Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1913-04-09
CHAPTER 4 ! T: 4 q. !l,I.
4 sud den Res l ut,on. 4

After his chance encounter with
my lady, the governors daughter. and
/ Beppo. her attendant, the boy walked
quickly from the Mount to the forest.
/ His eyes were still bright; his cheeks
yet burned, but occasionally the
Sshadow of assmile played about his
mouth, and he threw up his head
dercely. AT the verge OF the wood
he looked back. stood for IA moment
with thearefectionfof light on his face.
then plunged into the shadows OF the
sylvan labyrinth. Near the east door
5of the castle. which presently he
reached. he stopped for an armful OF
faggots. and. bending under his load.
passed through an entrance, scared
and battered. across q great rootiess
space and up flight Of steps TO 9
room that had once been the kitchen
Sof the vast stablishm emit. AS he%en
tered, q man. thin, wizened. though
active looking, turned around.
SO you've got back?" he asaid in
II grumbling tone. 3 5$s
Yes, answered the boy good.nat-
5Mredly, casting the wood to the Nag
sxing near the fame and brushing his
coat with his hand y the storm kept
~ out last night, Sanchez
y II keep you out for good some
day. remarked the man. on III be
drowned, sc you don't have ~ care III NJ
VI Better that than being hanged z.
;retuTned the lad lightly. Il ,54
4 Tho others response. beneath his
breath, was lost. as he drew his stool
close: to the pot above the blaze, re-
moved the lid and peered within. APP
5parentlys his survey was not ;satisfac-
tory, for he replaced the cover,
,,ciasped his fingers over his knees ana
half closed his eyes 4 u,
" t.A.sWhere's the ifish q RI 5559s
d.. The boy, thoughtfully regarding the
flames. started when he had left the
child and Beppo. Internationally he had
dropped 1t. but this he did not now
explain: 81 didn't bring one .s i. ss,s
Didn't bring one ?" 81 VS.
j. No." said the boy. flushing slightly.
Il. 4 t''And not bone or scrap In the
jIarder! Niggardly5 fishermen! A small
enough 4 wage for going to sea and
helping them -; iis
4 Oh, i could have had what want
ed And they are not niggardly!
Only forgot" 5..ss 2! ~ ID I u.
g Forgot" The man lifted his hands.
but any further evidence OF surprise
or expostulation was interrupted by =
sudden ebullition in the pot
3, Left to his thoughts, the boy stepped
TO the window; for some time stood
gazing through q forest
rift at the end Of which uprose the
top OF an Aladdin-like structure. by
an optical Illusion become part OF
ithats locality; conJuror's castle in
the wood! N
"The Mount looks near tonight,
Sanchez! 5{
a 'Near?" The man took from its
hook the pot and set It on the table.
3"Not too near to suit the governor.
,perhaps!" h
i..And why should it suit him?''
drawing stool to the table and sit
ting down.
because he must be 80 fond of
looking at the forest"
"And does that-pleass him?
"How could 1t fail to? Isn't 1t q
nico wood? Oh. yes. I'll warrant you
he finds it to his liking. And all the
lands about the forest that used to be-
long to the old seigneurs. and which
the peasants have taken-waste lands
they have tilled-he must think them
very fine to look at. now! And what
q hubbub there would be. III the lazy
peasants had to pay their metayage.
and flre-tax and road-tax--and all the
other taxes-the way the other peas
ants do---to him
u What do you mean?"
Nothing" The mans jaw closed
like a steel trap. The porridge Is
burned" ri 7. i 5Ss p