The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1913-08-08
CHAPTER xxv.-(continued.)

He, nevertheless, insisted upon ac-
companying her; but. indicating the
not distant door through which they
had come. she professed to make light
OF objections, and when he still chung
to the point. replied with a fash Of
spirit. sudden and passionate. 1t COM
PEELED his acquiescence; left him sur
prised for a second time that day; a
little hurt. too, perhaps. for heretofore
had their intimacy been maintained
on a strictly ethical and charming
plane. But he had no time for analy-
sis; the others were drawing away to
the left, into a side passage: and, with
a last backward glance toward the
retreating figure. the Marquis reluc
family followed the majority.
Despite. however. her avowed repug
nance for that underworld, my lady
showed now no haste to quit 1t; for
scarcely had the others vanished than
she stopped; began slowly to retrace
her way In the direction they had
taken. In the narrow route to the
petit exil connected with the main
aisle, a sudden draft of air extin-
guished her light; yet still she went
on, led by the voices, and a glimmer
afar, until reaching a room. low, mas
sive, as IL hewn from the solid rock,
again she paused. Drawing behind
heavy square pillar. she gazed at the
lords and ladies assembled In the for
bidding place; listened to a voice that
ran on. as II discoursing about some
in ha
infant OF their questions; a Jest from
my lord, the Marquis; she saw that
several stole forward; peered, and
started back. half afraid.
But, at length, they asked about the
oubliettes. and, chatting gaily, left.
Their garments almost touched the
Governors daughter; lights played
about the gigantic pillars, and like
will-o' the-wisps whisked away. Now.
staring straight ahead toward the
chamber they had vacated. my lady's
attention became fixed by single dot
of yellow-a candle placed In a niche
by the jailer's assistant. II seemed
to fascinate; to draw her forward:
across the portals-into the room It.
self!
How long she stood there In the
faint suggestion of light, she did not
realize; nor when she approached the
iron-barred aperture. and what she
first said! Something eager. solicit.
tous. with odd silences between the
words, until the impression of a mo-
tionless form, and two steady, cynical
eyes fastened on her. brought her to
an abrupt pause. 1t &as some time
before she continued, more coherently.
an explanation about her apprehen.
sion on account of her father, which
had entirely left her when she peered
through the window of the. guard.
house.
You thought me, then, but a COM
mon assassin" q satirical voice inter.
posed.
MY father hates you, and you"
MY Lady has. perhaps. a standard
OF her own for judging!"
Unmindful of ironical incredulitv
she related how she had been forced
to take refuge In the wheel-house:
how, when Sanchez had seen her.
alarmed she had fed blindly down
the passage; waited. then hearing
them all coming. at loss what else
to do, had opened the wheel-house
door; run into the store-room! What
she had seen from there, disconnect.
eddy, also she referred to; his res
cue OF the others; his remaining be-
hind to bear the brunt-as brave an
act as she knew Of! Her tone became
tremulous.
who betrayed me?" His voice.
bold and scoffing. interrupted.
She answered. II was like speaking
to some one In tomb. THE soldier
you bound gave the alarm"
From behind the bars came a mock.
ing laugh.
you don't believe met" She caught
her breath.
Believed OF course"
"rou don't!" she said. and chung