Mexico Missouri message., 1913-06-05

an expression half-amused, halfiron-
ical.
That person ate and drank with lit
tic relish: the wine-so he said-had
spoiled; and the dishes we're without
flavor; II was fortunate Monsieur ls
Marquis had no appetite
Whereupon the marquis smiled;
but, considering the circumstances. In
his own mind excused the command
ant, who had only Just come from the
governors palace, and who, after the
interview that undoubtedly had en-
sued. could hardly be expected to find
the pate palatable, or the wine TO his
liking. This, despite the complaisance
OF the young nobleman whom the
commandant had encountered. while
descending from the governors abode,
and who, adapting his step TO the 9TH
er's had accompanied the officer back
to his quarters, and graciously &C
cepted an invitation TO enter.
We'll. you know the old saying"
the marquis closed the box with a
snap, There's many q slip-but
uO"t alAAlg Will HIS hdhu-
kerchief imaginary particles from a
long lace cuff, did he get sway?"
He had got away before We were
down on the beach. II was a wild.
goose chase, at best And so l told
his Excellency, the governor"
"A thankless task, no doubt! But
the shots we heard"
fired at 1t, and"
The others followed suit" laughed
the visitor.
Exactly" The commandant's face
grew red; fiercely he pulled his mus
tache. What can one expect. when
they make soldiers out OF every
dunderpate that comes along?"
''True!" assented the marquis. But
this fellow. this Black Seigneur-why
ig the governor so anxious to lay
hands on him? Who is he, and what
has he done? / confess" languidly,
"to a mild curiosity"
He's a priyateersman and an out
law, and has done enough to hang
himself a dozen times"
When you capture himl" inter
posed the visitor lightly. A moment
he studied the massive oak beams OF
the ceiling. Why do they call him
the Black seigneur? An odd sobri.
quet!"
His father was a Seigneur-the
last OF the fief OF Desaurac The
Seigneurs have all been fair men for
generations, while this fellow"
Then be has noble blood in him?"
The marquis showed surprise. Where
is the fief?"
The woods on the shore mark the
beginning OF IT,"
But don't understand. The father
was a Seigneur; the SON"
Bluntly the commandant explained;
the son was a natural child; the
mother, a common peasant woman
whom the former Seigneur had taken
to his house
Il see." The young nobleman
tapped his knee. And that being the
case"
Under the terms Of the ancient
bANA4 - NL'AN GfAAA6 ~ AtEcl Lt4Is the
| lands were confiscated to the crown.
His Excellency, however, had already
| bought many of the membranes
against this property, and, in view OF
/ this, and his services to the king, the
| fief, declared forfeited by the courts,
was subsequently granted and decided,
without condition, to the governor"
aNfrn tho
marquis.
Who at once began a rare clearing.
out; forcing the peasants who for
| years had not been paying metayage,
70 meet this just requirement, or
move away"
And did some Of them object?"
They did; but his Excellency found
means, The most troublesome were
arrested and taken to the Mount,
where they have had time to reflect
his Excellency believes in no halfway
measures with peasants"
"A rich principally, no doubt
half to himself spoke the marquis.
II have heard blurted the com
mandant hes going to give It 70 the
Lady Elise; restore the old castle anc
turn the grounds surrounding it into
. a noble park"
} The visitor frowned, as II little Tx
ing the introduction OF the lady'i
name into the conversation. "Anc
what did the Black Seigneur do then.
he asked coldly. when he found hi
: lands gomez"
p "Claimed ~ WAS plott-tba. h,,
mother was an honest woman, thougl
neither the priest who performed tn,
ceremony nor the marriage records
could be found, He even resisted a
first-refused 10 be turned out-and
skulking about the forest with hi
gun, kept the deputies at bay. Blu
they surrounded him at last; drov,
him 10 his castle, and would have cap
t tured him. only he escaped that night