Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1913-07-19
CHAPTER XVIII.
Re Mountebank and NV Lady.

The Mountebank and MY Lady.
"The Governors daughter!" Had
the light been stronger they must
have seen the start the mountebank
gave. 'Impossible."
"Eh? What?" Surprised in turn.
the officer gazed at him you dare
out with him. To the soldiers.
But in a moment had the mounte-
bank recovered his old demeanor, and,
without waiting for the troopers to
obey the commandments order, walked
voluntarily toward the door and into
the passage.
"Our support Our support" A num-
Der of the prisoners. crowding for
ward, began once more to call Justify,
when again was the disk-studded
woodwork swung unceremoniously to,
cutting short the sound of their lam
entations
"Dogsi" Malevolent1y the dwarf
gazed back. ITO want to gorge them
selves on a holy day"
"Pious JacquesI" murmured the
commandment But / always said you
made a model landlord"
when not interfered with" grum-
bled the other.
"At any rate he doesn't seem to ap-
ipreciate his good fortune" with a
glance at the mountebank.
NO" jeering. "A gallant cavalier
to step blithely at a great lady's COM
mand! your Ladyship overwheIms
mel" bowling grotesquely. Your
Ladyship's condesceusion'-"
why. then, need you take me?" in
terposed the mountebank quickly.
Can you not tell her ladyship l am
not fit to appear in her presence-an
uncouth clown
Bah! I've already done that" an
swered the commandant
But how came her Iadyship to
know of me-here-?"
How indeed?"
And what does she want of me?"
! That" roughly, you will find out!"
and stepped down the hall. followed
by the soldiers. mountebank and
dwarf, the last of whom took leave of
them al the door.
Clear was the night; the stars, like
liquid drops about to fall. caressed
with silvery rays the granite piles.
In contrast to the noisome atmosphere
of the prison, faint perfumes, borne
from some fowery slope of the dis
tant shore, swept dangerously in and
out the open aisles and passages of
the Mount. In such an hour that up
per region seemed to belong entirely
ITO the sky: to partake of its wondrous
stiffness: to share its mysteries and
its secrets. Like intruders. penetrat-
ing an enchanted spot, now they trod
soft shadows; then. dangerous, beat
beneath foot delicate laceworks of
light.
Here we are!" The officer stopped.
At the same time upon a nearby bal
cony nightingale began to sing, ten
hA
quality of it's voice. You are to go
inl" he announced abruptly.
such a fine palace. Il would
rather not,' muttered the fellow. as
they crossed an outer threshold and
proceeded to mount some polished
stairs.
stubborn dolt Now in you march. .
pausing before a door. But. bark
you. l and my men remain without.
So. mind your behavior, or" A look
from the commandant completed the
sentence.
Alone. in an apartment of the pal
ace. some moments later. the mounte-
banks demeanor underwent a quick
change; he glanced hastily toward the
door the commandant had closed in
leaving. and then. with sudden bright
ening gaze, around him, as If making
note of every detail of his surround
ings. Set with columns of warm
hued marble. relieved with ornate
carvings and designs, the spacious
chamber presented an appearance at
once graceful and charming. Nor
were its furnishings at variance with
its architectural elegance; on every
hand soft colors met the eye, in rugs
of ancient pattern; in tapestries, sub
dued: in the upholstering Of Breton
oak eliminating note was in the
center of the room. where a great
bunch of roses opened wide their
petals
But briefly. however. the clown per