Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1913-06-25

There, therei" said the other sol
der. big, gocd-natured appearing fell
low. Hes harmIess enough. and" as
once more they moved on, that tune
OF yours. Monsieur Mountebank." alb
ruptly; 1T runs in my head Let me
see-how does 1t go? The second
verse. | mean"
Beat beat,
Mid marsh-muck and mire.
For II any note
Escapes frogs throat
Beware ny lords ireT'
yes; that's the one, Not bad"
cumming
For II any note
Escapes a frogs throat
Reawfe my lords ire
"Are the verses your own?"
"Oh, no. I'm only poor player"
said the mountebank humbly But
an honest one" he added after a
pause. "and this thieves inn. Mon
sieur?7 returning to the subject of his
possible fate. this auberge des vo-
leurs-that sounds like a bad place
for an honest lodging"
1T was once under the old monks,
VINO were very merry fellows; but
since the Governor had it restored, 1t
has become a sober and quiet place
It is true there are iron bars instead
Of blinds. and you can't come and go,
as they used to. but"
is that it-up there?" And the
mountebank pointed toward a ledge Of
rock. with strong thanking buttresses.
outjutting beneath a mysterious-look.
ing wall and poised over a sparsely-
wooded bit Of the lower Mount. The
gray stone building you can just see
above the ramparts, and that opening
in the elf to the right, with some
thing running downfall looks like
planking--"
"Oh, that is for the wheel"
The wheel?"
THE great wheel Of the Mount! 1t
was built In the time of the monks.
aud was used for"
Hold your tongue!" said the other
soldier. and the trio entered the great
gate, which had opened at their APP
proach. and now closed quickly be-
hind them.
For the first time in that isolated
domain Of the dreaded Governor. the
mountebank appeared momentarily to
forget his fears and gazed with inter
est around him On every side new
and varying details unfolded to the
eye: structures that from below were
etched against the So ia filmy lines.
here resolved themselves into vast.
solid. but harmonious masses.
Those ribbons of color that had
seemed TO I'm from the wooing sky. to
adorn ',lese heights. proved. indeed.
fallacious; more somber effects. the
black touches of age. confronted the
eye everywhere. save on one favored
front that of a newer period. an
architectural addition whose intricate
carvings and beautiful roses of stone
invited and caught the warmer rays:
whose little balcony held real buds
and flowers. bright spots of pink dang,
ling from. or nesting at, the windows
edge
"Yonder looks like some grand
lady's bower" as he followed his cap
tors past this more attractive ediflce,
the mountebank ventured to observe.
Now, perhaps, lives there"
"Hark you. my friend" one Of the
soldiers brusiJly interrupted; "a piece
of advice His Excellency likes not
hahblers. neither does he countenanee
gossip. and If you'd fare well. keep
your tongue to YOURSELF"
'Ill-Ill try to remember" said the
mountehank doeilely, but as he spoke.
looked back toward the balcony; at
the cleaning reflection fun on its win
dows: then turn in the way cut off
the pleasing prospect, and only the
grim foundations of the lofty. heavier
structure on one hand and the mas.
sive masonry ramparts on the other
greeted the eye.
For some distance they continued
along the narrow way. the mounte-
bank bending lower under his load
and observing the injunction put upon
him. until the path. broadening, led
them abruptly on to a platform where
a stone house of ancient construction
barred their further progress. But
two stories In height, this building,
an allen edifce amid loftier piles.
stood sturdily perched on precipi-
tous cliff. The rough stonework OF its
front, darkened by time. made 1t seem