Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1913-10-16
CHAPTER xxxli.-(contlrued)

CHAPTER xxxlIi.-(continued)
Here, for the time concealed was
he safe; none followed, and, leaning
against the damp blocks Of masonry,
breathing hard, as a man weak from
fatigue. loss OF blood, be sought 10
recover his strength. It returned only
too slowly; the passing lassitude an
noyed him; for the moment he forgot
be had but recently come from the
dungeon and the hardshiPs that sap
tient TO move on.
Several moments he vet stood,
Breathing deep; then, starting away,
set himself TO the task OF crossing
the vast stretch OF beach between the
Mount and the distant lights OF a ship.
The sandy plain had never seemed
so interminable; before him. his shad-
ow and that Of my lady danced ever
zllusively away; behind. the great rock
gave forth a hundred shooting flames.
whife, as emblemetic Of the demolition
of SO much that was beautiful higher
than saint with helpless sword on ca.
Shedral top, cloud Of smoke belched
up; waved sidewise like a monstrous
funeral plume. A symbol, Il seemed
20 I'LL the sky; 10 move and nod and
flaunt it's ominous blackness from this
majestic outpost Of the land. Walk
ing in a vivid crimson glow, the Black
-Seigneur gazed only ahead, where now
on that monotonOus desert, the rim
OF the sea on sudden obtruded. As
he advanced, sparkles red as rubies-
laughing lights-leaped in the air: a,
the same time a seething murmur
F5roke upon the stiffness.
Toward those leaping bright points
and the source Of that deep-sounding
cadence, the young man stumbled for
ward more rapidly. less cautiously
also, 81 may be; for while he was ye,
some distance from the waters rim
his feet fell on sand that gave way
beneath them. He would have sprung
hack, but felt himself sinking; strove
to get out, only TO settle the deeper!
The edge of the lise, with safety be
yond. we'll he could see, where the
.satin-like smoothness OF the treacher
uus slough merged into a welcome
1fIk-like shimmering of the trustwor
thy sands. That verge. however, was
remote; out OF reach OF effort Of his
60 attain; his very endeayors caused
him to become the more firmly imbed
ded. Had he cast my lady aside. pos
sIbIy could he have extricated him
self; but with her, an additional
weight, weighing him down
Loudly he called out; only the sea
ansxered. Now were the clinging par
ticIes at his waist: he lifted my lady
higher; clear of them! Once more
raised mis- voiee-this time not in vain
-Bion capitsine! Where are you?'
-Here!"
1--WE don't see you
you won't soon, unless"
The end OF line struck the sand.
The night had almost passed; its
last black hour, Ike a pail, lay ovel
the sea, where, far from the Mount, a
ship swayed and tossed. In the mar
row confines of her masters cabin, the
faint glimmering Of a lamp revealed
a man bending over paper, yellow
and worn; the lines so faint and deli
cate, they seemed almost to escape
himi
Hsw strange. after all these years the
.stx,.t OF your handwriting land now, 10
Ne writing you'll Yet Is II meet-tO say
fareweili For that which you have heard,
mon ami Is true. ! arm going 10 die. You
80 Won heard I was not well; I answer
sshst really you heard; the question. mon
,ernl beneath your words! And.
.svtne- a II wen with me. have wronged
NJ soui ON eartn--except you, my friend.
and you forgive me. / had hoped
tho years would erace that old memory.
n al. ssy they have not. 1t Is wise
sou are going avfay-