The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1912-11-07

then, reaching for bottle, poured Out
a glass OF wine, which he offered his
guest.
mo, no." said the marquis. But
as | remarked before, stand on no
ceremony" And daintily opening
snuff-boX, he watched his host with
an expression half-amused, half-iron-
ical.
That person ate and drank with lit
tie relish; the wine-so he said-had
spoiled; and the dishes were without
flavor; it was fortunate Monsieur lie
Marquis had no appetite
Whereupon the marquis smiled;
but, considering the circumstances, in
his own mind excused the command
ant, who had only just come from the
governors palace. and who, after the
interview that undoubtedly had en-
sued, could hardly be expected to find
the pate palatable. or the wine to his
liking. This, despite the complaisance
OF the young nobleman whom the
commandant had encountered, while
descending from the governors abode,
and who, adapting his step to the 9TH
er's had accompanied the officer back
to his quarters, and graciously ac-
cepted an invitation to enter
We'll, you know the old saying"
the marquis closed the box with a
snap, There's many a slip'-but
how" airily brushing with his hand
kerchief imaginary particles from a
long lace cuff, did he get away"
He had got away before We were
down on the beach. 1t was a wild.
goose chase, at best And so | told
his Excellency, the governor"
"A thankless task. no doubt! But
the shots We heard"
An imbeclle soldier saw a shadow;
fired at it, and"
The others followed suit" laughed
the visitor
Exactly" The commandant's face
grew red; fiercely he pulled his mus
tache. What can one expect, when
they make soldiers out OF every
dunderpate that comes alOng?'
True" assented the marquis. But
this fellow, this Black Seigneur-why
is the governor so anxious to lay
hands on him? Who is he, and what
has he done? | confess" Ianguidly,
ito a mild curiosity"
He's a privateersman and an out
law, and has done enough to hang
himself dozen tines"
When you capture him!" inter
posed the visitor lightly. A moment
he studied the massive oak beams OF
the ceiling. why dc they call him
the Black Seigneur? An odd sobrl-
quet!'
His father was a Seigneur-the
last OF the fiet of Desaurac. The
Seigneurs have all been fair men for
generations, while this fellow"
Then he has noble blood in him.
The marquis showed surprise. Where
is the fief?"
THE woods on the shore mark the
beginning of it."
But don't understand. The father
was Seigneur; the son"
Bluntly the commandant explained:
the son was a natural child: the
mother, a common peasant woman
whom the former Seigneur had taken
to his house
81 see,' The young nobleman
tapped his knee And that being the
case"
Under the terms of the ancient
grant, there being no legal heir, the
lands were contiscated to the crown.
His EXcellency, however, had already
bought many of the membranes
against this property, and, in view OF
this, and his services to the king, the
tief, declared forfeited by the courts.
was subsequently granted and decided,
without condition, to the governor
ITO the governor" repeated the
marquis
Who at once began a rare clearing.
out; forcing the peasants who tor
years had not been paying metayage.
to meet this just requirement, or
move away"
And did some of them object?"
They did; but his Excellency found
means The most troublesome were
arrested and taken to the Mount
where they have had time to reflect
his Excellency believes in no halfway
measures with peasants"
"A rich principality. no doubt"
half to himself spoke the marquis.
Il have heard" bIurted the com
mandant, hes going to give it to the
Lady Elise; restore the old castle and
turn the grounds surrounding it into
a noble park"
The visitor frowned, as if little Iik-
ing the introduction OF the Iadys
name into the conversation. And
what did the Black Seigneur do then j."
he asked coldly, when he found his
lands gomez"
Claimed it was plot!-that his
mother was an honest woman, though
neither the priest who performed the
ceremony nor the marriage records
could be found. He even resisted at
frst-refused to be turned out-and
slulking about the forest with his
gun, kept the deputies at bay. But
they surrounded him at last; drove
him to his castle, and would have cap
tured him, only he escaped that night,