Year: 1877

s'''h @" Houf tucy IollOWet


their guide with more ease an,


swiftness. Soon after they had be
come somewhat wonted to the dubi


Gus travelling, the way began t,


turn upon the rise, and 1t was evi


dent that they were ascending on.


OF the mountains. Johanna noticed


that the path had many windings


and once or twice she thought SHE


detected places through the gloon


where other paths led Off In q differ.


ent directions. These things she


noticed with a quick eye, and from


her knowledge OF the forest masses
she felt sure that no mortal could


unassisted ind his way through the
track they had thus far come. "a


Waldeck opened no conversation
during the walk, only occasionally
turning to his followers to give them
some notice OF an abrupt rise OF
turning, or to inquire how they got
along. When he spoke to them, 1t
was in a kind and solioitous tone,
and his real desire for sheir welfare
was not to be mistaken. .Essse


An hour passed away. and so did a
second and third, and the females
were beginning to give way beneath
fatigue, when their guide informed
them them that they were almost at
their journeys end. The trees began
to grow more stunted and spare,
and the shrubbery, as near as Jo-
hanna could make 1t out in the dark
ness. was such as grew high upon
the mountains. She knew that for
the last two hours they walked fast,
and during that time most OF the way
had been OH the ascent.


Shortly after Waldeck spoke the
path came to an abrupt Cliff that
eireotually out of further passage in
direct line, but a narrow way led
around to the right, between two
huge rocks, and having passed this
the women were ushered into an
open space many rods in area, at the
further extremity OF which loomcd
up another towering clifl Towards
this elf Waldeck led the way. and
when he reached it he pushed aside
a olump OF bushes aud wild. vines.
which seemed tc have grown there
by chance, but which were In reality
cultivated there, and beyond these
he opened low door. The door was
OF wood, but SO painted and moss
covered as not to be easily distin-
guished from the rock in which it
was EMBEDDED, ssa -


both Olivia and her daughter
started with astonishment when
they entered the place to which this
door opened. 1t was a deep, wide
cavern. fashioned, by the hand of
nature like great Gothic hail, with
pillars and nlohes, and with solid
pavement almost as level as the sur
face OF a calm lake. From the high
roof hung a heavy lamp, and beneath
the effect OF It's glare the place
looked most strangely. At the ex-
tremity OF the place sat swo men en-
gagged in writing. These were at a
small deal table, upon which was
candle, hut Its rays seemed to pene-
trate no farther then iast sufficient
to reach the surface OF the table and
the mems faces. They arose as the
party entered, and at a word from
Waldeck one OF the men disappeared
through an aperture which could not
be seen from the main entrance. In
a few minutes the man returned, and,
female followed him.


"Here, Mirma," said waldeck. ad-
dressing the female. @to your Charge
/ entrust these ladies. They are the
mother and daughter OF Rosenfels,
so you know how precious ls your
phsrge.' Then turning to the wo-
men who had followed him, he con-
tinued:


Here. ladies. you are safe, and it
shall be nay aim to make you as
comfortable as you could be in your
own castle OF Rosenfels. Mirma will
attend to your wants, and conduct
you to an apartment where you can
find repose for your fatigue. l bid
you good night. and may kind
angels watch over you and bless
you!"


A heartfelt response arose to the
lips OF the baroness, and Johanna
smiled back her good night upon
her strange protector, and as they
turned to follow the woman who was
to guide them. they did so with the
full assurance that the dreaded
brigand was indeed friend to them.
For the present they cared not that
Il might be only animosity towards
Moritz Kraunich that made Waldeck
serve them. They only felt that
they were safe from the man who
was far worse than the terrible rob-
Der, and with shis thought they felt
at ease. -


The woman led them to another
apar tment of the cave, much smaller
than the first, but full as wonderful
In its natural adaptation to human
wants. and in which were two beds.
A moderate sized table stood in the
center Of the place, aud over 1t hung
a lamp. Olivia and her daughter sat
down by the table, and Mirma
brought them some dried flgs. some
A. Il x-ln