Mexico Missouri message., 1913-09-11
CHAPTER XVIII.


The Hesitation OF the Marquis.
The day Of my lady's riding party
dawned; In the east a tender flame
burned, and, vanishing. left the
heavens an unbroken blue Shoreward
the mists rolled up, until only in the
neighborhood of the forts did the
white. soft vapor linger. On the Mount
itself sunshine held sway; 1t radlated
from the Notifications, "cuirass OF the
rock" and cleaned on the church,
tiara of its majesty" II warmed a
cold palace Of marble; looked in at it's
windows. and threw bold shafts to
tighten dark hooks and corners.
But my lady, mistress of the Mount,
seemed not to feel its beneficent
touch: standing In the full glow and
looking from her easement she shiv-
cred a little. Already was she
dressed, and her habit of dark green.
fitting close. served to accentuate the
Wilderness OF her cheek which general
absence of color, in turn, made the
more manifest certain dark lines be-
meath the restless. bright eyes.
Your Ladyship!" After knocking
in vain. Marie had entered the room
and set down the small tray she car
ried. There is something your Lady.
ship ought to know!" with an air OF
excitement
The Governors daughter half
turned. What now. Marie?" she said
sharply.
ITS about Nanette!" My lady made
quick movement OF annoyance. i'm
patience. 81 did not tell your Lady
ship. but l was averse to having her
remain here. Your Ladyship does not
understand, of course, and"
81 do understand" said my lady I'M
expectedly. "And-you need not ex
plain. l overheard you talking with
her that night of the banquet"
Your Ladyship!" startled.
And l heard you speak OF her ia
ther, Pierre Laroche. friend of the
Black Seigneur."
And engaged HEREAFTER that!"
why not? | could watch-and |
have! But you were wrong, Marie"
My lady's manner was feverish. Your
suspicious were ridiculous. There has
been nothing-nothing! And day aft
er tomorrow Is the wedding celebra-
ton, and the next day, he. the Black
Seigneur-" She broke off abruptly.
Had Marie been less wrought up.
less excited, less concerned with the
information she had to impart, she
could not have failed to notice the odd
break in her young mistress voice:
something unusual. almost akin to de
spair, in her manner. AS 1t was, that
which weighed on the old nurses
mind precluded close observation OF
the other.
But something has happened. my
Lady!" the woman half stammered
Comment" The girl turned to her
sharply. What? Explain. Marie!"
Disconnectedly, the woman launched
into a narration Of the events OF the
night before; my lady listened closely.
with an interest and excitement she
strove to conceal, half turning so that
the other saw no longer her face.
And here" ended Marie, extending
a crumpled fragment OF paper. rs a
piece OF the note she dropped on the
beach. The man tore 1t up, but in
thrusting the bits of paper into his
pocket this fell out. and. after he
walked away, picked 1t up myself
from the sand. can't read. as your
knows, and there isn't much
on it-only a word or twol But 1t
may tell something"
My lady's face was now composed;
the hand she extended. steady; for
several moments she regarded the
fragment
What does It say?" asked the wom-
an anxiously. rs it's 1t Important"
Her mistress did not at once an
swer; twisting the bit of paper in her
fingers, stood as If in thought, and the.
old nurse repeated her question.
(To BE CoNTINUED)