The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-11-20

the monument, as II abruptly seek.
ing support
why did you do 1t, Seigneur!" AS
my lady, exclaiming wildly, ran to her
father. Sanchez. from where he lay,
looked up to his master.
Call out, | mean? Not that IL mat
ters much now" His implacable
glance. swerving to the Governor.
lighted with satisfaction. 1.-THE people
have paid. And twas I-showed them
the way!"
1T was you, then-who broke faith
In the negotiations for the exchange
OF prisoners?
A smile came to the face Of the old
servant. IL had to-" he said simply.
IL alone am to blame. No one knew:
except, perhaps. the poet, who may
have surmised! 1t was treachery for
treachery!" with sudden fierceness.
you could not have done It, nor your
father. nor any Of the seigneurs be-
fore him!" The young man seemed
scarcely to hear; his glance had again
sought my lady. but am only a
servant-and In dealing with a viper I
used Its own tricks! Did you think |
had forgotten those stripes? Or the
blow he gave your father--in the
back?" A moment Sanchez hand
fumbled at his coat: drew out a bag
OF oilskin. Here Is something that
belonged to your father. took 1t
from his breast the day he died, think.
Ing some time--I can't tell what-only
1t contains g letter from the former
lady Of the Mount! When my master
got 1t, he told me to pack a few be.
longings--that we were going-never
to return!"
Sanchez voice broke Off; again he
strovs to speak; could not; put out
MS hand. Mechanically the Black
Seigneur's closed on that of the old
servant; even as 1t did so, the latter's
fingers clutched suddenly; ceased to
move. In the church now all was
silent, but without arose discordant
sounds, cries, harsh and vengeful. for
the Governor!
Starting, the Black Seigneur gazed
about, toward him they were clamor
lug for. now lying still. at the base of
the monument. Then releasing the
fingers, that seemed yet to hold him,
the young man sprang forward, as my
lady threw herself wildly, protecting
ly, over her father. At that touch. the
Governors eyes opened; met hers:
the Black Seigneur's!
Nearer the door, now rang the
shouts. His Excellency seemed to
listen; to realize what they meant:
to him-his daughter
The Governor! The Governor!"
"Tremblez tyrans! Tremblez!"
An ironical flash lit up, for an in
stant, the dying eyes. He, soon, would
De beyond reach Of these dogs-ca-
naille! But she? His gaze again
rested on the Black Seigneur; in that
tense, feeting second, seemed reading
his very soul!
EFT la belle comtesse. So fille!" cried
the menacing voices.
A tremor crossed the Governors
face; his pale lips moved. Forget!
Save her!" An instant his eyes lin.
gered persistently on the young man;
then passed to his daughter; as they
did so. slowly the light, more human
and appealing than any that had ever
shone there before. went out of them.
My lady's fair head dropped until it
lay on her fathers breast: uncon.
scious. she seemed yot to shield him
with figure inert. But only for a mo-
ment!
EFT la belle confessed"
STOPPING. the Black Seignerr
sna.ched the slender form to his
breast; ran back to the altar. There.
looking around him. as one who made
himself familiar with the place, his
glance apparently found what II sought
"a small stairway. entrance to the
crypt. At the same time he started
to descend. the people swept into the
church.