Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1913-11-21

AS he dismounted to examine straps
and fastenings, the others dashed up;
my lady lightly motioned them on.
We'll soon overtake you'll Don't
wait!" Unquestioning, they obeyed;
though the commandant, to whom a
few moments later she delivered a
similar injunction, brought his men to
a halt and proffered his services.
lWhereupon the Marquis repeated the
girls words more sharply; reddening,
the officer wheeled and started to ride
on.
II can't find anything wrong here!"
Puzzled, the Marquis Strengthened.
But her eyes were directed ahead
and she pointed with her whip to a
break in the woody barrier to the right
"a path that, springing from the
roadside, seemed to plunge into the
very heart of the labyrinth.
Look! the short cut!-that would
bring us half an hour before them to
the ruins! Let us take It'll"
A light seemed suddenly to break on
her companion, and he sprang airily to
his saddle. "As my Lady wills!" gal
lantly.
Then call to the commandant, and
tell him We'll meet them there!"
The Marquis obeyed, and, without
awaiting answer, or demur from the
officer in charge Of the guard, the girl
flicked her horse and sent him over
a low bush into the narrow way.
Fairly in the path, she rode fast,
and pressing hard behind, my lord
soon found reason for doubt as to
the advisability Of that route, and
suspicion of regret at his own assent
to the departure from the main thor
oughfare. AS their surroundings grew
wilder and the slender green figure
fitted more and more recklessly be-
fore him, he even ventured to voice
his misgivings-advise greater care.
A shake Of the fair head was all he
received for answer and, regardless
of the increasing roughness Of the
way, she continued to sweep on, now
uphill, then down, avoiding by quick
turn one obstacle here, leaping anoth-
er there! From black ambush, a
branch like the arm of Titan reached
out to seize, but adroitly she swayed
from its grasp and only the twigs and
leaves touched lightly the bent figure.
My lord, however, they struck sharp
ly, and at the sudden smart and a
quick realization of falling behind,
frowningly he drove his horse harder.
The tete-a-tete he had naturally ex,
pected from her request to pursue the
lonelier way promised now not to mate
rialize; the idea that she was fleeing
he pursuing, possessed him. The for
est, a tangle of shrubs and strange
creepers, was the scene Of the idyl;
she, sprite Of the greenwood, danced
illusively through the maze. At length
when my lord had begun to grow
weary OF vainly endeavoring to over
tahs her, fate favored his efforts;
brought to a standstill, at the edge
of a torrent, the object Of his pur
suit.
Are you mad, Elise?" A SHADOW
on his brow, the Marquis rode down.
She made no reply; regarded onl.
the water.
81 hope it is not in your mind to at
tempt to cross" ne went on, shad
of petulance in his accents.
She urged her horse forward;
stopped.
"Elisel beg Of you! 1t is danger
Gus; better go back, and around!"
But the girl set her red lips, raise
her whip, and brought it down hard
The animal sprang into the foam
breasting the current, it slipped one
or twice, recovered, and, after an et
fort, managed to reach the bank OF
posite. My Lord-less blithely tha
he had first embarked on the adveI
ture-followed the cold waters surge
around, and he almost expected to b
swept away. At length, however
chilled by the icy touch of the torrer
and somewhat more out Of humor, b
found himself on the other side. Nea
the top of the bank, where the Co
ernor's daughter had now the grace
await him, he rejoined her, disal
proval on his face, reproach In b
eyes. Yet still did the girl remain u
conscious of her lovers wounded SCI
sibilities; her own eyes, like stars b
meath the furry of hair, were turne
not to the young man, but away, t
ward q gaunt-looking ruin that hf
suddenly uplifted itself, as If by magi
through rift in the forest. But fe
hundred yards distant, the bfaC
crumbling walls bristled with ro1g
jagged edges-big, broken teeth tn
snarled at the rim Of the ever-youl
wood. The very brightness Of the d'
seemed only to emphasize the omi
GUS aspect Of the place; to reveal mo
plainly the solitary character of
wildness.
"The monastery, I suppose" I
lowing the direction Of her gaze, t
Marquis, after a pause, grudine
youchsafed.
"Yes," said the girl in low ton
'yes!"
"Shall We go on2"
Her eyes, passing over a tangle
shrubs, bushes and thick, natul
screens slowly settled on a SPOT, I