Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-19
THE WHITE BLACKBIRD
BY
HUDSON DOUGLAS.
touprisht, 49,. b. Little. Br1wn 4 O.,

There's another point, Salle.' said
Slyne, all his quick wits at work again
as he saw the impression his words had
made, determined to hammer home every
argument that might weigh with her In
her ignorance, another point that I'd
never have mentioned II you had been
prepared to deal fairly with me after all
I've done for you
She shivered at that further thrust: she,
who had never dealt unfairly with either
friend or enemy.
Even without your promise. you're
mine-by right of purchase. You were
Capt Doves property before. as you
know very well. He bought you and paid
for you. And he sold you to me- to save
you from worse master.
You can't say now that YOU didn t
know what was ahead Of you, for l told
you in Genoa. And I gave you a last
chance, too, before We left Monte Carlo,
to draw back and go your own way with
him. Now you're dOubly mine Ask him.
il you don't believe me-
The girl glanced in agonized appeal at
the old man, sitting motionless In his
chair, his eyes on the ground. But Capt.
Dove merely nodded. like some mechan-
ical figure.
patience, and, striding across to the door,
locked 1t. pocketing the key.
However said he. I'm not going to
argue with you. I've evidently wasted
my time In treating you reasonably. Now.
there are only two courses open to you.
You can come my way with me. Or
He crossed the room again and pulled
back the loose panel in the wainscot.
pointed to the dark cavity it had con-
cealed.
There's boat from the Olive Branch
at the water gate at the end Of this pas
sage. You're perfectly free to go back
on board with Capt. Dove. and If you do
l wish you joy Of your choice. I'm, may
be. not much of catch as husband,
but" He left the inference unspoken.
significantly, daring her to go back to
that dreadful fate by limiting at which
he had once before forced her to change
her mind.
Capt. Dove got on to his feet with a
puzzled scowI- Slyne had turned aside to
light a couple of candles. as if in prepare
ton for a descent underground.
Capt. Dove slowly drew the back of one
hand across his mouth and from behind
1t whispered a few words to Sallie. ''Hu-
NOR him just now" he advised, with sup
pressed vehemence. III see you safe"
'Well?' Slyne demanded and came to-
ward her Which is it to be? Time s
up
His hands hung open but tense at his
sides. His teeth were set between parted
lips, his knees bent little as he braced
himself to spring at her wrists before she
could make any movement in Self-defense.
Capt Dove had stepped up behind her,
and she did not doubt that. unless she fell
in with their wishes. they meant now to
overpower her and carry her off.
She did not move for a moment, but
her clouded eyes slowly cleared. and
Slyne, studying her features intently, re-
Taxed his own strained attitude a little,
as if in foreknowledge of final success.
Salie's expression of utter despair had
given place to one Of resignation, almost
Of peace. She had made up her mind to
have done with the seemingly endless, UNI
equal struggle.
Very well. Jasper she said. slowly. at
last, in very hurtful voice. You may
tell the others-whatever you like-at din
ner tonight, if you'll wait till then
Capt. Dove drew back and returned to
his chair, as if satisfied for the moment.
Slynes logged glance had dropped before
the tragedy In her eyes.
You can surely trust me. Sallie," he
said. after all I've done for you. And,
listen! I'm not trying to rush you, either.
II you'll tell the others at dinner tonight
just that you take me for your husband
I'll wait till the end of the three months
for our real wedding in church..
She could not quite understand what he
really wanted and looked her perplexty.
But her mind was made up. She meant
to keep any promise she might have made
him, whether in writing or otherwise, and
even mistakenly
brokenly. and he went to open the door
for her.
You'll say nothing about it to any one
till the time comes,'' he stipulated before
he would turn the key. and to that also
she agreed with a nod not trusting her
self to speak.
She was very thankful that she met no
one on her way to her own rooms, for her
eyes were wet. She had never felt SO
utterly fororn and friendless as now.
There was no one in whom she might
safely cOnfde. no one who could help her
safely past the promise into which she
had been tricked. that promise to which,
she did not doubt, the law would hold
not have gone back on board the Olive
Branch-to a fate even worse.
Ambrizette was awaiting her to dress
her for dinner, but on a sudden impulse
she sat down at the escritoire in her bou-
doir to write a few hurried lines to Car
thew. She thought she would like to see
him again before
Her letter ready, she bade Ambrizette
ring the bell. Tt was the maid Mairi who
answered it. and when Sallie looked I'D
again she saw that the girl was silently
crying.
What's the matter. Mairi?" she asked,
III her gentle voice, forgetting her own
cruel cares for the moment. and at that
NV hoiI-Hs SttIiCdi D1Ohe lIlto Il
storm of unintelligible explanations in
Gaelic. with here and there a broken SEN
tence that Salle could understand.
Her heavy-hearted mistress rose and
put a protecting arm about her.
You must tell me what the trouble is"
said Sallie, softly, land I'll try to help
you. What is 1t that has gone wrong?"
observation-disclosures the girl sob
bed 1T is for your ladyship-not for me
and was not to tell you. whatever. But
1t is not right at all that L must not
speak. Your ladyship should be told in
time-it Is that the White Lady has come
to the castle again-and-there will be
doom to follow before daylight. Ochon,
ochon!'
Sallie shivered in spite OF herself, as
she recalled the uncanny legend which
Mr.. Jobling had related the evening of
their arrival. She had scarcely thought
of it since. but now
who has seen the White Lady, Mairi?"
she asked patiently, and the girl grew a
little calmer
Il, with my own eyes, your ladyship,"
she declared. 1T was at q turn of the
passage not far from Mistress M'Kis-
socks room. And l did not run from it.
moreover. l stood and watched till it dis
appeared, for | was afraid to move. And
Mistress M'kissock will say that it is all
havers and nonsense, but am sure. For
it was seen in the woods as well. on the
way to the hut that was Lord ST. Just's.
and Donuil Mohr the forester, it was who
saw it there"
Sallie sighed. She did not know what
tn {ulx Of oil he ho haI