The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1913-06-27

AhCASy Sdlu the JULIET SUI
der, big, good-natured appearing fell |
low. He's harmless enough, and,' as
once more they moved on, that tune |
of yours, Monsieur Mountebank," alb
ruptly; ut runs in my head. Let me
see-how does it go? The second |
verse, l mean"
BEAT! beat!
Mid marsh-muck and mire,
For II any note
Escapes a frogs throat,
Beware my lords ire!'
yes; that's the one. Not bad!"
humming-
For II any note
Escapes a frogs throat
Reawre my lords ire!"
Are the verses your own"
"Oh, no! I'm only poor player"
said the mountebank humbly. But
an honest one," he added after
pause. 'and this thieves inn, Mon
sieur?" returning to the subject of his
possible fate. this auberge des Ve-
leurs-that sounds like bad place
for an honest lodging"
ut was once under the old monks,
who were very merry fellows; but
since the Governor had it restored. 1t
has become a sober and quiet place.
1t is true there are iron bars instead
of blinds, and you can't come and go.
as they used to, but"
Ts that it-up there?" And the
mountebank pointed toward ledge of
rock, with strong f1anking buttresses,
outjutting beneath mysterious-look-
ing wall and poised over sparsely-
wooded bit of the lower Mount. "The
gray stone building you can just see
above the ramparts, and that opening
in the cliff to the right, with some
thing running down-that looks like
planking-"
ooh, that is for the wheel"
1.-THE wheel?"
1.-THE great wheel of the Mount! 1t
was built in the time Of the monks,
and was used for"
Hold your tongue!" said the other
soldier, and the trio entered the great
gate, which had opened at their ap-
proach, and now closed quickly be-
hind them.
For the first time in that isolated
domain of the dreaded Governor, the
mountebank appeared momentarily to
forget his fears and gazed with inter
est around him. On every side new
and varying details unfolded to the
eve: structures that from below were
etched against the sky in filmy lines,
here resolved themselves into vast
solid, but harmonious masses.
Those ribbons of color that had
seemed to fall from the wooing sky, to
adorn these heights, proved, indeed
fallacious; more somber effects, the
black touches of age, confronted the
eye everywhere, save on one favored
front-that of newer period, an
architectural addition whose intricate
carvings and beautiful roses of stone
invited and caught the warmer rays;
whose little balcony held real buds
and flowers, bright spots of pink dang
ling from, or nestling,at the windows
edge.
"Yonder looks like some grand
lady's bower" as he followed his cap
tors past this more attractive edifice
the mountebank ventured to observe
Now, perhaps, lives there"
"Hark you, my friend" one of th'
soldiers bruskly interrupted; "a piece
of advice His Excellency likes no
, babblers, neither does he countenanc'
gossip; and if you'd fare well, keel
your tongue to YOURSELF"
'TIl-Ill try to remember" said thu
mountebank docilely, but as he spoke
, looked back toward the balcony; a
! the cleaning reflection full on its win
dows: then turn in the way cut OF
the pleasing prospect, and only tn
grim foundations of the lofty, heavie
structure on one-hand and the mas
sive masonry ramparts on the othe
[ greeted the eye.
, For some distance they continue,
along the narrow way, the mounte
bank bending lower under his loa,
| and observing the injunction put upol
! him. until the path, broadening, lie,
: them abruptly on to a platform wher
a stone house of ancient construction
: barred their further progress. Blu
two stories in height, this building
4 an alien edifice amid loftier piles
( stood sturdily perched on a precip
tous cliff The rough sionework of 1t
4 front. Qarkened by time, made Il seer