The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-10-23

Would they have to be locked in?-
the half-apprehensive query Of one of
the ladies caused the jailer at first
to hesitate and then to answer In the
negative. He would leave the doors
from the outer room open, and him.
self await there the visitors return.
With which reassuring promise, he
distributed lights; called a guards
man. familiar with the intricate un-
derground passages, and consigned
them to his care.
One Of the gay procession. the Lady
Elise stepped slowly forward; the
| guide proved a talkative fellow, and
seemed anxious to answer their many
inquiries concerning the place The
sale de la question? Yes, Il existed:
but the ancient torture devices for the
"ipterrogatOry ordinary" and the 'in-
terrogatcry extraordinary" were no
longer pressed into service: the King
had ordered them relegated to the
shelves Of the museum. The caba-
mons. or black holes? Louis XII. built
them; the carceres duri and wade in
pace. however. dated from Saint Mau.
ritius. fourth abbot of the Mount.
"And the Black Seigneur? How have
you Accommodated him?"
In the petit exil; just to the left!
We are going there now"
"-am going back!" A hand
to ched the arm Of the Marquis, last
90 the file Of visitors. and, lifting his
.Andle. he held 1t SO that the yellow
glimmer played on the face OF the
Governors daughter. Her eyes looked
deeper: full Of dread. as II the very
spirit Of the subterranean abode had
seized her. He started.
Surely you. Elise. are not afraid?"
II prefer the sunlight" she said
hurriedly In low tone. TIT is not
cheerful down here! No: do not call
the suide-or let the others know. I'll
return alone. and-wait for you at the
guard-house."
He. nevertheless. insisted upon ac-
companying her; but. indicating the
not distant door through which they
had come. she professed to make light
Of objections. and when he still clung
to the point. replied with q fash OF
spirit. sudden and passionate. It CON-
PEELED his acQuiescence; left him sur
prised for q second time that day;
little hurt. too. perhaps. for heretofore
had their intimacy been maintained
on a strictly ethical and charming
plane. But he had no time for analy-
sis; the others were drawing away to
the left. into a side passage: and. with
q last backward glance toward the
retreating figure. the Marquis reluc-
family followed the majority.
Despite. however. her avowed repug-
nance for that underworld. my lady
! showed now no haste to quit it.; for
scarcely had the others vanished than
abe stopped; began slowly to retrace
her way In the direction they had
taken. Wheu .he .,-'- .o.'c { ,'ie
pc..t CAL connected with the main
! aisle, q sudden draft Of air extin-
guished her light: yet still she went
on. led by the voices. and q glimmer
afar. until reaching q room, low, mas
sive, as II hewn from the solid rock,
again she paused. Drawing behind a
heavy square pillar, she gazed at the
lords and ladies assembled In the for
bidding place; listened to a voice that
ran on. as II discoursing about some
anomalous thing. Again was she cog
nizant Of their questions; a Jest from
my lord. the Marquis; she saw that
several stole forward; peered. and
started back. half afraid.
But. at length. they asked about the
oubliettes. and. chatting gaily. left.
Their garments almost touched the
Governors daughter; lights played
about the gigantic pillars. and like
will-o.the-wisps whisked away. Now,
staring straight ahead toward the
chamber they had vacated. my lady's
attention became fixed by q single dot
OF yellow--a candle placed In a niche
by the jailer's assistant. II seemed
TO fascinate; to draw her forward;
across the portals-into the room It.
self!
How long she stood there In the
faint suggestion Of light, she did not
realize: nor when she approached the
iron-barred aperture. and what she
nrst said! Something eager. solici.
tous. with odd silences between the
words. until the impression OF q mo-
tionless form. and two steady. cynical
eyes fastened on her. brought her to
an abrupt pause. 1t was some time
before she continued. more coherently,
an explanation about her apprehen.
sion on account Of her father, which