after her as she passed: not
kindly, but with the varying express
sions she had of late begun to notice.
Again was she cognizant of that feel
ing of secret antagonism, even from
these people whose houses chung to
the very foundations of her own
abode, and her lips set tightly. Why
did they hate her? What right had
they to hate her? A sensation. al
most of relief, came over her, when
passing through the massive, feudal
gate, she found herself on the beach
Still and languorous was the day:
not a breath stirred above the tiny
ripples of the sand; a calm, almost
unnatural, seemed to wrap the world
in its embrace. The girl breathed
deeper, feeling the closeness of the
air; her impatient eyes looked
around; scanned the shore; to the
left, low and fat-to the right
marked by the dark fringe of for
est, Which way should she go? IT.
resolutely she turned in the direction
of the wood.
Saladin. her horse, seemed in I'M
usually fine fettle. and the distance
separating her from the land was
soon covered; but still she continued
to follow the shore, swinging around
and out toward point some distance
seward. Not until she had reached
that extreme projection of land. where
the wooing green crept out from the
forest as far as it might, did she
draw rein. Saladin stopped, albeit
with protest, tossing his great head.
You might as well make an end OF
that, sir" said the girl. and. spring.
ing from the saddle, deity secured
him. Then turning her back toward
the Mount, a shadowy pyramid in the
distance she seated herself in the
grass with her eyes to the woods.
Not long. however, did my lady re-
main thus; soon rising. she walked
toward the shadowy depths. At the
verge she paused; her brows grew
thoughtful; what was it the woods
recalled? Suddenly, she remembered
"a boy she had met the night she
left for school so long ago. had told
her he lived in them She recalled.
too, as a child, how the woman, Marie,
who had been maid to her mother.
had tried to frighten her about that
sequestered domain, with tales OF
fierce wild animals and unearthly
creatures, visible and invisible, that
roamed within
She mad no fear now, though faint
rustlings and a puIsation Of sound
held her listening Then, through the
leafy interstice, cleaning and fash
ing as il some one were throwing
jewels to the earth lured her on to
the cause of the seeming enchant-
ment-a tiny waterwal!
The moment passed; still she lin
gered Around the Mounts high top,
her own home, only transcendent ST.
lenCe reigned; here was she surround
ed by babbIing voices and all manner
OF merry creatures-lively little squir-
rels; winged insects, romping in the
twilight shade; a portly and welI-sat-
isfed appearing green monster who
regarded her amicably from a niche
OF green. A butterfly, poised and
waving its wings, held her a long
time-until she was suddenly aroused
by the wood growing darker. Raising
her eyes, she saw through the green
foliage overhead that the bright sky
had become sunless. At the same time
rumbling defamation, faint, far-ofr,
broke in upon the whisperings and
tinklings Of that wood nook. Getting
up, she stood for moment listening;
then walked away
Near the verge Of the sand, Saladin
greeted her with Impotence, tossing
his head toward the darkening heav-
ems. Nor did he wait until she was
fairly seated before starting back at
rapid gate along the shore. But the
girl offered no protest: her face