Middletown transcript., 1912-08-03

gown drawn back, the Lady hIlse
stood poised on the courts low coping
between the fairy-like pillars.
mo one you know, my dear"
(Which means-it is none Of my
concern%
''Not at ALL" His voice was now
perfunctory; and his expression, as ne
surveyed her, slightly questioning.
''You are looking somewhat pale to-
day?"
"Am II" carelessly. IL feel very
we'll" AS she spoke, she went to him
and leaned over the back Of his chair.
''Mon pere, won't you do something
for me?"
'What?"
promise first" With her hand on
his shoulder.
He reached up; the long, cold fin
gers stroked the shapely, warm ones.
zone should never leap into the dark
with a promise" he answered. "Es-
pecially to a woman"
mot even when that woman Is
ones own daughter?" she asked, slid
ing to the arm of the chair.
He regarded the bright face now
Thoughtful; the lips, usually laughing,
set sensitively. 'Is it another trip to
the court, or do you wish to turn this
stern old Mount again into a palace OF
pleasure? To invite once more the
Paris lords and ladies-the King, him
self, perhaps? 1t would not be the
first time a monarch has been enter
tanned at the Mount-or a Marquis,
either, Ell? Shall we ask the Marquis ?"
She made an impatient movement
''I want you to promise to break up
the terrible iron cage, and"
"Tut!" loosely he pinched the fair
cheek. "a girls thoughts should be
of the court and the cavaliers"
She turned away her head. you
treat me like a child" she said with
a flash in her eyes.
mo, no! Like a woman" he
laughed. "But the Marquis-perhaps
he could not come here; perhaps he
is too much concerned with the gale
ties of Paris!" Her figure straight
ened; she was about to walk away,
when
"You ride this afternoon?" he asked.
'T had not thought Of it."
eff you do l desire that some one
accompany you" Her face changed;
she looked at him quickly, and half
turned. Remember Saladin as well,
and-keep closer to the Mount in the
future"
"Poor Saladin!" she breathed, with
averted glance.
"He got his deserts!" answered the
Governor harshly. "An ugly trick that
Of his-to bolt and leave you stranded
at the extreme point Of the mainland
where the bay swings around!"
THE grand tide-it came in SO fast
and made so much noise"
1T frightened him! Well, fortunate
it was, indeed, you were not on his
back; that you had already reached
the point, and had had time to dis
mount! An unpleasant experience
nevertheless-with the water sepa-
rating you from the Mount, and a
great curve of land to be walked be-
fore you could arrive at a human
habitation!"
lit wasn't a very comfortable
feeling" she acknowledged, flushing.
"And if the fisherman hadn't subse-
quently seen you and taken you
across in his little boat, you would
have been more uncomfortable later.
You rewarded him well, trust"
"He-wouldn't take anything"
"And you neglected to inquire his
name?"
did not think"
''You were so glad to get back?" re-
marked the Governor, regarding her
closely. What sort Of man was he?"
abruptly.
cold"
And"
"That-is all remember"
"Hum!' Not very lucid. No doubt
you were too overwrought, my dear,
to be in an observant mood" His
voice sank absently; his fingers sought
among the papers, and, as his glance
fell, the girl walked away. Again she
leaned on the parapet, and once more
regarded the barren waste below-the
figures of the cockle-seekers, mere
specks, the shadow Of the Mount,
stamped on the sand, with the saint,
a shapeless form, holding up taper
ing black line-a sword-at the apex.
"She is keeping back something.
What?" Above an of1cial-looking doc
.ument the Governor watched her, his
lips compressed, his eyes keen; then
shrugged his shoulders and resumed
his occupation. The death-like hush
Of an aerial region surrounded them;
the halcyon peace Of a seemingly CHI
merical cloister; until suddenly brok-
en- by an indubitable clangor-harsh,
hard!-of a door, opening; shutting.
The Governor lifted his head in an
noyance; the dove on the roof Of the
cloister-walk flew away, and a short,
fat man, breathing hard, appeared.
Pardon, your Excellency! But the
drafts! They seem sometimes to
sweep up from the very dungeons
themselves, and"
"Wel?"
Beppo cut short excuse, or explana-
tion. "a prisoner is waiting without.
The man, Sanchez, from the shore!
Monsieur lie Commandant, who brought
him, told me to inform you"
The Governor considered a moment
with down-bent brows. "You may
show him in, but first" he glanced up
with a frown, 81 have a question to
put to you"
"Your Excellency?"
"This morning you thought fit to ap.
prise me-" Beppo looked uncomfort-
able, "in view of the events Of last
night-that you saw yesterday this
fellow, Sanchez, setting out in a sail
boat, accompanied by a priest-a fact
that might have been of great service
to me, had l been aware of it in sea-
son!" The Governor paused to allow
the full weight of his disapproval to
be felt. "At what hour did you see
them start out?"
about dusk, the time of the grand
tide" was the crestfallen answer. 81
was following the shore, feeling anx-
ious on account Of the Lady Elise,