Mexico Missouri message., 1913-09-25
coeYRHrr 800 BY TAE eoee3 -tlERRlLL CO.

1 nv btAuh ebAt my ADAN
The color came TO the young mans
face. 1T was trap" he said. his
voice pitched higher; and they came
prepared. not for one man, but the
guard"
Still II vas very ill-advised-a great
mistake--to have taken the shorter
way through the forest alone"
The proposal did not originate with
me! Elise suggested II. She seemed
In a Wild. headstrong mood; nothing
would stop her Now" moodily he
rose, mon DIou! What has che
brought upon herself Where is she
uow?"
His Eycellency did not stir; his
face. like a pale mask. WAS turned
aside. Il do not think" he said slow.
ly. as arguing 10 convince himself,
she is in any immediate danger"
, But my lord caught irritably at the
word. mo danger She is surround.
ed by t. And We? what are we to
do? Sit idly here? Give me a ship,
your Excellency, and will follow the
boat of this Black Seigneur, and when
| find IT. force them to"
"What?" The Governors eyes
sweryed duly. Have you forgotten
/ their threat? Their last words TO you
that if We attempted to follow, to res
cue-that, rather than give her up"
They would not darei" cried my
lord with sparkling glance.
But his Excellency shook his head
[ M ~
/ again looking away, leave me, my
| Lord, TO consider" With which. the
interview, as unsatisfactory to the one
as the other. terminated.
Several days that passed were not
| calculated either TO alleviate his Elk.
| cellency's anxiety, or the Marquis i'm
! patience; for during that period of
waiting came no word Of my lady, or
news Of her captors. Mysteriously as
phantom ship had the boat that had
carried the Governors daughter away
| appeared on the coast and vanished
and from none Of the Governors YES.
sels, or any Of the fishing craft could
be cleaned information of its where
abouts. My lord, the Marquis, annoyed
at what seemed but fruItless delay;
was still for setting forth and inviting
battle; but Of this his Excellency
would not hear. arguing, no doubt. to
himself that in temporizing lay great
er assurance Of safety TO his daughter
than in preciptate action. So the sit
uation grew hourly more trying. until
as II it already were not intolerable
enoughl-a new concern added iron
! zeal weight to present perplexities.
: Ny young lord. between whom and
the master Of the Mount had been
growing a more strained relationship
j sought the Governor one day, and, in
5 excited tones, announced he had Just
70 learned that the prisoner, the Black
! Seigneur. was i'll and probably would
survive but a short time longer in the
e dungeon where he was confined As
= his EKcellency knew. tie fellow had
r been wounded, and now with scanty
b nourishment. want of air, and close
quarters, was generally in q bad way.
S His EXcellency heard; moistened his
I lips and seemed about 10 speak, bu
c was silent, while more anxlously tn,
s young man went on. OF course TN
E der different conditions. with care anC
i attention-a well-lighted room and ex
l. cellent food-they might hope to re
), store their prisoners strength; a
e least, preserve for time one so pre-
{ cious 20 themselves, upon the threat
4; Of whose life hung ny lady's!
} His Excellency still answered n
d word; only looked down, and, knitting
a his brows, the young nobleman rest
u lessly waited At length, with an e.
e preston on his face the Marquis ha
II never before seen there. his Exec
D, leucy rose, moved Ike an automato
e to the bell. and called for the taller.
% Monsieur lie Marquis has a few IL
p structions to give you" The Go,
.e ernor's voice. but breath. told wha
the words cost him.
I The man responded gravely. lool
IS ing from one TO the other.
d. use your own judgment in III
u matter, my Lord" went on his Exec
ID lency, and left them together.
L. After that, a change, subtle bu
!; deep-rooted. came over the Governor
ir a silent man always, now his taciturr
r, lty become most marked. Under stres
N Of untoward circumstances, all th
a guests at the Mount. save the youn
G. noble, departed; but his Exoellenc
le appeared hardly to notice their going
drawing his cloak of reserve close
In about him; seemed only to ask fc
D. that solitude not difficult to find /
IS his aerial kingdom. Sometimes for
ct long while he would stand in the cloi
OF ter. gazing seward; again wander I
the church. look at the monument
ls always TO pass one OF them quickl,
s. Only on a single occasion. when III
Is Marquis, who was daily becomin
~ more nervous, sought him, with a Il
or yorable report Of his prisoner-pat!eu
n. fla GnNrnrnnr Ill L. 4