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


himself nodding; leaned back more
comfortably in the great chair and suf.
fered his head to fall. The clock licked
out the seconds; the young man con.
tinued to sit motionless.
IA mon beau" Nanette's voice.
lightly humming, caused him to look
up; with the old mocking expression
on her face, the inn-keepers daughter
paused near his chair.
1T was kind of you, mon capitaine.
to bring my lady her Marquis!" AS
She spoke, she looked toward the gar
den.
why not?" he asked steadily. THE
passport and orders were correct"
Were they, indeed?" she said, tap
ping the floor with her foot. you
remain with us few days; or, as Of
old, must we be content with brief
visit?" she went on.
I've leave tomorrow"
Tomorrow? The girls eyes wore
tentative expression. Later"
EARLY"
"Oh; In that case, perhaps / shan't
have time," Nanette paused looked at
her father; old Pierre's slumbers were
not to be broken.
For what?" asked the Black Seign-
eur shortly.
ITO tell you something!"
why not-now?" {SSa
"You-are inQuisitive?"
mol"
Even if it were about" she looked
toward the door that led to the gar
den.
1.-THE Lady Elise?" he said quickly.
"Oh, you are interested? A mon
beau" a moment she hummed. you
do not urge me?"
Wherefore" laconically, when you
have made up your mind to tell"
You are right" She threw back
her head. Il have made up my mind!
How well you understand women!
Almost as WELL" she laughed mock
ingly, "as a ship!" He made no re-
spouse.
when you thanked me once, mon
capitaine, for all it pleased you to say
did for you, you may remember" her
voice was defiant, Il did not once
gainsay you!" More curiously he re-
garded her. Perhaps it pleased me-"
her hand on her hip, ito be thought
such a fine heroine. But now" her
tone grew little fierce, 81 am tired
Of hearing people say: 'Nanette risked
so much!' 'Nanette did this!-did
that!'-when it was she who risked-
did it all, one might say"
She? What do you mean" The
black eyes probed hers now with sud
den, fierce questioning.
That twas the Lady Elise saved
you. Went Observation-Disclosures
hostage"
The Lady Elise!" he cried, an
abrupt glow on the dark face.
Nanette's eyes noted and fell, but
she went on hurriedly: She knew OF
the ambush in the forest; saw part of
the note ! dropped on the beach-it
was brought to her by my aunt who
warned her." And in quick rush Of
words, as if DESTROYS to be done with
it, Nanette told all that had transpired
at the Mount.
Incredulously, eagerly, he listened;
when, however, she had finished, he
said nothing; sat like a man bewil-
dered.
"Well?" said the girl impatiently.
Still he looked down. "Well?" she re-
peated, so sharply old Pierre stirred;
lifted his head.
''Eh, my dear?"
She went to the mantel; took from
it candle.
"Seigneur finds you such poor com,
pany," she said, he desires light to
retire!"
The dawn smote the heavens with
fiery lashes Of red; from the east the
wind began to blow harder, and on the
sea the waves responded with a more
forcible sweep. At a window in the
inn, the Black Seigneur a moment
looked out on the gay flowers and the
sea and the worn grim face of the
cliff; then left his room and made his
way downstairs. No one was yet, ap.
parently, astir; an hour or so must
elapse ere the time set for departure
and, pending the turn of the tide and
adieu to old Pierre, the young man
stepped into the garden, through the
gate, and, turning into rocky path,
strobe out over the cliffs. The island
was small; its walks limited, and soon,
despite a number OF difficulties in the
way he had chosen, he found himself
at it's end-the verge Of great rock
that projected out over the blue, sui
len sea. For some moments he stood
there, listening to the sounds in cav.
ems below, watching the snow-capped
waves, the ever-shifting spots on a
vast map. and then. shaking off his
-A.-- .~s->.