The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-02-06
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LADY," the woman half stammered.
Comment" The girl turned to her
sharply. What? Explain, Marie!"
Disconnectedly, the woman launched
into a narration of the events of the
night before; Ily lady listened closely,
with an interest and excitement she
strove to conceal, half turning so that
the other saw no longer her face.
And here" ended Marie, extending
crumpled fragment of paper, sis a
piece of the note she dropped on the
beach. The man tore it up, but in
thrusting the bits of paper into his
pocket this fell out, and, after he
walked away. I picked it up myself
from the sand. l can't read, as your
Ladyship knows, and there isn't much
on it-only word or two! But it
may tell something"
My lady's face was now composed;
the hand she extended, steady; for
several moments she regarded the
fragment.
What does it say?" asked the wom-
an anxiously. rs it's it Important"
Her mistress did not at once an
swer; twisting the bit of paper in her
fingers, stood as if in thought, and the
old nurse repeated her question.
This note might have been intend
ed for some admirer" said. at length,
! the Governors daughter slowly.
"He looked more like an old priva-
teersman!" murmured the woman.
"And there may be some plot-some
plant"
"Privateersman" The girl's man,
ner underwent a change; she shrugged
her shoulders. What could they hope
to do at the Mount! You are magma
tive, Marie!" lightly. "Nanette is
good-looking, and what little is here
would seem to signify a rendezvous.
There may be no great harm in that"
81 am sorry. my Lady, to seem to
think i'll of my own kim" muttered the
woman dejectedly, but"
Think no more of it! You have
done your duty. Now leave the mat.
ter to me, and-thank you, Marie!"
When, however, the old nurse had
gone, all pretense of lightness faded
from the face of the Governors daugh-
ter, and, opening the bit of paper, once
more she scrutinized it swiftly, in.
tently.
omorrow-Monastery St. Ranu-"
she read. Yes; it must mean st. Ran
! ulphe-where We are going. And
where Beppo knew We were going!
Beppo, she went down on the beach
/ with" Again she studied the frag.
ment. striving to make out a word thar
had been blotted and was almost H.
legible. She frowned as she endeav-
ored to decipher it. Lady E." She
/ gave an exclamation. THAT refers, Of
course, to-But why?" She kept ask
/ ing herself the question "Why?" she
repeated, when suddenly the brown
eyes widened-changed; a new light
shone in their depths at must be
/ they intend to-what else?"
/ The sound of horns-signal for the
! party to gather-broke upon the air,
and, nervously crushing in her palm
| the piece Of the message, she stepped
to the table, to the untasted break
/ fast. Like one in dream, who yet
| feels the need for haste, she poured
out the coffee; with unsteady hand
raised the cup and drank; started to
serve herself again; as if forgetful Of
the impulse, paused.
And I?' she said with deeper
breath. ITO ride to the ambush they
have so cleverly planned? Allow my
self to be taken prisoner by these des-
perate men? No; no; l could not!
And yet" A trampling Of horses
hoofs in the court below interrupted.
'They are ready to START" Uncer-