Polk County news-gazette. (Benton, Tenn.) 190?-191?, 1913-08-21
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Hesitation of the Marquis.

The Hesitation Of the Marquis
The day of my lady's riding party
| daWned: In the east a tender flame
burned. and. vanishing. left the
heavens an unbroken blue. Shoreward
the mists rolled up. until only in the
neighborhood OF the forts did the
white. soft vapor linger On the Mount
itself sunshine held sway: it radiated
from the Notifications, "cuirass OF the
rock" and cleaned on the church,
tiara Of its majesty" 1t warmed
cold palace OF marble; looked in at its
windows. and threw bold shafts to
tighten dark hooks and corners.
But my lady, mistress of the Mount.
seemed not to feel its benehcent
touch; standing in the full glow and
looking from her easement she shiy-
cred a little. Already was she
dressed, and her habit of dark green.
fitting close, served to accentuate the
whiteness Of her cheek which general
absence of color. in turn, made the
more manifest certain dark lines be
meath the restless, bright eyes.
Your Ladyship" After knocking
in vain, Marie had entered the room
and set down the small tray she car
ried. There is something your Lady
ship ought to know" with an air OF
excitement.
The Governors daughter half
turned. what now. Marie?" she said
sharply.
IT'S about Nanette!" My lady made
quick movement of annoyance, i'm
patience. Il did not tell your Lady
ship, but was averse to having her
remain here. Your Ladyship does not
understand, of course. and
81 do understand" said my lady I'M
expectedly. "And-you need not ex-
plain. overheard you talking with
her that night of the banquet"
your Ladyship!" startled.
"And | heard you speak OF her IA
Their Pierre Laroche. friend OF the
Black Seigneur."
"And engaged hereafter that!
"Why not? l could watch-and l
have! But you were wrong, Marie.
NV lady's manner was feverish. Your
suspicions were ridiculous. There has
been Notwithstanding And day AFT
or tomorrow is the wedding celebra-
ton. and the next day, he, the BLACK
Seigneur-" She broke OF abruptly.
Had Marie been less wrought up.
less excited, less concerned with the
inform alton she had to impart, she
conld not have failed to notice the odd
break in her young mistress voice;
something unusual. almost akin TO oe-
snair. IN her manner. AS It was, tnat
which weighed on the old nurses
rd. nrscludea close acPsSrvation q
me ss Othf ao,s 80. ssned, Sy
Lady," the woman erea'
comment" The - TO her
sharply. What? E&H lei!
Disconnectedly, the We acned
into a narration of the eve the
night before; my lady listened cESely.
with an interest and excitement she
strove to conceal, half turning so that
the other saw no longer her face.
"And here" ended Marie. extending
crumpled fragment Of paper, rs a
niece Of the note she dropped on the
beach. The man tore 1t up, but In
tbrusting the bits of paper into his
nocket this fell out. and, after he
walked away, picked it up myself
from the sand. l can't read, as your
Ladyship knows. and there isn't mucn
on it-only word or two! But it
may tell something"
My lady's face was now composed;
the hand she extended, steady; Ior
several moments she regarded tne
fragment.
"What does it say?" asked the wom-
an anxiously. rs it's 1t important!
Her mistress did not at once an
swer: twisting the bit of paper in ner
fingers, stood as if in thought, and the
old nurse repeated her question.
tTo BE CoNTINUED)