Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1913-07-30

The miserere OF the multitude b,
paeans Of merrfment Hymen. Il
Hymen. In assuming the leading roI.
TO which circumstances now assigned
her. the Governors daughter brough
TO the task less energy than she had
displayed on that other occasion wheI
visitors had sojourned at the rock
Her manner was changed-first, luke
warm; then, almost Indifferent: until
at length. one day she fairly waived
the responsibility OF planning amuse
ments; laid before them the question
What. now. would they like to do?
Devise play" said one.
With shepherds AMI shepherd
esses!"
The Marquis. however. qualified the
suggestion. "A masque! that is verJ
good; but. for this morning. have
been talking with the commandant-
and have another proposal"
which is?'
ITO visit the dungeons"
THE dungeons?" Ny lady's face
changed.
"And incidentally inspect their lat
est guest! Some of you heard of him
when We were here hefore-Le Seign
eur Noir-the Black Seigneur!"
lie Seigneur Noiri" They clapped
their hands. Yes, let US see him
Nothing could be better What do
you say. Eliseg"
She started to speak. but for the
instant her lips could frame no an,
swer; with faint. strained smile, con
fronted him, when some one antici.
pated her reply.
lid she not leave It to us? It is
we who decide"
And a merry party they swept
along, bearing her with them; up the
broad stairway, cold. gray in the
morn; beneath the abbot's bridge
black, spying spanl-to the church,
and thence 10 the isolated SPACE be.
fore the guard-house to the dungeons
Here, at the sound of their voices, a
man, carrying a bunch of keys-bui
outwardly the antitEesis to the bunch.
back-peered from the entrance.
Unless / am mistaken, the new
Jaiier!" With wave of his hand.
the Marquis indicated this person.
The commandant was telling me his
Excellency had engaged one-from b.
cetre. or Fort rEveque, l believer"
"Bicetre. my lordl" said the man
gravely. And before that, the Bias
tile"
"Ah!" laughed the nobleman. THAT
pretty place some of the foolish
people are grumbling about! AS II
we could do without prisons any more
than without palaces! But we have
come. my good fellow, to inspect this
lower world Of yoursl"
The mans glance passed over the
paper the Marquis handed him; then
silently he moved aside, and unlocked
the iron doors.
Are you not coming?" At the
threshold the Marquis looked back.
When first they had approached the
guard-house. involuntarily had the
Governors daughter drawn aside to
the ramparts; now. with face half
averted. stood gazing OF.
Coming" Surprised. the Marquis
noted her expression; the fixed
brightness of her eyes and her parted
lips. On. yes!" And turning abrupt
ly, she FASTENED past him.
Would they have to be locked in?-
the half-apprehensive query of one of
the ladies' caused the jailer at first
to hesitate and then to answer In the
negative. He would leave the doors
from the outer room open, and him
self await there the visitors return
With which reassuring promise, he
distributed lights; called 2 guards
man, familiar with tie intricate I'M
derground passages. and consigned
them to his care.
One of the gay procession, the Lady
Elise stepped slowly forward; the
guide proved taikative fellow, and
seemed anxious to answer their many
inquiries concerning the place. The
sale de la question? Yes, 1t existed;
but the ancient torture devices for the
"interrogatory ordinary" and the "in-
terrogatory extraordinary" were no
longer pressed into service; the King
had ordered them relegated to the
shelves of the museum. The caba-
mons. or black holes? Louis XI. built
them: the carceres duri and wade in
pace. however. dated from Saint Mau-
ritius. fourth abbot Of the Mount.
And the Black Seigneur? How have
you Accommodated tiim?"
In the petit exil; just to the left!
We are going there now"
lam going back." A hand
touched the arm of the Marquis, last
OF the file Of visitors. and, lifting his
candle, ne held it so that the yellow
glimmer played on the face of the
Governors daughter. Her eyes looked
deeper; full of dread, as If the very
spirit of the subterranean abode had
seized her. He started
Surely you. Elise, are not afraid p"
II prefer the sunlight" she said
hurriedly in low tone. Tit is not
cheerful down herel No; do not cal
the guide-or let the others know IT
return alone. and-wait for you at the
guard-house."