The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-09-11


you hear? At once!"
And as he began TO unlock the door,
walked on. After that. her interest
in ths rock waned: the Mount seemed
but q prison; she. herself. desired
only to escape from II.
Have my saddle put on Balsdin. {"
she said TO Beppo the next day,
toward tho end Of Q long afternoon.
Very well. my lady. Who accom-
panies yosr iadyshipf"
No one!" With slight emphasis.
Il ride alone"
Beppo discretely suppressed his sur.
prise. lis your isdyship going far?
II %. I beG 70 remind that tonight is
the change Of the moon, and the
grand not the little tide may be
coming In"
Il was already aware OF II. and snail
keep between the Mount and the
shore. Have my horse sent to the up-
per gats," she added. and soon AFTER.
ward rode down.
Tho 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 or 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 heri 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 breath stirred above the tiny
ripples or the sand: q calm, almost
unnatural. seemed to wrap the world
In Its embrace. The girl breathed
deeper. feeling the closeness OF the
ar; her impatient eyes looked
around; scanned the shore: to the
left. low and fat--to the right.
marked by the dark fringe OF q for
est. Which way should she 20? Ir-
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 O point some distance
seaward. Not until she had reached
that extreme projection OF land. where
the wooing green crept OFT from the
forest as FAR as II might. did she
Draw rein. Saladin stopped. albeit
with protest. tossing his great head.
You might as well make an end or
that, sir!" said the girl. and. spring.
ing from the saddle, deftly secured
nim- Then turning her back toward
the Mount, a shadowy pyramid In the
distance. she seated herself I'm 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
thoughful: what was II 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 child, how the woman, Marie.
who had been maid TO her mother.
mad tried to frighten her about that
sequestered domain, with tales OF
herce wild animals and unearthly
creatures, visible and invisible, that
roamed within.
She had no fear now. though faint
rustlings and pulsation OF sound
held her listening. Then, through the
leafy interstice. a cleaning and fash
Ing. as II some one were throwing
jewels to the earth. lured her on to
the cause OF the seeming enchant.
ment--a tiny waterwall
The moment passed: still she lin.
gered Around the Mounts high top,
her own home, only transcendent ST.
ience reigned: here was she surround
ed oy babbling voices and all manner
OF merry cfeatures-lively little SOUR.
rels; winged insects. romping I'm the
twilight shade; a portly and well-sat-
ished appearing green monster who
regarded her amicably from O. niche
OF green. A butterfly. poised and
waving It's wings, held her a long
hme-untii 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 detonation. faint, far-or.
broke In upon the whisperings and
tinklings OF that wood nook Getting
up. she stood Tor moment listening: (:
then walked away.
Near the verge of the sand, saladIn
greeted her with impatience. tossing
his head toward the darkening heav.
ems. Nor did be wait until she was
fairly seated before starting back AT
rapid gate along the shore. But the
girl offered no protest; her face