Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-05-27

devoted herself to its study; now
pausing for All instant's contemplation
of sculptured thing of beauty, then
before some closed door that held her,
as at the threshold Of a Bluebeards
forbidden chamber.
One day, such door stood open
and her curiosity became cured. She
had passed beneath machicolated
gateway, and climbing a stairway
that began in watch-tower, found
herself unexpectedly on a great plat
form. Here several men, unkempt,
pale. like creatures from another
world, were walking to and fro; but
at sight of her, an order was issued
and they vanished through a trap
all save one, a misshapen dwarf who
remained to shut the iron door, ad-
Just the fastening and turn ponder
Gus key. For a moment she stood
staring.
why did you do that?" she asked
angrily.
THE governors orders" said the
man. bow.ng hideously. They are to
see no one"
Then let them up at once! Do
you hear? At once!"
And as he began to unlock the door,
walked off. After that, her interest
in the rock waned; the Mount seemed
but prison; she, herself, desired
only to escape from it.
Have my saddle put on Saladin,"
she said to Beppo the next day,
toward the end of long afternoon.
VERY well, my lady. Who accom-
panies your ladyshfp?"
mo one!" With slight emphasis.
Il ride alone"
Repro discretely suppressed his sur
prise. rs your ladyship going far?
If so. beg to 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 it, and shall
keep between the Mount and the
shore. Have my horse sent to the up
per gate" she added, and soon after
ward rode down.
The 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 OF 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 her? What right had
they to hate her? 4 sensation, al
NEST OF relief, came over her, when
passing through the massive, feudal
gate, she found herself on the beach.
Still and dangerous was the day;
not breath stirred above the tiny
ripplcs of the sand; a calm, almost
unnatural, seemed to wrap the world
in its embrace. The girl breathed
deepor, feeling the closeness of the
air; her impatient eyes looked
around; scanned the shore; to the
left. low and nat-to the right,
marked by the dark fringe of for
est. Which way should she go? IT.
resolutely she turned in the direction
of the wood.
SaladiE, 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 a point sGme distance
seward. Not until she had reached
that extreme projection of land, where
the wooing green crept out from the
forest as far as 1t might, did she
draw rein. Saladin stopped, albeit
with protest, tossing his great head.
You might as we'll make an end OF
that, sir!" said the girl, and, spring
ing from the saddle, deity secured
him. Then turning her back toward
. the Mount, shadowy pyramid in the
distance, she seated herself in 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
thoughtful; what was it 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 a child, how the woman, Marie,
who had been maid to her mother,
had tried to frighten her about that
sequcstercd domain, with tales OF
I fierce 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 Hash
ing, as II some one were throwing
jewels to the earth, lured her on tc
the cause Of the seeming enchant
ment-a tiny waterwall!
, The moment passed; still she lin
gered. Around the Mounts high top