The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1913-10-30
TIE STROLLETcI UhDER tn RON "LIc.
SO nX2 q. ~ ~ L.R-@n

| the night OF stairs. II played, too, on
facades, towers and battlements on
either side. ard. at the spectacle-the
disk directly before him-the Black
Seigneur, about to leave the dark and
sheltering byway, involuntarily paused
Angels might walk unseen up and
down in that effulgence, as, indeed,
the old monks stoutly averred was
their habit; but a mortal intrusion on
the argent way could be fraught only
with visibility.
To reach the point he had In mind,
| however. no choice remained; the
steps had to be mounted. and. lower
ing his head and looking down, delib-
erately he started. AS he proceeded
his solitary figure seemed to become
more distinct; his presence more OBJ
trusive and his echoing footsteps to
resound louder. No indication he had
been seen or heard, however. reached
him; to all appearances espionage of
his movements was wanting, and only
the saint with the sword at the top Of
the steeple-guardian spirit Of the
rock-looked down, as II holding high
cleaning warning of that unwonted
Intrusion.
Yet, though he knew 1t not, mortal
eye had long been on him, peerlng
! from window Of the abbot's bridge
spanning the way and Joining certain
long unused chambers, next to the
Governors palace, with my lady's
abode. Against the somber background
Of that covered passage of granite, the
face looking out would still have re-
mained unseen, even had the young
man, drawing near, lifted his glance.
This, however, he did not do; his eyes,
with the pale reflections dancing In
them, had suddenly fastened them.
selves lower; toward another person,
not far beyond the bridge; some one
who had turned In from a passage on
the other side Of the overhead archi-
tectural link, and had Just begun to
come down. An old man, with flow
ing beard, from afar the newcomer
looked not unlike one Of the ancient
Druids that, in days gone by, had
lighted and watched the sacred fires
Of sacrifice In the rock. He, too guard
ed his light; but one set in the tall.
pewter lamp Of the medieval watch.
man.
Twelve o'clock and alls-" he be-
gan when his glance. sweeping down,
caught sight Of the ascending figure,
and, pausing, he leaned on his staff
with one hand and shaded his eyes
with the other.
A h0lf-savage exclamation of disap-
pointment was suppressed on the
young mans lips; had he only been
able to attain that parallelogram Of
darkness. beneath the abbot's passage,
he would have been better satisfied,
his own eyes, looking ahead, seemed
to say; then cleaned with a bolder
light
"A sword and blade
A drab and Jade;
Alls one to the Kings men Of the arny!"
he began to hum softly, as with
more reckless swing. quickly he went
up In the manner of a man assigned
some easy errand. At the same time
the patriarch slowly and rather labori-
ously resumed his descent, and just
below the bridge, without the bar Of
shadow, the two came together.
Think you 1t is too late for his Elk.
cellency, the Governor, to receive a
message?" at once spoke up the young
er, breaking off in that dashing, but
lowmurmured, song Of the barracks.
That you may learn from the guard
at the palace" was the deliberate an
swer, as, raising his lamp, the watch
man held 1t full in his questioner's
face.
Thanks! l was going to inquire"
AS he answered, at the old abbot's
window In the bridge above, the face,
looking out, bent forward more in
tently; then quickly drew back. Good
night"
But the venerable guardian of the
inner precinct was not disposed thus
lightly to part company. Il don't
seem to know you. young man." he
observed. the watery, but keen and
critical eyes passing deliberately over
the others features.
MOI" Unflinching in the bright
glare Of the lamp, the seeming soldier
smiled. DO you, then. know all at
the Mount-even the soldiers?"
Il should remember even them,"
was the quiet reply.
Those, too. but lately brought from
st. Dalard?"
True, true! There may be some of
those" uncertainty.
mo doubt! So If you will lower
your lamp, which smells rather vile
ly-"
From the miscreants 1t has smelled
out" answered the old man grimly,
but obeyed; stood as If engrossed in
the recollection his own response
evoked; then turned; walked on, and, |
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