Middletown transcript., 1912-10-12

leader-and silently turned. Later,
however, was he closeted with both
the commandant 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 Off
GERS detected football died in the dis
tance, we've got rid of that dolt, let
us consider, my Lord, the purport Of
this outrage"
"Purport?" repeated the Marquis
| petulantly, stretching his stir legs.
Did they not tell me that if anything
happened to the Black Seigneur, they
would hold her, Elise, answerable for
it? You see they had learned" Bit
terly, "of your intention to hang him
after the wedding!"
From 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. 'Tt was a trap" he said, his
voice pitched higher; "and they came
prepared, not for one man, but the
guard!"
"Still it 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 it. She seemed
in a Wild. headstrong mood; nothing
would stop her. Now" moodily he
rose, mon dieu! What has she
brought upon herself? Where is she
now?"
His Excellency did not stir; his
face, like a pale mask, was turned
aside. "T 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 it. And we? what are we to
do? Sit idly here? Give me a ship,
your Excellency, and will follow the
boat of this Black Seigneur, and when
1 find it, force them to"
''What?" The Governors eyes
swerved DULY. "Have you forgotten
their threat? Their last words to you
that if we attempted to follow, to res
cue-that, rather than give her up"
"They would not dare!" cried my
lord with sparkling glance.
But his Excellency shook his head.
mo; no; it won't do! And now"
again looking away, leave me, my
Lord, to consider" With which, the
interview, as unsatisfactory to the one
as the other, terminated.
Several days that passed were not
calculated either to alleviate his Ex-
celleny's anxiety, or the Marquis i'm
patience; for during that period Of
waiting came no word Of my lady, or
news Of her captors. Mysteriously as
phantom ship had the boat that had
carried the Governors daughter away
appeared on the coast and vanished,
and from none Of the Governors YES
sells, or any Of the ising craft could be
Cleaned information Of its where
abouts. My lord, the Marquis, annoyed |
at what seemed but fruitless delay; |
was still for setting forth and inviting |
battle; but Of this his Excellency |
would not hear, arguing, no doubt, to |
himself that in temporizing lay great. |
er assurance Of safety to his daughter |
than in precipitate action. So the sit. |
uation grew hourly more trying, until |
as If 1t already were not intolerable |
enough!-a new concern added iron |
tcal weight to present perplexities.
My young lord, between whom and |
the master Of the Mount had been |
growing more strained relationship, |
sought the Governor one day, and, in |
excited tones, announced he had just
learned that the prisoner, the Black
Seigneur, was i'll and probably would
survive but short time longer in the
dungeon where he was confined. As
his EXcellency knew, the fellow had |
been wounded, and now with scanty
nourishment, want Of air, and close
quarters, was generally in bad way.
His Excellency heard; moistened his
lips and seemed about to speak, but
was silent, while more anxiously the
young man went on. OF course IN
der different conditions, with care and
attention. well-lighted room and ex-
cellent food-they might hope to re-
store their prisoners strength; at
least, preserve for a time one so pre-
cious to themselves, upon the thread
Of whose life hung my lady's!
His Excellency still answered no
word; 0nly looked down, and, knitting
his brows, the young nobleman rest.
lessly waited. At length, with an ex
preston on his face the Marquis had
never before seen there, his Excel
lency rose, moved like an automaton
to the bell, and called for the jailer.
Monster le Marquis has few in
structions to give you" The Gov
ernor's voice, but breath, told what
the words cost him.
The man responded graVely, look
ing from one to the other.
use your own judgment in the
matter, my Lord" went on his Excel
lency, and left them together.
After that, a change, subtle but
came over the Governor;
a silent man always, now his taciturn-
NSy DSSOAAO AAAOSb AAAoA ADA' CA4ASA SbA CoS !
Of untoward circumstances, all the
guests at the Mount, save the young
noble, departed; but his Excellency
appeared hardly to notice their going;
drawing his cloak Of reserve closer
about him; seemed only to ask for
that solitude, not difficult to find in
his aerial kingdom. Sometimes for a
long while he would stand in the clois- !
ter, gazing seaward; again wander in
the church, look at the monuments, )
always to- pass one of them quickly.
Only on a single occasion, when the
Marquis, who was daily becoming
more nervous, sought him, with IA
vorable report Of his prisoner-patient, !
did the Governor give sign that be-
meath this apparent apathy yet stirred
and rancor. t
Yes, yes" he returned, spark Of c
venom in his glance; 'she S
is doing well, no Doubt l am sure he
win do well. But well or Ill, wish to '
hear no more Of himl No more, Mon .
sieur le Marquisl" His voice Vibrated; (
the kinsman Of the King n
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