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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (July 30, 1899)
16 THE OMAHA JDAJLLir J5I5JE : RTJJNUAT , 30 , 1SW ) . II ' modern mercenary. . . . E. & II. HERON. of I'rerrdlnK Clmptrr * . Mansnu. a little duchy In Europe , which lins maintained Its Independence because of Uio Jealousies of the Inrgo surrounding countries , t > cems nbout < o bo swallowed up. Oermany is represented nt Revondo , the capital , by the shrewd statesman , Baron von Blinur. England's Influence Is strong and 'Major ' Coutmcllor's presence means much , l-'mnco nnd Russia are nlso playing the diplomatic panic. At the time the story opens John Rnllywood , a young English- > nnn , who linn served seven yearn In the TSInnwui frontier en\-nlry , Is nbout to resign ihlf commission , when Selpdorf , the chan cellor nnd "man of the hour , " sends for lilm nml makes him n Gentleman of the Guard. Rnllywooil meets Valerie Selpdorf , the chancellor's daughter , Tlio Gentlemen of the Ounrd object to the appointment of the EnflLehman , Unzlar. a leader nnd a niiltor for Vnlcrlo's hand , arranges for the nffalr of honor Involved , misses Ills shot nnd , with his companions. Is overcome by the rtwtily toearinpr of Rallywood Tin Biicstn nt the palace hnll overwhelm the young 'Englishman ' with congratulations. Countess Bapan takes a sreat Interest In Tlnllywood and Invlti * Wm to Cnrrtln Snpnn t\-lth e. ipiirty. Von BImur plots with J3 ; H > - < 1orf In bohtilf of Germany to disband the fiunnl. At the cnstle Valerie offends the rtukf. Sniran , fearing that the women will itpoll the plot , wlshcn to cause the dcatti of Vnlerlo and his wife. Von Elmur will rot consent because he wishes to marry Vnlcrle , and rtlll h Hovrs he can carry out Ms plan -with Solpdorf. Mrtvntlme. the GlMrds , Unzlnr , Collendorp mid Rnllywood , must be dlsiposod of. Von Elmtir. unzlnr nnd Rallywood woo Vnlerlo. Countess Sntrnn foresees the danger of the young Englishman. ( Copyright , 1859 , hy Doubledny & McClure Company. ) CHAJ'TBR XIV. TTnlf n. Promise. Ton minutes later a 'big ' emblazoned foot man 'brought ' Rallywood a summons from the countess , as ho stood talking to Coun seller nnd the 'Russian attache. As 'ho ' moved away Bllvlnskl placed a bony Impresalvo finger on Counsellor's Bleovc. "If ho wore not English you could not trust him , " ho eald enigmatically. Counsellor raised his bushy eyebrows with a humorous glanco. "We have had our day. " "Ah , my friend , you know most things. ( Also T know a very few , " Bllvlnskl eald nlRnlficantly , " 'but ' with your nation patriotIsm - Ism is not n virtue , It is a part of your physical system. You sacrifice all for your country , not ibecauso it is right to do BO , tout simply because you cannot help It ; the good God made you so. Therefore this young man , In face of the supreme tempta tion of youth , may ( bo trusted. I speak of these things nonv 1)ecauso you will remember dn good time that those who are against you will not dare to injuro" ho removed the flngo.r to his own breast "us also ! " And the Httlo silent , swarthy man slipped nway nlmost before Counsellor realized \hat Russia , the mighty , had given him. a pledge which might provo of immense value In the uncertain future. Rallywood found the young countess crouching and shivering near a wood flre. She waa magnificently dressed In rich tones of royal purple that accentuated her deli cate fairness and 'beauty ' , and a email diadem of amethysts Bhone in the palo cold of her hair. She took no notice of hla entrance , though Bho was acutely conscious that his eyes were on her. She iwno hungry of his gaze , .nnd she ( bclloved in the power ot her own loveliness. "Jack , " Bho Eald at last , "como here. 7 wonder now why I sent for you , but I am miserable. " She looked up at him heavy-lidded. There was concern in his voice as ho an- Bworocl her. "If I told you all , " nht > went on , "you would not believe mo. I am now tonight In great danger. " "In danger ? Here ? Where you are sur rounded by friends , " replied Rallywood , be ginning to wish himself well out of It. Had there been no Valerie Selpdorf , or oven had lie not uttered those impulsive words which , to his mind , changed his position from the Indefinite to the definite , the his tory of his llfo might hnvo been turned Into another channel that evening. As It waa , though Vnlerlo remained free ns the wind , lift felt himself to bo In some vnguo manner ibound to her. "Nonsense ! You know how useless nil these friends would bo If things went wrong with mo. They flatter the countess of Sagan. but not one of them would make the small est sacrifice for Isolde , 4h woman. I do not know if you , even you , are my friend. Wo talked about it long ago. But I have not put you to the test and I I often wonder If our friendship still remains nllvo. " MI am ns I always was , " ho parried. "I wonder If that Is true ? " She raised her drooping face again. "I don't know how to believe you. Why will you keep up this pretense of of reserve between us ? You never tell mo your troubles and I suppose you have them , Ilko the rest of us. AVe should be qulto old friends now and yet you nro alway so" she hesitated for a word "courteous. Are you angry , for example ? " "Very often. " "But not with me nnd I have given you cause many a tlmo. If you would be angry with me even once. Jack , causelessly angry , then I should know I had a friend to whom II could go If I were In trouble In ouoh trouble as I am tonight ! " ' 'If there Is anything I can do for you " The quiet tone annoyd her , She rose quickly. "If If If ! ( Any man could help me who cared. " "I do care. " "I .wonder , " she said wistfully , "how much you mean of what you say. I have no standard to judge you by , because you ore not qulto like other men. But I owe you ray llfo , and I sometimes think It gives mo a claim on you. " "I can never pretend you owe mo any thing ; you were qulto safe ; no accident could have happened , You are far too Bood a 'horsewoman , though you were nerv ous for the moment. " Ho spoke with a careless affoctlonatenesa , for the young countess In her helpless beauty appealed to him. "Ixxjk at mo ! " she nild tragically. "Do I seem hateful ? " "Yru are n young queen , " he paused , and added , "a young queen seen In a dreamt You are too ethereal to ba of common earth. " "I am of common earth , like any other woman , " eho answered with a forlorn llt tlo smile ; " 1 can be afraid nnd I can love ! " "Afraid ? In your own castle , among your own people ? " "Yes , Jack. .Don't . think I am silly ! It is qulto true. You Bay you hnvo not changed , that you are still my friend. You are my only one tbenl I must look to you for protection ; I have no one else in the whole world. " She was very near him , her llttlo cold hand had caught his In her ve- liomenco ; she looked apprehensively behind her , amthVn ipoke low In his ear. "I nm nfruld ot my husband. Ho wishes to be rid of me I have seen It In his eyes. Sagnn will kill mel Do you remember the night of the ball , when I gave you the flrefiy ? Slave you kept it , I wonder ? I Bald mine would be a abort life. It Is true. Sagan la tired of mo , and I Jack , I loathe hltnl" "But " llallywood began. "You don't believe me ? Sco this ! " ho pushed back a iband o ( black velvet from her arm and held It out to him. This touched him more than all ; the slender , blue-veined wrist with the marks of thosa cruel fingers clasped nbout It moved him far more than the temptations of her ( lori cate beauty. With an almost Involuntary dcslro to comfort her as ono might com fort and plcaso a child , bo bent above her hand and kissed the bruises. Isolde clung to lilrn with a quick sob of relief. " 1'romlso me , Jack , that you will save me ! When danger threatens mo I will pond for you , You will come ? You promise ? " Uut lUxllywood was not In the least In loVe -with Mmo. do Sagan. for all his pity. He was again maetor ot himself and an odd suspicion flashed across him. "I feel certain , you are mistaken , " he re peated ; "but you have another friend who can bo of more aorvlco than I just now , Mile. Selpdorf. " The countcse sank back Into her chair. "Wiat do you know o Valerie ? " eho asked coldly. "Very llttlo , but " "Thanks ! I know her better than you do. 1 don't choose that she should amuse herself at my expense. As It Is , she has brought most of this trouble upon me. " j llallywood may have been sagacious I enough on eomo points , but on this par ticular ono he was a. too ] . Ho was not at all aware that Mrae. do Sagan with her Innocent eyes and small brain was sitting him. him."But "But Uhe meant to defend you , " ho ex claimed. She laughed noftly and If -woman could have compassed the ruin of a man by means of love and temptation Rallywood was lost from that hour , for the rivalry of Valerie Selpdorf added the ono Incentive of bitter resolve that drives such slight-brained , jeal ous souls to the last limit of reckless en deavor. "When I find myself In danger I will re mind you of the firefly and you will come then , Jack ! " she said , "you promise ? " "When , you iwant mo I will come as soon as I may. " "But that's only a half promise. " "Yes , " he replied , "but you know the other half Is pledged already. " "What ? to Valerie ? Already ? " "No , inadame , ito the duke. " "Ah , the duke Is well served ! " she said sndry as she bowed at the door ; but she laughed to herself when K closed behind him. "Yot you will come when I send for you , Jack ! " CHAPTER XV. Colendorii. As the night deepened the wind again rose , Us many voices howled around the castle and compelled the ear to listen. It volleyed yelling through the ravines , 'It ' roared among the lean plno trees Hko the eurf on an open icoa&t , It swept round the castle walls in long-drawn Infuriated screaming , that seemed changed with the echoes of wild pain and remoteness and fear. The narrow moon had long since sunk behind the rack of storm-driven clouds and left the mountains steeped in a tumultuous milk-colored dark ness of snow and -wind. Within the massive walls the reception rooms were closed and empty at last. The guests had separated and night had taken possesalon , tout not rest. Valerie , alone in her room and oppressed by a vague infection of wakefulness and fear , moved from window to window , listening to the -wild noises that were abroad and trying to reason herself out of the conviction of coming danger , which held her from sleep. She had thrown back the curtains from the windows. Her room occupied an exposed corner of the ( castle .tower . , which stood on the edge of the gorge through which the Kofn chafed Its way to the plains below the ford. A narrow strip of ground scarcely six feet In width nlono separated the wall of the tower from the precipice that fell sheer away to the foaming water far bolow. She tried to rend , but could not fix her attention. Her heart seemed In her ears and answered to every sound. And all the while In the scattered rooms and shadowy passages the drama which In volved her life was being slowly played out. Below on the ground floor of the tower Elmur and Sagan sat together. "By the way , my dear count , have you aver thought of the potability of Captain Colendorp's refusal to see things in our light ? " Elmur was asking , after an Interval filled In by the noises of wind and water which could not be shut out of the castle on ouch a night. The count looked up and scowled. "Leave the management of the affair tome mo , " be said. "Unless I were euro of my man , I should not be such a fool as to bring /him / hero to listen to what I shall nay to him tonight ; " then he added ns an after thought , "when once we have begun , Baron von Elmur , tl'ero can be no going back. Remember that ! The gumo must now ba played to the end , whatever that end Is. " Elmur pondered , Sagan was a bad tool , at once Htubborn and secretive , cunning enough to recognize and to resent 'handling , thick-headed and vain enough to blunder ruinously. And Elmur found at the last and most Important tnmnppt that for eome unex plained reason ho hod lost the wblphand of Count Simon , Up to this Interview , by alternate bluffing and flattery , ho had kept his place In the count's confidence , and exerted a guiding and restraining Influence over him. Now Sagan held him at arm's length , and waa plainly determined to act according to his own judgment without consulting the Ger man , The mischief had , of course , been done by the news of Elmur's engagement to Solpdorfa daughter , for Sngun , like otiiers of his limited mental development , was sensitively suspicious. Hence the bond be tween the two men was weak , Inasmuch as neither liked nor trusted the other , but it was strong , since both were tenacious and both had staked all the future on the chance of forcing u new regime upon Miiasau the Fr e , At this crisis , however , Elmur would gladly have hedged or mauked hla position , for he know himself to bo overmuch at the mercy of the equivocal tact and discretion of his ungovernable coadjutor. "I cannot help thinking that my pretence at the outset will make Captain Colondorp shy at any proposition whatever , " said El mur again , "Do you want to draw back ? You don't wish to appear'In the matter IB that it ? By St. Anthony , von Elmur , you showed me the road that has brought me to this pass and you will have to eland by mo now ! Al o , you -were wrong about Colendorp. When be sees 'or himself that I have Germany be hind me id wllr decide his double if be has any , which I don't expect. I have road the man , He is sour and ill-conditioned , the readiest stuff 4o make a rebel and a traitor of ! " What tnoro Elmur might have urged .w s cut ithort by the entrance of Captain Colon * dorp. Ho had left his sword outside. Ho aaluted Sagan in hi * stiff , punctilious way , his dark and eallonr face Impenetrable. "I am glad to see you , Captain Colondorp , " said SAgan with some constraint. Even ho felt the check of the man's Iron Impasslve- ne-ss. "You sent for mo , my lord , " returned Col- pndorp , as one who hints that time Is short and he would bo through with business. "Take a cigar , " eald the count , pushing n box across the table and nTfco pouring out a generous glass of the liquor , for the rnanu- ' facturo of which Mnnsau is famous the golden , glittering poison known as blzuttc. Colendorp accepted both In silence , but took a seat with a certain Blow unwilling ness that was suggestive. Colendorp was at the best unpllablo. His manner put an edge on Sagan'a temper. Ho plunged Into his subject. "Yes , 1 sent for you , Captain Colendorp , because I bellevo you to bo a faithful Maa- saun. You are not one of these blind optim ists who say because Maasau has been swing ing eo long ( between ruin and extravagance that she must swing on so forever. It Is not posslbfe. " "I am ttorry to hear that , my lord. " "No , I say It is not possible. Changes must bo made. In those days of large nmin- mcntH and growing kingdoms , Maasau can no longer stand alone. She must secure an ally , a friend powerful enough to back her up against all comers a great nation who will make the cause of lansau's freedom her own and help us to preserve the traditions of our country. " Elmur half expected the soldier to point this speech for hlmeclf by a glance toward the representative of Germany , but Colendort eat unresponsive and black-browed and gave no sign. "There is a party among us who advise us to wait until -we are forced into a corner and then to make choice of such an ally. But reasonable men know that a bargain one is driven to make must Inevitably be a bad bargain. The only hope for iMansau js to rnovo at once and to move boldly before It is too late and while we are Btilf In a posi tion to choose for ourselves under the condi tions which suit us beat and will best con duce to the preservation of our freedom. " Colendorp listened without any change of expression. "What 1 your opinion , Captain Colen dorp ? " asked Sagnn at last. "The only dllllculty would be to find a na tion sufllclontly disinterested for our purpose , my lord , " replied Colendorp deliberately. "I have found one. " Sagan Indicated El mur , but the guardsman still kept his gaze on the count. "Only one small obstacle stands In the way of carrying out our plans the plans , recollect , of the wisest and most patriotic of our countrymen. I need not . M I * ,1 Colendorp apparently thought for a mo ment. "M. Selpdorf ? " he asked. "But not at all ! Selpdorf is one of the foremost of my advisers. " Colendorp shook his head ns It no other name occurred to him ; Sagan bent across the table , the knotted hand on which he leaned twitching slightly. "You do not speak , but you know the truth. And you know 'tho ' the duke. " Colendorp's silence was telling on Sagan's self-conlrol. "Yes , the duke ! " ho reiterated. "He has never given a thought to the welfare of Maaeau. Its revenues are his necessity. That Is nlH If the ruler will not take the Inter ests of the country Into consideration his people must supply his place , Do not misun derstand my words ! " for at length a blacker frown passed over the Iron fnco of the list ener. "My meaning is not to hurt the duke at all ; our one wish Is to urge upon him the only course tor the safety of the country. To that end we mutt all combine. So long as his highness believes he can depend on his guard to .back him ho will hold out against even the most reasonable demands. Therefore , the guard must toe with us. " "I am not the colonel of the guard , " said Corendorp , quietly. Sagan took this In some form as on agreement with his views , some surrender on the part of the guardsman and he broke out into a flood of speech. "No , tut Wallenloupl A pig-headed old fool , - whowould never be brought to see an inch either side of his oath of allegiance , but would rush blindly on before the duke to his death and to the destruction of Maasau to anywhere ! Colendorp , Ulm being away , you are the senior officer , falling Wallenloup. It is not outside the possibilities of the game that you would find yourself In command of the guard when all was said and done. The highest ambition of a Maasaun is yours If you TVJH promise us your help In this strug gle ! A etrug-glo , mind you , no.t of serflsb mo tives nor for self-aggrandizement , but for Maasau 'the free ! " He stuttered In his earn estness and then stood waiting for the reply , "And If the duke does not consent to any changes ? " asked Colendorp coldly. At this juncture Elmur Interposed , "The count will cx ' But Sagan was rushing his fences now like a vicious horse. Having once given voice to his ambitions he had no longer the power to rIn in his speech. "By your leave. Baron von Elmur , I will speak ! Colondorp , you are a man to whom the world may yet give much. Your cmo chance is being offered to you "here " to- nlnht. The men will follow you If you Rive the word , nnd Wallcnloup , well Wallenloup must upon that occasion absent himself. U o your Influence with the other officers. They ore not to bo bribed , of course , but In the causa of the country each man would find his services well rewarded. Think before > ou answer me , manl Duke Oustav Is sunk In pleasure and has sold the country over mid over again to the highest bidder , ami only got out of his share of the bargain by Sclpdorf'8 Infernal clevermvs. This time \vo will play nn open game. With Germany to stand by us , we have nothing to fear ! " "And if his highness will not consent to these changes ? " again demanded Colendorp. "Then" Elmur laid a hand on the old nan's shoulder , but Sagan ( shook it off "then , Captain Colendorp , ho must go lo make room for another who can better fill his place ! Jimt ns Wallenloup must go to give room to another and less obstructl\o chief. " Colcndovp's dark face glared straight In front of him. Had It been Adlron Adlron , as a Into man , would have feigned agree ment and blown the plot afterwards. But never Colendorp ! He was narrow-minded , poor , embittered , scenting Insult In every careless word , proud , loyal , desperate. Mentally his vision was limited ; he could sea but ono thing at a time , but ho saw It very large , Sngan's treachery passed by him In that moment of mad feeling. Ho foil and felt only the deadly affront offered to him of nil the olllcers of the guard the coarse brlbo of thn colonelcy dangled before hie starving nose , for he alone of all the guard had been deemed corruptible ! The thought held more than the bitterness of death. 'He ' looked from wall to wall and know I himself an unarmed man , so he made ready to dlo as a soldier and a gentleman. But first he must clear his tarnished hcnor tarnished with Uho foul proposal made to him by Count Simon of Sagan. Ho bad passed through life a cold and. In his own sense of the word , an honorable man , dis liked , feared and avoided outside his own most Intlmato circle. He had been driven by.the Irresistible destiny of character to live a lonely man and now the strength of a lonely man was his the strength that con make an unknown death a glory for the sake of honor , not honors. So he spoke. "Youwore very good , Count Sagan , to make choice of mo 'before all the guard for this ! " ho said in Ills cold voice ; "may 1 ask why you so favored me ? " "Because I can read a man. " "And you read mo so ? Then hear me. I take the place you liavo given me. I take my place ns the least ntanch of all the guard. You have told mo so much , un masked BO clearly what you Intend to do , that , unless I fall in with your wishes , I can never hope to ICATC this room except feet foremost. I cay this ! Now see mo Act the least stanch of the guard ! " Without warning ho leaped upon Si ' ; .in , hurling htm backward with the force ot the midden Impact and burled his fingers In the gray bristling beard , Ho had but his bare handft with which to slay the enemy ot the dnko and used them with the strength of envenomed pride. Sagan , under the Iron throttling fingers , snatched at his hunting knife and stabbed fiercely upward between the 'bent arms at the guardsman's throat. Ineldo the room the heavy breathing nnd struggling of the men on the floor seemed to Elmur 'loud ' enough to alarm the whole ensile , in spite of the furious screaming ot the gale. Ho sprang to the writhing heap nnd tried to pinion Colcndorp , but as he touched him the wounded man fell back. In a moment Sagan was on his ( cot calling en Elmur to bring the lamp. He salzed Colcn dorp" under the arm nnd shoved h'm ' roughly toward the wall , where , throwing back a curtain , ho opened a door nnd thrust the tottering figure before him down n short flight of steps. Then another door was opened and the wind swept in with n wild yell , for n moment holding upright the falling man who staggered out on to the snowy tcrraco , mak ing n tragic center to the flickering path of light cast by the lamp In Elmur's hand. For nn instant Colcndorp stood swaying on the yielding miow by the cdgo of the precipice , nnd ns ho swayed his voice climbed through his broken throat : "Mnosaii the free ! Long live thedukol The duko's man I Colondorp of " The wind bad hilled for a second. Again the mad blast caught nnd wrenched Colcn- dorrVs figure , the nnow gave between his feet and he plunged forward heavily into "HE SEIZED COLLENDORP UNDER THE ARM AND SHOVED HIM ROUGHLY TOWARD THE WALU" the gorge of the Kofn river. The broken snow whirled up in a great cloud by the eddying gusts shone In the lamplight for a second like a wild toss of spray then set tled again upon the narrow terrace , obliter ating all' marks there. A window overhead was pushed open , but already the band of light upon the snow was gone and nothing remained for Valorle's eyes but a chaos of gloom. Yet she had seen something. Dimly through the double glass aho bad discerned the green nnd gold of the guard on the swaying figure before It dropped away forever - over into the night. CHAPTER XVI. " \VltU Yonr Llpa < o flic Hurt. " A few minutes later a knocking came to Mme. do 'Sagan's ' door. It was low and urgent. She ran to open it , her heart in her throat. IA hand pushed her aside with thorough rough , careless force of full control. Khe recoiled with on exclamation , for a glflnce showed her that the count was In one of his moot deadly moods , "What have you done whore Is Selpdorf'n daughter ? " ho snarled. AsiMme. de Sagan shrank from the menac ing hand the door opened n second time , and Valerie herself stumbled In Tilth a bloodless face. face.At At the sight of the count she drew her self together like ono who faces nn unex pected peril. " 1 apologize for coming , but 1 am frJght- < > ned. The storm Is dreadful. So 1 came to you , Isolde. " Isolde put out her arms with a sobbing cry. cry."I "I am frightened , too , " she Mid , with n swift , resentful glance nt her husband. "I was coming for you. Stay with me , Valerie. I will not be left alone ! " Sagnn looked from ono to the other of the two beautiful faces , nnd n sensation of sur prised dismay , to which ho was n. stranger , i arose in his mind. Hitherto women hau. ibecn to him possessions , not problems. Now a very nnclent truth burst In upon him with | nil the force of n revelation. To own a , woman Is not always to understand her. The unexpected defiance on his wife's face con founded him. "Isoldol" ho began , etepplnp toward her. But the young countess clung to Valerie. "Stay with me , Valerie ! " she Implored. I "I am far more frightened than you , for I know what there is to fonr. " With a loud curse ot bewilderment ho strode out , 'banging ' the door 'behind ' him. laoldo sprang to It , slipping the bolts with trembling fingers. Then eho throw herself upon n couch nnd broke into pitiful Bob bing. bing.Valerie Valerie ntood looking down at her in nn agony of suspense , yet remembering that Bolf-oontrol is the" chief rule of every game , 1'resently she put her hand on Isolde's shoulder. The younpr countess started up /with a suppressed scream. "I had forgotten you were there. Valeric , life will murder me ! Ho hates mo ! O , I have no ono to save me ! " Valerie looked around. After the scene she had just witnessed this suggestion did not sound so iwlld as it would have douo at another time. ( "You arc nervous , Isolde ; ono could fancy anything on suoh a night , " ehe said , sooth ingly. "Havo you lived so long In Mansau with out knowing that hero at Sagan everything IB possible ? Ho threatens me , nnd O , my God , what shall I do ? " Valerie sat down beside her and put a steady hand upon her nrm. She had her own object In this visit , but it must bo np- preached -with caution. "I am here. I will help you ! " aho Bald , reassuringly. Isolde sat up and put her arm round her companion's shoulders. "I must trust you though . Valerie , there is ono person who might "be able to help mo tonight , " Bho whispered close to the girl's ear. "He might save me. But ho must como to mo here now ! I dnro not leave this room. Simon " she shiv ered. "Who la It ? " a new coldness crept into Valorle's voice as she listened. "Can you not guess ? It is Captain Rally- wood. " Valerie had "braced " herself to meet this and It only added proof to her own fears for his safety. Como what might , she would undertake any message from Isolde to get the opportunity of warning' the duke's guard of the coming danger and to tell the fate of that gallant figure now tossing to and fro V the battering rush of the Kofn. She drew herself away from. Isolde's embrace with a shudder. "What Is the matter with you ? " Isolde peered up at her cwlth a quick scrutiny. "You are shaking all over. Valerie , is it because of him ? " "I am very old , " returned the girl with a smllo. "I 'am quite willing to bring Captain Rnllywood. But where Is he ? " "Ho Is on guard In the duko's ante-room , " She turned her head away. "Then , Isolde , you know It Is Impossible ! He cannot come ! " ' "Even if It costs my life ? " Bald the countess , "bitterly. " " 0 , how cheap you hold other people's lives , Valerie ! You are a true 'Maasaun ! " Valerie thought a moment. The request of Mmc. do Sagan fell In with her own plan. It would enable her to solve the doubt that was agonizing her ; yet If she found him safe , how could she lead herself to tempt him to his own dishonor ? A cruel question rose within Tier. Should she put him to the supreme premo test of life and love would she not rather know him dead In the cold river than living and false to her dim ideal of him ? "There Is no time to spare , " IsoHo's voice broke in upon her. "If you could make him know the danger I stand In , he must conic * . Remind him of his promise to me. " "But If lie will not come ? " Valeria forced the words. "Then ask him to giro you the clgarotto cane of Maasaun leathcrwork. That will re mind him of many things. But ho will come , " she. ended more confidently. Valerie TOKO. "I am ready. I know the passages are washed. I saw no one , yet I felt the shad ows were full of eyes. Lend mo your sable { cloak , Isolde , everyone will retognlia that , unit with this Inco nbout my brad I * hall b free to go where I please ns theCountci * Sngan , " "Vnlprlo" Mme > . de SARAH held the clrl back "listen to me ; you must m ko him como. I must tell you nil. Rnllywood Is In danger ; nothing can snvo him unless you separate him from the duke " She otopped panting , then bared her nrm. "Homlml him bow ho promised me with bin lips upon the hurt ! Now go' " The next second Vnlcrlo Solpdorf found herself nlono in the dim corridor In which the lights burned low. She stood qulto still , the shock of the last sentence , "with till lips upon the hurl. " still ringing in her ears . Rallywood ! Rallywood with the clear grny oyw nnd that look In them which ro- nialnod persistently In her memory. Her father had taught her ( n suspect the whole world. But she hod chosen to think dlflsr- cmtly ot this man , oven when she told her self nho hated litm. Different from others exempt from the unlvcmal stain of hypoc risy ono to bo trusted , If It were poslblo to trust any. Then she turned vpon herself. After all had he deceived her , had she not rather deceived herself ? He hod spoken openly to her of his despairing secret , of the womnn ho could never hope to win. And slio had concluded what ? Nothing dcllnltp , but there had been n dim thought. O , It wns un bearable ! But why did she linger to think ot this while Maa.o.iii Itself wns In danger ? She hurried nlong the jmssagcs , moving with n soft swlftncna of silken garments and ns she passed flip hidden eyes of the watchers looked out after the muflled figure. Mmo. do Sag-an wns free to como nnd go. From the bend ot the great staircase narrow corridor branched away to the duko'i quarters. A very dim light shone from th cmbrnsuro nt the end nn aho hurried along , nnd before she could stop herself she ran right Into the arms of n tall man who was coming out toward her. Ho put her gently l > ack ngalnst the wall nnd funked nt her , but the lace was drawn close nbout her fnco. " 1 must pass , " she said. The man's back was to the light , but sha know the shnpo ot the head and shoulders. "No ono can pass , inadnnic. " The relief ot knowing Rnllywood was safe jarred in her mind with the hideous sus picion that Isolde's allurements had nftor nil conquered his nllcglanco to the duke. Ho had clearly recognized the cloak and believed her to bo the countess. She would have boon moro than woman not to take advantage ot the mistake. She bent forward n Mttlo "Como with me , " she whispered. "I cannot. " "Do you forget your promise ? " "Under the circumstances" ho glanced back at the duko's door "you know I could make none. " "But I am dn danger and you promised fiuroly you promised , with your lips there ! " Rnllywood stared at the shapely hand and firm white wrist thrust out from the dark ; sables , with a great leap at his heart. Ttao sight took him unawares. "Valerie ! " ho c.xcfalmed. ( To bo Continued. ) MATTIU3W AHNOMl'S SALMON. Poet AVnn So Kxcltril Over Hir First Ho CntiKht ( lint He Wrpt. I 'heard ' recently n , pleasant story of Matthew 'Arnold ' , says a writer la l.ao . Pall Mall Gazette. Within almost the last year of 'his ' llfo ho went down to stay with a friend on the Wyo nnd expressed his de sire to catch a salmon. The.ro was some doubt as to 'whether ho hml thrown a line ibcforo , but ho had bought a rod , reel mid : some rudimentary tncklo. A visitor in the house for 'his ' host did not llsh set him up with a fly nnd undertook the charge oj his efforts. The keeper iwas summoned , and having been consulted , indicated a pool with a lawn Bloplng to It where no chance of fouling trees Interposed nnd where a salmon had Tiecn living In tlio low watetf for a considerable time. By all reasonable ) probabilities Uio fish iras certain not to rise , so tlio mentor sat down and smoked pcacnbly. To his utter amazement the miracle happened ; Oio eaw the fish coma for the fly , seize It before the poet couldi snatch It away , and Immediately the light began. Arnold was adjured lo "give him thn butt" and the salmon , ns luck directed , ran down iby the tank. Tbo friend looking en thought no chance should bo wasted , made a wild dive with the landing net and In a moment the salmon wns nn the bank. It was summary , but eufllclent. The poet was so exulted that ho actually wept and hla frli > ml persuaded him that as Providence had specially intervened to lot him know for once the Joys of the barbarian , he had better let well enough nlono nnd go homa with his prize. That was Arnold's llrat nnd only salmon. p'w Xavy In \titnholl. . , New York Sun : In France's navy thora are forty-five admirals to 1.7CO officers and 41,036 men. In the nrmy there arc 830 non * eruls to 21.IS8 oIllcorB nnd .740.000 men , whir * the marines have seventeen gennrals to 2,105 officers and 52 803 men. The marines eomplaln of the inequality In the proportion tion of gencralH , they having but ono to about 124 officers , while the army has ono to sixty-live. iQao ® ? pepsia Most people eat more than is good for them. The stomach tries to digest all that's put into it , but if repeatedly overloaded , it goes on a strike. That's indigestion. Rich , over-sweet , indigestible food weakens the stomach and makes it unable to take care of the material put into it. More food taken into a weakened stomach than the stomach can digest , stays there , forms gases and rots , bringing on all the horrors of dyspepsia The only way to cure dyspepsia is to clean out the digestive canal with CASCARETS. Keep it clean with tascarets eat light food sparingly , and give the stomach a chance to rest up and get strong again. Bo sur © you get the gonulno CASCARETTS ! when he is nr. losing to a heiress , do you ? Indianapolis uournal. mur- For mix year * I wn a victim ofdr - pcucla In Its worst form. I could oat nothing mf but milk toast , and at times my stomach you. would not retain and digest even thuL Last you."F March I began taking CASCARETS and since "F then I have steadily Improved , until I am as he t. well as I ever was fn my life. " DAVID n. Mcm-iir , Newark. O. quL po" ' The discovery , .by the n--jhbors f-t a I ANNUAL SALES , 5OOO.OOO BOXES , THIS IS lOc. ' 25c. 'SOc. THE TABLET DRUGGISTS ACRT , T'Jf TegeU" ' COInP < " "Jmercurial or other mlner.l pin-pelton In Ca.careU. C oareU promptly , I Inte'tin" ' Tht * not < " * conitlpathn , but correct ny nd ereryform of inesuUrlty of the boweli , inclun .rra.nddyentry sooaossKXMxxxrasasoooa