The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1913-08-29

after the wedding!"
From which you infer?"
"They will keep her as hostage! In
deed. they said as much, when"
They bound you, my Lord?"
The color came to the young mans
face. ut was trap" he said, his
voice pitched higher; land they came
prepared, not for one man. but the
guard!"
"Still 1t was very ill-advised--a great
mistake-to have taken the shorter
way through the forest alone"
"The proposal did not originate with
me! Elise suggested 1t. She seemed
in wild, headstrong mood; nothing
would stop her. Now" moodily he
rose, mon Dieu! What has she
brought upon herself? Where is she
now?"
His Excellency did not stir; his
face, like pale mask. was turned
aside. II do not think" he said slow
ly, as arguing to convince himself,
"she Is in any immediate danger"
But my lord caught irritably at the
word. mo danger! She is surround
ed by it. And we? what are we to
do? Sit idly here? Give me ship,
your Excellency, and will follow the
boat of this Black Selgneur. and when
find 1t, force them to-"
"What?" The Governors eyes
swerved DULY. Have you forgotten
their threat? Their last words to you
that If we attempted to follow, to res
cue-that, rather than give her up"
"They would not dare!" cried my
lord with sparkling glance.
But his Excellency shook his head.
mo; no: 1t won't do! And now"
again looking away. leave me. my
Lord, to consider" With which, the
interview, as unsatisfactory to the one
as the other. terminated.
Several days that passed were not
calculated either to alleviate his Ex-
cellency's anxiety, or the Marquis I'M
| patience; for during that period Of
waiting came no word Of my lady, or
news Of her captors. Mysteriously as
phantom ship had the boat that had
carried the Governors daughter away
appeared on the coast and vanished,
and from none Of the Governors YES
sells, or any of the fishing craft could
be cleaned information of its where
abouts. My lord, the Marquis, annoyed
at what seemed but fruitless delay;
was still for setting forth and inviting
battle; but of this his Excellency
would not hear, arguing, no doubt. to
himself that in temporizing lay great
er assurance of safety to his daughter
than in precipitate action. So the sit
uation grew hourly more trying, until
as IL 1t already were not intolerable
enough!--a new concern added iron
ical weight to present perplexities.
My young lord, between whom and
the master of the Mount had beer
growing a more strained relationship
sought the Governor one day, and, II
excited tones, announced he had jus
learned that the prisoner, the Blacl
Seigneur, was i'll and probably would
fsurvive but short time longer in thu
dungeon where he was confined Al
his Excellency knew. the fellow hat
been wounded, and now with scant,
nourishment, want of air, and clos
quarters, was generally in bad way.
His Excellency heard; moistened hi
lips and seemed about to speak, blu
was silent, while more anxiously tn
young man went on. OF course VI
der different conditions, with care an
attention. well-lighted room and el
cellent food-they might hope to r.
store their prisoners strength; a
least. preserve for a time one 80 pre-
cious to themselves, upon the threa
} of whose life hung my lady'sl
} His Excellency still answered n
word; only looked down, and, knittin
! his brows, the young nobleman res
lessly waited. At length, with an e.
preston on his face the Marquis ha
} never before seen there, his Exec
lency rose, moved like an automatic
: to the bell, and called for the jailer.
Monsieur lie Marquis has a few II
structions to give you" The Go
ernors voice, but breath. told whl
+ the words cost him.
The man responded gravely, lool
! ing from one to the other
4 ''Use your own judgment in Ii
+ matter, my Lord" went on his Exec
. lency, and left them together
After that, a change, subtle bl
D deep-rooted, came over the Governor
: a silent man always, now his tacitur
= ity become most marked Under sire!
I of untoward circumstances. all II
I guests at the Mount. save the your
noble, departed; but his ExcellenC
8 appeared hardly to notice their goinl
!, idrawing his cloak Of reserve clos
Z about him: seemed only to ask 4