The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-02-06


or a torrent. the OBJECT or MS pur-
silt.
Are you mad, Elise?" A shadow
on his brow, the Marquis rode down.
She made no reply; regarded only
the water.
Il hope it is not N your mind to at
tempt to cross" he went on, shade
OF petuianCv ii his accents.
She urged her horse forward; It
stepped.
Elise! I beg OF you! It is danger
Gus; better go back, and around"
But the girl set her red lips, raised
her whip, and brought it down hard.
The animal sprang into the foam;
breasting the current, it slipped once
| or twice, recovered, and, after an eff
fort, managed to reach the bank op-
posfte. My Lord-less blithely than
he had first embarked on the adven-
ture-followed; the cold waters surged
around, and he almost expected to be
s"cTt away. ~ length, however,
chilled by the icy touch of the torrent
and somewhat more out of humor, he
found himself on the other side. Near
the top of the bank, where the Gov
ernor's daughter had now the grace to
await him, he rejoined her, disap-
proyal on his face, reproach in his
eyes. Yet still did the girl remain un-
conscious of her lovers wounded SEN
sibilities; her own eyes, like stars be-
meath the furry of hair, were turned,
not to the young man, but away, to-
ward gaunt-looking ruin that had
suddenly uplifted itself, as If by magic,
through a rift in the forest. But few
hundred yards distant. the black
crumbling walls bristled with rough,
jagged edges-big, broken teeth that
snaried al the rim OF the eyer.young
wood. The very brightness of the day
seemed only to emphasize the omin-
GUS aspect OF the place; TO reveal more
plainly the solitary character of it's
wildness.
"The monastery, I suppose?" fol,
lowing the direction of her gaze. the
Marquis, after a pause, grudingly
youchsafed.
Yes" said the girl in a low tone;
yes"
Shall We go on?"
Her eyes, passing over a targle Of
shrubs, bushes and thick, natural
screens, slowly settled on a spot, not
far away. where a wild bird, about to
alight, fed off with a scream.
Shall we go on?"
With start tho girl turned; the
clear-cut features were Very grave; in
her gaze shoue sudden conjunction.
She raised her hand. My yeil!" she
said quickly 'I-GroPpad it. Do you
mind? You-you will find it on this
side Of tho strcam-a little way down"
"Mind?" He regarded her doubt
fully moment; then moved by the If
resistibe appeal in her eyes, rather
abruptly he wheeled, and as he did so,
she gathered up the reins. Ere pro
ceedinG farther upon this errand of
gal]antry, my lord looked around.
You seem to set great store on this
VEIL" he observed susP;ciously And
| believe you were about to ride Off"
he added, noting her expression, when,
before she had time for pretext or an
swer, heavy body stirred in the
bushes, near at hand, and gruff voice
called out.
Stand where you are."
The nobleman's face changed; his
gaze, as if fascinated, now rested on a
score of rough figures who, following
the order so unexpected and startling,
sprang simultaneously from neighbor-
ing thicket or covert, and advanced
to surround them. Held by their grim
aspect-the desperate determined Wis
ages; the black, threatening looks-in
the surprise Of the moment, too late
my lords hand sought the sword at
his side. Roughly plucked from his
/ horse, he found himself flung to the
sward unceremoniously pinioned, and
heard the voice Of my lady raised in
his behalf.