The Chanute times., 1913-05-09
CHAPTER III.
A Sudden Resolution.

After his chance encounter with
my lady, the governors daughter, and
Beppo, her attendant, the boy walked
quickly from the Mount to the forest.
a4is eyes were still bright; his cheeks
yet burned, but occasionally the
shadow Of a smile played about his
mouth, and he threw up his head
fierceiy. At the verge of the wood
he looked back, stood for a moment
with the reflection of light on his face.
then plunged into the shadows OF the
sylvan labyrinth. Near the east door
of the castle, which presently he
reached, he stopped for an armful OF
faggots, and, bending under his load,
passed through an entrance, scared
and battered, across great roohess
space and up a flight OF steps to
room that had once been the kitchen
of the vast establishment AS he en-
tered, a man, thin, wizened, though
active looking, turned around.
$50 you've got back?" he said in
q grumbling tone.
YES" answered the boy good-nat-
iuredly. casting the wood to the flag
Sing near the fame and brushing his
coat with his hand; ''the storm kept
us out last night, Sanchez"
It'll keep you out for good some
day." remarked the man. You'll be
drowned, II you don't have care"
Better that than being hanged"
returned the Lad lightly.
The others response, beneath his
breath, was lost, as he drew his stool
close to the pot above the blaze, re-
moved the lid and peered within. APP
,oarently his survey was not satisfac-
tory. for he replaced the cover,
clasped his fingers over his knees and
half closed his eyes
where's the fish?'
The boy, thoughtfully regarding the
flames, started; when he had left the
child and Beppo, unconsciously he had
dropped it, but this he did not now
explain. 81 didn't bring one"
Didn't bring one?"
NO." said the boy, flushing slightly.
"And not a bone or scrap in the
larder! Niggardly fishermen! A small
enough ,wage-for going to sea and
helping them"
-Oh, could have had what want
ed And they are not niggardly!
ONLY forgot"
Forgot" The man lifted his hands,
but any further evidence Of surprise
or expostulation was interrupted by a
sudden ebullition in the pot.
Left to his thoughts, the boy stepped
10 the window for some time stood
motionless, gazing through a forest
rift at the end Of which uprose the
top Of an Aladdin-like structure, by
an optical Illusion become a part OF
that locality; a conjuror's castle In
the wood
THE Mount looks near tonight,
Sanchez"
"Near?" The man took from It's
hook the POT and set it on the table
mot too near to suit the governor
perhaps!"
And why should 1t suit him?'
drawing a stool to the table and sit
ting down
because he must be so fond oi
hooking at the forest"
and does that-please him?"
.uow could it fail to? Isn't it 6
-,.o wood? oh, yes, I'll warrant you
~ ends It to his liking. And all the
,ards about the forest that used to be
1ong to the old Seigneurs' and which
the peasants have taken-waste lands .
49, have tilled-he must think them
~ fine to look at. now! And what
hrbbub there would be, If the lazy
~oasants had to pay their metayage
"a fre-tax and road-tax-and all the
other taxes-the way the other peas
ants do-to him
what do you meanY
.Nothingl" The mans Jaw closed
me a steel trap. The porridse Il
burned"