Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-05-29


fash in her eyes.
mo, no! Like a woman" he
laughed. "'But the neutrality-suspicious.
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.
81 had not thought of it"
eff you do I desire that some one
accompany you" Her face changed;
she looked at him quickly, and half
turned. Remember Saladin as we'll,
and-keep closer>to the Mount in the
future"
Poor SaladinJ" she breathed, with
averted glance.
"Ie 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"
at frightened him! Well, fortunate
1t 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 q 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 we'll, trust?"
"Fe-wouldn't take anything"
"And you neglected to inquire his
nare?"
Ibid not think"
"You we're so glad to get back?" re.
marked the Governor, regarding her
closely. what sort Of man was her
abruptly.
odd"
and"
"That-is all remember"
"Hum! Not very lucid. No doubt
you were too overweight, my dear,
70 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 cockleseekers, mere
srecks, 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 official-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 i;
the halcyon peace Of seemingly chi
merical cloister; until suddenly brck-
en- by an indubtable clangor-harsh,
hard!-of door, opening; shutting.
The Governor lifted his head in an
noyance; the dove on the roof OF the
cloister-walk flew away, and short
fat man, breathing hard. appeared.
Pardon, your Excellency! But the
drafts! They seem sometimes to
sweep up from the very dungeons
themselves, and"
"Well%
Beppo cut short excuse, or explana'
ton. "a prisoner is waiting without
The man, Sanchez, from the shore!
Monsieur lie Commandment, who brought
him, told me to inform you"
The Governor considered moment
with dowu-bent brows. you may
show him in, but first" he glanced I'D
with O frown, 81 have O 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 priest-a fact
that might have been Of great service
to me, had l been aware Of it in sea.
SOM" The Governor paused to allow
the full weight OF his disapproval to
be felt, AT what hour did you sec
| them start out?"
About dusk, the time of the grand
tide" was the crestfallen answer 81
was following the shore, feeling any
ious on account Of the Lady Elise
who, knew, had gone in the dircc'
ton Of the forest, when l saw them
some distance out, but not too far to
recognize this fellows boat and in il
two men, one of them in the black
robes of priest. l attached no i'm
portance to the incident until"
The Governor interrupted. "You
may send the prisoner in" he said
shortly. "No-wait!" Toward the
spot where the girl had been standing
the Governor glanced quickly, but that
post Of observation was now vacant