The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-06-24
THE ISOLATED CONTINENT.
CONTINUED from Fourth Page

The countess recognized bitter feel
ing in the cheyaIier's heart, and cast
ing down her beautiful eyes. she
sighed: From now on you viii have
companion in captivity. / do not
want to compliment you. but it was
quite a pleasant surprise to find you
here. chevalier."
you are more than kind" was all
he said.
The days passed more quickly. Many
man would have envied the prison
in which the chevalier was killing
time seemingly In perfect content
ment.
When the month of February was
gone he felt longing for the.free air
and his thoughts began to concentrate
upon an attempt to make strike for
liberty. He examined all the devices
that were arranged to prevent escape
from the prison.
The Countess Rosiny noticed the
change that had come over the cheva-
Her and one evening she began to talk
about the moon and stars, saying that
spring was at the door. The chevalier
listened TO the sweet voice OF the vom-
an who sat opposite to him quietly.
TELL me, chevalier, are you OF
stone? Have you no human feelings
whatever"
'T certainly have, countess; indeed.
am well endowed In that respect"
Haven't you felt happier since
came to share your solitude?"
He looked at her with those bold,
penetrating gray eyes for long time.
Countess, / admire you, and you
are the pleasantest comrade that l
ever had, but am troubled. The con-
tinuous indoor life is beginning to tell
on me. / am used TO much exercise
IN the open air, and l have many
things that am worried about"
A few days later Captain Euler told
the prisoners that they would be al
lowed to spend the evenings on the
roof of the building.
The countess watched Chevalier 1i
Icons face very closely when the cap
tain told them this and saw the CLEAN
of real pleasure in his eyes.
That evening they were taken to
the roof of the building; to be accu-
rate, to a section of the roof which
was surrounded by a high wall, so
high that it prevented them from see
Ing the courtyard beneath, or anything
but the stars and the pale face of the
full moon.
Tt was springtime.
Don't you think this would be an
ideal place to send up fire rockets? 2"
He looked toward the stars; his eyes
wandered over the dark blue f1rma-
ment restlessly.
you are playing with fire all the
time" remarked the countess, as she
moved nearer to the chevalier.
"Have you ever heard Of case
| where people were married In a pris-
on?" she continued.
mo. / never have"
"Chevalier, will you tell me one
thing frankly, honestly?" Her voice
was tender and soft.
Anything you ask, countess"
"Are you engaged to be married."
81 am not" The f1rmness of his
voice was enough to assure the count
| ess that he told the truth.
Are you in lover"
In love?" he repeated thoughtfully
II don't know; all know is that
have an image, saint enshrined in
my heart, OF whom | think, for whose
welfare l am fighting and suffering. II
that is love, then / am in love-"
/ The countess sighed, a sob. broke
from her heaving bosom and she lei
her shoulder lean heavily against him
she buried her face in his shoulder
| and the tears trickled down her soft
i cheeks as she sighed:
I am SO very, very unhappy"
| The chevalier bent his head over
her and his eyes became dark for 9
i second; then he folded her in his
/ arms and their lips met in a kiss.
/ The spell was short: the next mo
ment the countess stood up and the
chevalier picked her up and placed
her on the bench again, as. il she were
little child; then he turned and raI
| down the stairs to his prison.