The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1912-12-25

brusk and contemptuous, dismissed
the bearer.
But whatever feeling the lord Of the
Mount might entertain toward his
chief officer, no course at the moment
seemed open save to await the return
Of that person and the Marquis. So.
curbing his impotence as best he
might, his Excellency kept vigil; and
not alone! Tidings Of what had hap
pened spread at the top Of the rock;
sifted through closed gates and thick
walls into the town. The late arrival
at the Mount of the lords and ladies'.
companions of the Governors daugh.
ter for the day, but added to the ques-
tionings of the multitude. All night
life and expectancy reigned; lights
cleaned from high places; responded
in low ones.
els 1t true. my dear. what we hear
about the Lady Elise?" the landlady OF
the inn on the Mount near the strand
called out to a stalwart, dark young
woman. hurrying down the narrow
way shortly after the Paris contingent
had gone uD.
81 have heard no more than you
have" came the curt answer Of this
person-none other than Nanette--
who carried q small bundle and
seemed anxious to move on.
"Oh, l didn't know but you came
from the palace!" observed the mis-
tress of the inn. and returned to her
customers, drinking and nodding with
heads close together.
On the morrow, however, all doubts
were removed and speculations put at
rest; for hardly had the sun set its
seal in the sky than from the forests
the appearance of a body of troops
rewarded the watchers. From howell
to hut the word went. and men. wom-
en- and children, unkempt and curious,
ran down to the beach to await the
approach OF the guard. Proudly had
1t departed, with waving Of plumes;
slowly 1t returned, a bedraggled pro
cession Of staggering horses and
heavy-eyed men. Had 1t come back
little earlier. the dark might have kept
the truth from the people; now the
pitiless red glare revealed to the full
the plight Of the troopers. 1t told, too.
the disappointment of Monsieur le
Commandant, who looked neither to
the right nor to the left; and the de-
spair Of my lord. the Marquis, pale
counterfeit of his debonair self.
'Her Ladyship! They haven't
brought her back!" Low murmurs
arose; grew louder; some one laughed.
But sullenly, without answer, the sol.
diers dragged by, into the town. and
laboriously up to the top of the Mount.
At the gate his Excellency waited;
cast one glance at the company-their
leader-and silently turned. Later.
however, was he closeted with both
the commandRnt and the Marquis
brief period with the former who de-
parted. carrying look eloquent Of the
unpleasantness of the interview.
And now" said the Governor in
tones somewhat strained, as the ON.
GERS detected football died In the dis.
lance. we've got rid Of that dolt. let
US consider. my Lord, the purport of
this outrage"
"Purport?" repeated the Marquis
petulantly. stretching his stif legs.
did they not tell me that IL anything
happened to the Black Seigneur, they
would hold her, Elise. answerable for
1t? You see they had learned" bit.
terly. "of your intention to hang him
after the wedding!"
"F'rom which you infer?
They will keep her as hostage! In.
deed. they said as much. when@
They bound you, my Lord?"
The color came to the young mans
face. "It was a trap" he said, his
voice pitched higher; land they came
prepared. not for one man, but the
guard"
"Still 1t was very ill-advised-a great
mistake-to have taken the shorter
way through the forest alone"
THE proposal did not originate with
me! Elise suggested 1t. She seemed
in wild. headstrong mood: nothing
would stop her. Now" modify he
rose. mon dieu! What has she
brought upon herself? Where is she
now?"
His Excellency did not stir; his
face. like pale mask, was turned
aside. II do not think" he said slow.
ly, as arguing to convince himself
"she is in any immediate danger"
But my lord caught irritably at the
word. mo danger! She is surround.
ed by 1t. And we? what are we to
do? Sit idly here? Give me a ship
your Excellency, and will follow the