The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-10-25

oui ldlHeIS ana all the ills or the moo
ern world are due to them" Sh
spoke like a prophetness; her bosor
heaved and her eyes flashed as tn
words poured from her lips. "Yo
are agreed. Monsieur. that il wa
only under the rIle of their an
clent kings that the peoples prospered
that democracy. with its dra5 equal
lty' mas removed all purpose, all poe
try, all happiness from life. We hav,
formed league. then. the League o
Lost causes. for the re-establishmen
OF the ancient orders, and our ad
herents are numerous in every coun
try of Europe. But we need money tc
finance our appeal VIII you assist
us. Monsieur Lane? Will you venture
your wealth and offer us your per
sonal aid? The reward is danger
such as a man should love, and hard.
ship, and perhaps a shameful death !:
but there are also other rewards
awaiting one courageous enough to
venture all in such a cause
The heart of Paul Lane leaped in
his breast and his soul went out in
answer to her appeal.
Yes, l will venture ALL he an
sWered. And now"
One moment" said the girl.
There are certain traditions of chiv-
airy which we believe in and in which
you must believe. We live in diff.
ferent ages, you and |; nevertheless
we mus, meet on this common ground.
The man who serves our cause must
give everything and ask nothing: he
must obey orders unit. he has proved
his fitness to serve. You must serve
without question; you must ask moth
ing, not even my name"
Your namei" exclaimed Paul.
But, Mademoiselle, how am to meet
you again, how"
You will go to Paris, to Jean
Rosny,' she answered There you
VIII learn much that is now unknown
TO you. Our League has grown In
credibly strong during the past two
years. Kings are members of it: other
kings are united against US. Some
day. perchance. when we have sue
;eeded you shall know"
Steps sounded on the graveled walk |
outside. Paul Lane ran to the win
low. The officer of the boat was CON-
ing toward the house, but alone. There
vas no sign of any of his men. The
fog had rolled away and the sea lay
blue under the declining sun. There
vas no trace of the battleship. But
or the deserted steamer, pounding
way her life upon the rocks, Paul
-ane might have thought that all had
'een a dream-but for these things
md the approach of Captain Won Holz-
ath.
He went to the door and knocked;
e stood there until Paul admitted
i'm. Neither man asked any ques-
ions of the other. The officer en-
cred the room in which the girl was
Paul at his heels.
Captain Won Holzrath bowed very
Nv, clicking his heels, and addressed
ne girl in German. Paul did not I'M
erstand that language; he noted
owever, the Difference of the officer
nd the girls scorn of him. He SEEM
to be pleading with her, spreading
ut his hands as he spoke in a depre-
atory fashion, while her replies we're |
those of a mistress to a servant.
heir conversation was animated and |
rolonged. At last the girl turned to
aul
Tell him." she said scornfully, and
for the first time in English,
lth a slight and pleasant accent
ell him that this is free soil and
lat he cannot drag me hence with all .
lie battleships of the Austrian navy"
Paul told him. He added:
Perhaps you do not know, sir. that "
firing upon peaceful steamship S
these waters you have violated in
national law. You can be hanged n
a pirate. l hope you will be-" q
The officer stared at Paul coldly but a
c not deign to respond. He turned O.
nd addressed himself to the girl
'ain. He pleaded earnestly and volu- =,
with her. She shook her head and :,
amped her. foot angrily, pointing to :.
e door and bidding him be gone. =
last he desisted and turned to Paul :.
ain. ~
Il hope that we shall meet again :
me day. sir, under different circum- =
ances,' he said threateningly, and
ing his card down on the table.
There is no time like the present" II
swered Paul angrily, and tore the n
rap of cardboard into fragments. a
lie officer laid his hand upon his "
ord; he seemed about to draw on
e other, but, after a moments pause.
rned instead and made his way to-
Ird the door. Paul watched him ST. a
lilly as he went down the graveled S
tn toward the seashore. He dis ell
peared beneath the wall of stone. n
reappear a little later upon the W
Irge Of the sea, where now the ships II
tier lay, manned by the sailors. p'
stepped in and, very rhythmic NJ
lily, the oars began to prorel the IL
at from the shore. 1t rounded the pl
int of rocks and disappeared. The
, was very still. When Paul turn
back into the room the girl had dis
peared. pt
She had gone silently from his pre- OF
ice while he, in a day-dream, star of
through the window; gone like a th
aith, leaving behind her only a lit pc
glove and the faint essence of pc
ne perfume. Paul ran to the door.
, was not in the hall. She was not