The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1912-11-21


of the court and The cavaliers"
She turned away her head. Won
treat me like a child" she said with
a fash Ill her eyes.
mo, no! Like a woman" he
laughed. But the MISUNDERSTANDING
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."
"If you do | 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. IAN 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
great curve of land to be walked be
fore you could arrive at a human
habitation!"
lit wasn't 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, l 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.
"Old."
"And-"
"That--is all I remember"
Hum. Not very lucid No doubt
YOU were too overweight, my dear,
to be in an observant mood" His
voice sank absently; his fingers sought
among the papers, and, as his glance
oil ,-rl -
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 a taper
ing black line-a sword-at the apex.
She is keeping back something.
WHAT" Above an ofIiciallooking 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 Z seemingly chi
merical cloister; until suddenly brok-
en- by an indubitable clangor-harsh,
hard,-of d door, opening; shutting.
The Governor lifted his head in an
noyance; the dove on the roof of the
cloister-walk few 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"
"WeH?"
Beppo cut short excuse, or explana-
ton. "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, Il have a question 10
put to you"
Your Excellency?"
This morning you thought fit TO APP
prise me-" Beppo looked uncomfort-
able. "in view of the events Of last
night-that you saw yesterday this
fellow, Sanchez, setting out in 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 Il
was following the shore, feeling anx-
ious on account Of the Lady Elise,
who, l knew, had gone in the direc-
ton of the forest, when l saw them,
some distance out. but not too far TO
recognize this fellows boat and in it
two men. one of them in the black
robes of a 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,
and his Excellency more deliberately
looked around; caught no sight of her.
You may send him in here" he said.
alone. will speak with the pris-
oner in private"
ITO be cOHtinued)