Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1913-09-20
TIE eoBR3 -S1ERRiLL CO.

4
face at was a trap" he said. his
voice pitched higher; "and they came
prepared, not for one man. but the
guard!"
Still it vas very nl-advised-a great
| mistake-to have taken the shorter
way through the forest alone
The proposal did not originate with
mel Elise suggested it. She seemed
in wild, headstrong mood; nothing
would stop her. Now" modify he
rose, mon Dieui What has she
! brought upon herself? Where is she
now?"
His Excellency did not stir: his
face. like pale mask. was turned
aside. Il 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 dangeri She is surround
ed by it. And we? what are we to
do? Sit idly here? Give me a ship,
your Excellency, and 1 will follow the
boat of this Black Seigneur. and when
l 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.
NO; no; 1t won't dol 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
a 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 Excel1ency
would not hear, arguing, no doubt, to
himself that in temporizfng lay great
er assurance of safety to his daughter
than In precipitate action. So the sit
uation grew hourly more trying, until
as If it already were not intolerable
enough!-a new concern added iron
ica1 weight to present perplexities
My young lord, between whom and
the master of the Mount had been
growing a more strained relationship,
sought the Governor one day, and, in
excited tones, announced he had just
learned that the prisoner, the Black
Seigneur. was i'll and probably would
survive but short time longer in the
dungeon where he was confined As
his Excellency knew, the fellow had
been wounded, and now with scanty
nourishment, want of air, and close
| quarters, was generally in bad way.
His Excellency heard; moistened his
| lips and seemed about to speak. but
| was silent, while more anxiously the
| young man went on. OF course IN
/ der different conditions, with care and
attention. well-Hghted room and ex-
cellent food-they might hope to re-
store their prisoners strength; at
| least, preserve for time one SO pre-
! cious to themselves, upon the thread
| of whose life hung my lady'si
His Excellency still answered no
| word; only looked down, and, knitting
his brows, the young nobleman rest
| lessly waited At length, with an ex-
preston on his face the Marquis had
never before seen there, his Excel
| lency rose, moved like an automaton
| to the bell. and called for the jailer.
Monsieur lie Marquis has a few in
structions to give you" The Gov
ernor's voice, but a breath, told what
the words cost him.
The man responded gravely, look
| ing from one to the other
use your own judgment in the
matter, my Lord" went on his Excel
lency, and left them together
After that, a change, subtle but
deep-rooted. came over the Governor.
q silent man always, now his taciturn-
ity become most marked. Under stress
! of rd-circumstances, all the
guests at the Mount, save the young
noble, departed; but his Excellency
appeared hardly to notice their going;
| drawing his cloak OF reserve closer
about him; seemed only to ask for
that solitude not difficult to find in
his aerial kingdom. Sometimes for a
long while he would stand in the clois-
ter, gazing seaward; again wander in
| the church, look at the monuments.
always TO pass one OF them quickly.
Only on a single occasion, when the
Marquis. who was daily becoming
more nervous. sought him, with a IA
| vorable report OF his prisoner-patient.
| did the Governor give sign that be
meath this apparent apathy yet stirred
malevolence and rancor-
I yves he,