The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-02-27

suppose, ne cOnunNeQ abruptly, Its
to arrange about file new ship that
brings the Seignevr once lao:c 10 the
iSland?"
ri suppose So" asserted t. cher
briefly.
"a true FrerchmaH, Pierre Larocbe,
your father, has shown himself, in CIV
ing one of his best ships to the cause!
Although perhaps he would not have
been so ready" thoughtfully, had not
the Paris Assembly seen fit to appoint
Andre Desaurac in command of all the
vessels to guard the coast against the
intrigues Of the French royalists with
foreign powers and aliens! Well, well,
he will find here many old friendsl"
Yourself, for example, Father, who
helped him in the courts to establish
his right to his name" said the young
woman quickly.
And you, Mistress Nanette," the
kindly eyes lighting with a curious, in
dulgent look, who went to the Mount
alone, unaided, to-"
A frown gathered on the dark, hand
some face of the girl. "Unaided?" she
said, staring at the sparkles on the
waves before her.
"Oh, the people never weary of talk
ing about it! and how you"
"Yon's a sail" Abruptly the young
woman rose; with skirts fluttering be-
hind her, gazed out to sea.
Several hours later, just before dusk,
ship ran into the harbor, dropped
anchor, and sent boat to the shore.
In the small craft sat number Of
men, and the first of these to spring
to the beach and mount the stone stair
way to the inn, was met at the top;
warmly greeted. by old Pierre him
self! Mon dieu! To see the new
conner was like old times! Only now,
the landlord observed jestingly, the
profits would be small! But fig to
parsimony, in these days when mems
patriotism should be large; do what
he, the Black Seigneur, would with
the new ship, even if he sunk her, pro-
vided it was in good company, and he
went down with her himself To which
protestations the other answered; pre-
scented his companions, and greeted
the assembled company within.
Busy at a great board, laden with
comestibles interspersed with fagons
of wines, Nanette welcomed him brief.
ly, and again his glance-keen and
assured, that of q man the horizon of
whose vision had widened, since last
he stood there-swept the gathering.
But apparently, one he looked for was
not present, and he had again turned
to the young woman, a question on his
lips, when on the garden side of the
house a door opened. 1t revealed a
Towering background, a plateau, vel
low in the last rays Of the sun; 1t
framed, also, the slender, black-clad
figure Of a girl. above whose white
brow the waving hair shone Ike
threads of gold
An old friend OF yours, my Lady,"
called out blunt Pierre.
A moment the clear, brown eyes
! seemed TO wavor; then became steady,
as schooled to some purpose. She
came forward conposedly; gave the
Black Seigneur her hand.
lam always glad to see old
friends!" said my lady, with lift of
the head, over-conscious, perhaps, of
the concentrated gaze Of the company.
He looked at her; made perfume.
tory answer; she seemed about TO
speak again, when the hand he let fall
was caught by another.
"Elise!" From among those who
had come ashore, a man in fashionable
attire sprang forward, little thinner
than when last she had seen him, and
more cynical-looking, as slightly soured
by world-contact and the new tenden.
cies of society.
MY Lord" Certainly was my lady
taken unawares; a moment looked at
the Marquis as If little startled; then
at the Black Seigneur:
"A pleasant surprise for you, my
Lady," said the latter. But you owe
me no thanks! An order from the
chief of the Admiralty. properly signed
and countersigned, directing me to
transport the Marquis de Beauvillers
hither, was not to be disregarded!"
"A somewhat singular dispensation
OF Providence, nevertheless" observed
the nobleman dryly. after our-what
shall We call it?-little passage Of
arms? You must acknowledge, how
ever, that in truth the Lady Elise and
myself had some reason to discredit
your assurances that night
Far be it from me to dispute It. my
Lord" and the Black Seigneur turned,
while the Marquis, slightly struggling
his shoulders, addressed my lady.
Half blithely, then half bitterly, re-
| lapsing occasionally from the old,
debonair manner he had assumed, he
spoke Of his escape from the Mount;
months of hiding in foul places, amid
fields and forest, with no word Of her;
his success, at last, in reaching Paris,
and, through rumor, learning where
she was, and Fastening to her
A bluff voice interrupted further ex-
plantations and avowals; the steaming
f1esh-pots, it informed the company,
awaited not soft words and honeyed
phrases; monarch in his own dining
room, ostentatiously conscious, per-
haps, of his own unwonted prodigality,
Pierre IarOche waved them TO tneir