Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-06-08

Might Some Day Be Called Upon to
Govern Here.
imposing guard; escorted with due
honor through the gates. and up the
narrow street OF the town.
AS no climbed the winding high
way, my lord, the Marquis, bestowed
approving nod and smile this way and
that; 1t may be that he already felt
q nearer utilization with these people:
for his glance, gracious, condescend-
ing in passing, was that Of man
armed with tho knowledge that he,
liinsman Of the King, might some day
I've called upon to govern here. But
10 these advances, the townspeople re-
aponded i'll, and the young mobiles
brow went delicately up, as If little
unused! Mon dieu! did not unfriend-
ly eyes peer from every lurking place
around the royal palaces and pleasure
grounds near Paris: and had they not
encountered them all the way to the
sea? People were the same every
where must be treated like bad chill
dren, and, with relays OF troops from
the capital TO the sea, from the strand
10 the Mounts high top, one could
afford to smile at their petty humorS.
above all, when one had more mo-
Inentous matter for consideration.
And my lord lifted his head higher.
toward a rampant, where some one
had once bid him an revoir, and
where he might yet in fancy see a
1uttering ribbon wave bright adieu.
But today my lady, the Princess OF
me Rock, was not there; waited
;bove. with her father, to receive
lim-then-in the great Hall Of the
Chevaliers Until that morning she
lad not known Of the coming OF the
Marquis. on impatient sutton, follow
ing the courier and the perfumed mis-
.ivo acquainting her with the mobiles
rear approach. Certainly had she
chown surprise; but whether she was
pleased o. not, his Excellency could
not tell.
He was still uncertain standing,
near the raised gallery. in the ancient
:alle des chevaliers, from time to
lime regarded her furtively! Often
lad she looked from one Of the round
windows, commanding view of the
shore and the sands; many times
turned away At first sight OF the
company on the beach, the Governor
Lad seen the girls face alter and not
ID the involuntary start she had
Given. Whereupon, moving toward one
Of the giant fire-places, had he sought
for the sake Of diplomacy and the
end in view, to turn their converse
lion into a channel that should have
interested her; spoke Of plans to be
made; preparations for festivities and
:nerrymaking commensurate with the
circumstances. But to these sugges-
lions Of gaieties, the prelude TO a
Gtately ceremony, had she hardly
listened: paused absently before the
blazing logs; once or twice seemed
about to say something and stopped.
She was silent now, slender figure
beneath that great canopy of stone
designed for the shelter Of a score
Of knights: nervously twining and in
;ertwining her fingers, she looked out
It the shadows moving between the
columns. playing around the bases.
or melting in the vaulting.
The should be almost here now. :"
observed his Excellency. again seek
ng 10 break that spell Of constraint.
Then suddenly she stepped to him.
Mon PEREZ" her voice sounded
trained, unnatural, "it was you who
wanted this MARRIAGE"
Yes" he had answered in some
urlTise; YES
"And I have not opposed you-the
King
Opposed? No! OF course not"
Then" more hurriedly, must you
do something in return for me! do
not want my-the wedding festivities
-marred by anything unpleasant!
Promise that nothing will happen TO
him. the Black Seigneur, until after"
"Impossible!" The sudden viru!ence
her unexpected request awoke could
not be concealed.
VERY WE'LL" Before the anger in
his, gaze, her own eyes flashed like
steel. I'm that case, you can send
the Marquis back! For ! will not see
him-today. tomorrow or any other
time again"
ITO Be Continued.)