Middletown transcript., 1912-08-03

high-ro0Fed TefectoFy, she had stopped
at the sight of a number Of people
gathered near the entrance. At first
she had merely glanced at them; then
started, as, in the somewhat dim
light prevailing there, her eyes be-
came fixed upon one Of their number.
Obviously a prisoner, he stood in
the center Of the group, with head
down-bent, a hard, Indifferent express
sion on his countenance. Amazed, the
girl was about to step forward to ad-
dress him-or the commandant-when
Beppo appeared from the cloister,
walked toward the officer, and, in
low ill-humored tone, said something
she could not hear. Whatever it was,
the commandant caused him to repeat
it; made a gesture to the soldiers,
who drew back, and spoke himself to
the prisoner. The latter did not reply
nor raise his eyes, and the comman-
dant laid a heavy hand on his shoul-
der, whereupOn the prisoner moved
forward mechanically, through the
doorway.
"You are sure his Excellency said
1alone'?" asked the commandant.
"As sure as have ears" answered
Beppo.
But her ladyship-see! She is
walking after him."
Beppo shrugged his shoulders. "She
always does what she pleases; no Or
ders apply to her"
In the shadow Of the cloister roof,
at a corner where the double row Of
pillars met, the girl paused; looked
out through the columns, her hand at
her breast. The Governor was un-
eoncernedly writing; not even when
the prisoner stepped forward did he
turn from his occupation; at his lei
sure dotted an 81" and crossed a 1T;
sprinkled sand lightly over the paper;
waited a moment; then tapped the
fine particles from the letter For his
part, the prisoner displayed equal pa
thence, standing in an attitude Of
stolid endurance.
"Your name is Sanchez" At length
the Governor seemed to notice the
others presence.
"Yes."
"And you formerly served the
Seigneur Desaurac? Followed him to
America?"
Gas your Excellency knows" The
servants tone was yelled defiance.
A trace of pink sprang to the Gov
ernor's brow, though the eyes be lift
ed were impassive. "You will an
swer yes or mol" He reached for a
stick of wax, held it up to the tiny
flame Of a lamp; watched the red
drops fall. when you returned, it
was to live in the forest with-a
nameless brat?"
"My masters son!"
"By a peasant woman, his"
"Wife!"
The Governor smiled; applying a
seal. pressed it hard. "The courts
found differently, he observed in a
mild, even voice, as speaking to him.
self and extolling the cause Of justice.
"The courts! Because the priest
who married them had been driven
from Brittany! Because he could not
be found then! Because" The
mans indignation had got the better
of his taciturnity, but he did not fin
ish the sentence.
EITHER" said the Governor quietly,
you are one of his simple-minded
people who, misguided by loyalty,
cherish illusions, or you are a schem-
ing rogue. No matter which, unfor-
tunately," in crisp tones, ut is neces-
sary to take time to deal with you"
"At your Excellency's service!"
And the man folded his arms but,
again turning to his table, the Cover
nor apparently found some detail Of
employment there Of paramount i'm
portance; once more kept the prisoner
waiting.
The silence heightened; in the dim
light of the walk noiselessly the girl
drew nearer; unseen, reached the old
abbot's great granite chair with its
sheltering back to the court and close
to the Governors table. Into the ca
pacious depths of this chilly throne,
where once the high and holy digni.
tary Of the church had been accus-
toned to recline while brethren laved
his feet from the tiny stone lavato-
rum before 1t, she half sank, her
cheek against one Of it's cold sides;
In an attitude of expectation breath
lessly waited. Why was it so still?
Why did not her father speak? She
could hear his pen scratch, scratch!
They were again speaking; more
eagerly she bent forward; listened to
the hard, metallic voice Of the Gov
ernor.
"You left the castle at once when
the decree Of the court, ordering it
vacated, was posted in the forest?"
"My master told me to, pretending
he was going, but"
Remained to resist; to kill" The
Governors tones, without being
raised, were sharper. "And when,
after the crime against the instru.
ments Of justice, he escaped to the
high seas, why did you not go with
him?"
"He wouldn't have It,"
Thinking you would be more use
full here? A spy?"
''He said he would be held an out
law; price put on him, and-he dis
missed me from his service"
Dismissed you? An excellent jestl
But" with sudden incisiveness, what
about the priest, eh? What about the
priest?"
The man Strengthened. What
priest?" he said in a dogged tone.
'You are accused Of harboring and
abetting an unfrocked fellow who has
long been wanted by the government,
a scamp Of revolutionary tendencies;
you are accused Of having taken him
to sea-" the prisoner started, ITO some
rendezvous-a distant isle-to meet
some one; to wait for a ship; to be
smuggled aWaV-?"