The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1913-05-09


IF Monsieur lie Marquis insistsl-"
The commandsnt drew up his chair;
then, reaching for bottle, poured out
glass of wine, which he offered his
guest.
mo, mol" said the marquis. But
as Il remarked before, stand on no
ceremony" And daintily opening a
snuff-box. he watched his host with
an expression half-amused, half-iron-
zeal.
That person ate and drank with lit
tie relish; the wine-so he said-had
spoiled; and the dishes were without
flavor: 1t 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.
Well, 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 away7"
He had got away before we were
down on the beach. It was Wild
goose chase, at best. And so l told
his Excellency, the governor"
"A thankless task, no Doubt But
the shots we heard"
AN imbecile soldier saw shadow;
fired at 1t, and"
1.-THE others followed suit" laughed
the visitor.
Exactly" The commandments face
grew red; flercely he pulled his mus
tache. What can one expect, when
they make soldiers out of every
dunderpate that comes along?"
1
this fellow, this Black Seigneur-why
is the governor so anxious to lay
hands on him? Who is he, and what
has he done2 l confess" languidly,
ITO mild curiosity"
Hes a privateersman and an out
law, and has done enough to hang
himself dozen times"
posed the visitor lightly. A moment
he studied the massive oak beams OF
the ceiling. "Why do they call him
the Black Seigneur7 An odd sobri
queti"
His father was a Seigneur-the
last of the fief of Desaurac. The
Seigneurs have all been fair men foI
generations, while this fellow"
Then he has noble blood in him? p
The marquis showed surprise. Where
is the flef7"
1.-THE woods on the shore mark the
beginning OF it."
Butt don't understand. The father
was a Seigneur; the SON"
Bluntly the commandant explained;
the son was a natural child; the
mother, a common peasant woman
whom the former Seigneur had taker
ito his house
II see!" The young noblemar
tapped his knee. "And that being the
. case"
J Under the terms OF the ancient
grant, there being no legal heir, the
!, | a.
His Excellency, however, had already
bought many of the membranes
} against this property, and, in view o.
this, and his services to the king, the
: flef, 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. rare clearing
out; forcing the peasants who To-
years had not been paying metayage
to meet this just requirement, or
move awayl"
"And did some OF them object2"
: ''They did; but his Excellency fouDt
I means. The most troublesome werl
! arrested and taken to the Mount
! where they have had time to reflect
his Excellency believes In no half-wa!
} measures with peasants"
"A rich principally, no doubtl'
half to himself spoke the marquis.
! Il have heard" blurted the com
: mandant, hes going to give 1t to tn,
/ Lady Elise; restore the old castle ant
+ turn the grounds surrounding it int
a n nohla mark