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About The Loup City northwestern. (Loup City, Neb.) 189?-1917 | View Entire Issue (March 6, 1913)
The Lady Mount By FREDERIC S. ISHAM Author of “The Strollers” “Under The Rose «. una... ...» ... V — £tc — lilac rations by Xw^yers Copnicbc. 1908. by The Bobbt-McrrUl Co. rest; for hardly liacT the" sun seT its seal in. the sky than from the forests the appearance of a body of troops rewarded the watchers. From hovel to hut the word went, and men, wom en and children, uukempt and curious, ran down to the beach to await the approach of the guard. Proudly had It departed, with waving of plumes; slowly it returned, a bedraggled pro cession of staggering horses and heavy-eyed men. Had it come back a little earlier, the dark might have kept the truth from the people; now the pitiless red glare revealed to the full the plight of the troopers. It told, too, the disappointment of Monsieur le Commandant, who looked neither to the right nor to the left; and the de spair of my lord, the Marquis, pale counterfeit of his debonair self. “Her Ladyship! They haven’t brought her back!” Low murmurs arose; grew louder; some one laughed. But sullenly, without answer, the sol dieis dragged by, Into the town, and laboriously up »o the top of the Mount. At the gate liis Excellency waited; cast one glance at the company—their leader—and silently turned! Later, however, was he closeted with both the commandant and the Marquis—a brief period with the former who de parted, carrying a look eloquent of the unpleasantness of the interview. “And now,” said the Governor in tones somewhat strained, as the offi cer’s dejected footfall died in the dis tance, "we’ve got rid of that dolt, let us consider, my Lord, the purport of this outrage ” "Purport?” repeated the Marquis petulantly, stretching his stiff legs. "Did they not tell me that if anything happened to the Black Seigneur, they ■would hold her, Elise, answerable for It? You see they had learned,” bit terly, "of your intention to hang him after the wedding!” "From which you infer?" “They will keep her as hostage! In deed, they said as much, when—" "They bound you, my Lord?” The color came to the young man’s face. “It was a trap,” he said, his voice pitched higher; “and they came prepared, not for one man, but the guard!” "Still it was 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 it. She seemed in a wild, headstrong mood; nothing would stop her. Now,” moodily he rose, “mon dieu! What has she brought upon herself? Where is she now ?” His Excellency did not stir; his face, like a pale mask, was turned aside. "I do not think," he said slow ly, as arguing to convince himself, "she is in any immediate danger.” But my lord caught irritably at the word. "No danger! She is surround ed by it. And we? what are we to do? Sit idly here? Give me a ship, your Excellency, and I will follow the boat of this Black Seigneur, and when I find it, force them to—” “■\Vhat?" The Governor’s eyes swerved dully. “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 dare!” cried my lord with sparkling glance. But his Excellency shook his bead. “No; no; it won’t do! And now,” again looking away, “leave me, ir.y 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 hia Ex celleny’s anxiety, or the Marquis’ im patience; for during that period of waiting came no word of my lady, or news of her captors. Mysteriously as a phantom ship had the boat that had carried the Governor's daughter away appeared on the coast and vanished, and from none of the Governor's ves sels, or any of the flsing craft could be gleaned 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 temporising lay great er assurance of safety to Ills daughter than in precipitate action. So the sit uation grew hourly more trying, until —as if it already were not intolerable enough!—a new concern added Iron ical weight to present perplexities. My young lord, between whom and the master of the Mount had been growing a more strained relationship, sought the Governor one day, and, in excited tones, announced he had just learned that the prisoner, the Elack Seigneur, was ill and probably would survive but a short time longer in the dungeon where he was confined. As his Excellency knew, the fellow had been wounded, and now with scanty nourishment, want of air, and close quarters, was generally in a bad way. His Excellency heard; moistened his lips and seemed about to speak, but was silent, while more anxiously the young man went on. Of course un der different conditions, with care and attention—a well-lighted room and ex cellent feed—they might hope to re store their prisoner’s strength; at least, preserve for a time one so pre cious to themselves, upon the thread of whose life hung my lady’s! His Excellency still answered no word; only looked down, and, knitting bis brows, the young nobleman rest lessly watted. At length, with an ex pression on his face the Marquis had never before seen there, his Excel sency rose, moved like an automaton to the bell, and called for the jailer. “Monsier le Marquis has a few in structions to jjlve /oa“ The Gov •nfi-T's vo'ce, tTiit a TTreatk, foiil what he words cost him. T’.j i «in tespcatW gravely, look iif ‘i ons to t-K oihrr. “l.sc your own judgment, in tha ia‘.i r, Ujy Lord,'’ went on his Kxcel aaey, and left them together. After that, & change, subtle but 'eep-rooted, came over the Governor; i silent man always, now his taciturn ly become most marked. Under stress >f untoward circumstances, all the tuesfs at the Mount, save the young ic'jic, departed; but his Excellency ippear'd hardly to notice their going; .lr,.\.ing his cloak of reserve closer about him; seemed only to ask for that solitude, not difficult. to find in his aerial kingdom. Sometimes for a • ong while he would stand in the clois ter, gazing seaward; again wander in the church, look at the monuments, always to pass one of them quickly. Only on a single occasion, when the Marquis, who was da ill' beecmir.-. more nervous, sougne nun. wirn a in vcrable report cf his prisoner-patient, did the Governor give sign that be neath this apparent apathy yet stirred malevolence and rancor. “Yes, yes,” he returned, a spark of Ill-concealed venom in his glance; "he is doing well, no doubt! I am sure be will do well. But well or ill, I wish to hear no more of him! No mere. Mon sieur le Marquis!” Kis voice vibrated; surprised, the kinsman of the King stared, then stiffly turned away. So matters stood, when one day, alone in the cloister, his Excellency was disturbed by a rough-looking fel low who brought a letter and said he would await the reply at the tavern in the town. Deliberately the Governor took the missive, tore open the envelope, and Surveyed the small bit of paper it con tained. Whatever the brief message told him, his Excellency's face did not change, and he was still coldly, care fully studying sentences and words after his fashion, when through the door my lord, the Marquis, stepped in seme haste Lifting his eyes, the Gov ernor had no difficulty in reading the question on the young man's counte nance. For a moment they looked at each other, and then the long, white fingers of his Excellency again sought the letter. “They,” his voice seemed to clip the words, “propose an exchange of prisoners, and give me three days to consent to It!” CHAPTER XXX, A Sound Afar. About midway in the curve of one ol the numerous bays, marking the coast line, and several hours distant from the Mount, stands a stone cross erect ed by an English marauder to indicate the place of his landing. The symbol is visible on all sides from afar, for before it are the sands and the sea and behind stretches the land barren of wood—low, level, covered only with marsh grass. Toward this monument of man’s conquest—most prominent object in a prospect, dreary and mo notonous—rode, late one afternoon, a band of horsemen. At their head gal loped my lord, the Marquis; in the center could be seen a man with bound arms whose horse was led by one of the others. This person—a pris oner, thin, haggard, yet still muscular of frame—from time to time gazed about; a look of inquiry or calculation in the black undaunted eyes. “What prison are you taking me to now?” once he asked the trooper who held the reins of his horse. “And why do you g<j in this direction? Is it you dare not ride along main highways on account of the people?” “Never you mind!" came the gruff answer. “And as for the people, they’d better look out!" “Bah!” laughed the prisoner. “You can put some of them in cells, but not all!” “There may be something worse than a cell waiting for you!” was the malicious retort. “No doubt!” said the other stoically. But as his eyes again swept the ho rizon, from the opposite direction ap peared another band of riders. At first the prisoner, regarding them, looked puzzled; then as the new-com ers rode straight and rapidly on to ward the cross, his countenance ex pressed a faint understanding. A fresh relay of men, he concluded; one his present guard would consign him to, and then themselves return to the Mount. Still was the meeting-place an odd one. and the demeanor of the two boaies of men not entirely consistent with his conclusions; for, as they drew nearer, both parties slackened their pace, suspiciously to scrutinize each other. “Twenty—the number agreed upon!” muttered the Marquis, and spurring on fast, led his troops nearer the cross. Not many paces distant the word v. as given to halt, and, us they obeyed, " f 'c other side o' the monument the , strange men likewise drew rein. At | the same moment, there flashed on the I cf stive's mind a discovery. These j races, iookuik .•>< grimly out over the i marshy field at them, were not the woocen visages or paid soiciera, but of men he knew—his men! Across the space separating the tve parties hi could read their quick looks—their satisfaction—their complacency! He watched them with eyes in which oride and tenderness mingled. And then, for the first iime, did he observe they had brought some one with them —a woman, or a girl—the Governor’s daughtei' The bold black eyes of the prisoner regarded her fixedly. What did it mean? said his keen gaze. Colorless as marble, my lady held herself very erect on her horse; then while his glance yet probed her, the proud face slowly changed; on the cold cheek youth’s bright banner flared high. The voung man turned; following the di section of her gaze, looked at the Mar quis; my lord's features radiated fe licitations; his eyes shone with wel come. And a fuller understanding came over the prisoner; in some mys terious manner had the Lady Elise been made captive, and now had the nobleman come to escort his betrothed back to the palace. Even as the Black Seigneur reach--' this conclusion, he became cogniza his bonds had been loosened; the rein, placed in his hands. “You are free,’ said a voice and mechanically he rode toward his comrades. Thus, near the crumbling and time worn cross, was the exchange of pris oners effected; the girl whirled away by my lord, who seemed fearful of treachery, and the Black Seigneur left to the greeting of his men. “Now, by the tuneful Nine”—the poet, Gabriel Gabarie, pushing his bur ly form to the front, was the first to extend a hand—“but, from your looks, :he Governor looks ill to the welfare of his lodgers!” “And had we riot captured my lady,” spoke up another, gazing after the party of the Marquis, “he would have looked yet worse to the welfare of one of them, no doubt!” “Drink this, Seigneur;” cried a third; “you must drink this—a spe cial bottle we brought for the occa sion!” “Sent by old Pierre when he heard we were coming for you!” added the poet. “Your drinking-cup, lads! Un fasten the skin for yourselves! To I mon capitaine!”— Once, twice, deeply they drunk— toast and vintage alike to their taste; hen straightening, looked at the Black leigneur whose eyes yet burned in the •'.irection my lady had gone. With a start he seemed to recall himself to :he demands of the moment; his first questions they expected; the ship— where did she lie? Snug and trim in t neighboring cove, ready to slip out, if occasion required and danger pressed—which contingency they did not just then expect, since at the moment was his Excellency more con cerned with affairs on the land than matters pertaining to the sea. What these paramount interests were, the voung man, on whose thin cheek now burned a little color, did not at once ask; only gazed inquiringly over the group, where one, whom he might have expected, was absent. “Sanchez—he is not with you?" A look of constraint appeared for an instant on the poet’s face. “No, he’s with the people, I expect, fou see,” he went on, “things have been happening since you elected to enact the mountebank. The bees have been busy, and this little hive they call France is now full of bother and bustle. The bees that work have been buzzing about those that don’t; they made a great noise at Versailles, but the King Drone only listened; did not try to stop it, fearing their sting. They hummed at the door of the Bastile, until the parasite bees, not liking the music, opened the doors, let them all in—” “The Bastile has fallen?” The listener’s voice rang out; his eyes, searching sharply the features of the bard, seemed to demand only tb« truth, plain, unadorned. “It has,” answered the other gravely. “And the tune sung in and around Paris has kept on spreading until now It is everywhere! You may hear it in the woods; along the marshes; out over the strand! The very Mount, immovable, seems to listen. When, will the storm break? Today? To morrow? It needs but a word from Paris, and then—” The poet broke off, and silently the Black Seigneur seemed to be weigh ing the purport of the news; for some moments stood as a man deep in thought; then, arousing himself, spoke a few words, and gave a brief order. | Swiftly the riders swept away in the direction from which they had come, and only when they had gone some dis tance did the young wan once more >turn to the j>oet with a question At the Opera House MONDAY MARCH 10, 1913 One Night only Carl M. Dalton, Present the Funniest of all Farce Comedies Ole Olson IN SPIRITIAND A Three Act License For Laughter A laugh from start to finish HMs5^ * All our own special scenery Good singing and dancing specialties Tickets on sale at Vic Swanson’s store. Price 2b, 35 and 50c CONTEST BULLETIN Big Excitement, Look! Look!! Only Twelve Days, and These Fine Special Prizes are Yours WHO WILL WIN? The Special Prizes that we gave away Wednesday was a great success, and as a reward of merrit and appeciation of ex cellent work done by contestants and their friends, we have decided to make another big and expensive Special Prize offer. The harvest time is at hand. NOW! RIGHT NOW is your chance to make a cinch finish. It will be worth anyone’s time to try for these special prizes-Everyone starts for them on an equal basis, as only subscription payments tnrned in be. tween the dates of March 6 and March 19, inclusive, both dates will count on thes awards and the work done between these dates, will assist in winning the antomobile. Now dear contestant, how easy it is if v<>u have the proper spirit, you must have the proper spirit before you can succeed, At all times be aggessive, Jet everybody know that you want a 5 years subscription. Special Prizes to be Awarded Between March 6 and March 19 One Diamond Ring - - 818 One Silver Mesh Bag - 812 One Toilet Set, Stag Horn, Plate Glass 86. One Gold Calling Card Case and Purse $2.50 And Every Contestant who turns in $25 will get a §2.50 Hand Bag SPECIAL PRIZES One Diamond Ring.$18.00 One Silver Mesh Bag.§12.00 One Toilet Set, Stag Horn Finish. Plate Glass.§ 6.00 One Gold Calline Card Case and Purse .§ 2.50 And everv contestant who turns in §25 will get a hand bag .§2.50. To be given between the dates of March 6 and March 19, inclusive, of both dates. The choice of prizes will be given to the candidate having the most mbney to her credit and the candidate having the second largest amount will get second choice and so on down until the four better prizes are taken, and then each candidate turning in as much as 525 will get a nice §2.50 leather hand bag. The special prizes will be on exhibition at Vaughn & Hinman’s and Swanson & Lof holm’s. They are all nice prizes, and are fully guaranteed by these gentlemen, they say they are first class ar.d their word goes. Go and see these fine prizes. $55^ How easy you can get this $25 00. Just ask twelve of your friends to subscribe for the Northwestern for two years each, and possibly you can get people to give you a five year subscription each' Now Contestant you are asking no favors of a man when you ask him to subscribe for four years in advance, as he will get his money’s worth. Get busy and get a fine prize. Call the Contest Manager and tell him vour troubles. Prize To Be Awarded At Close Of Contest Special Prize Awards The candidate that has turned in the most money be tween the dates of March 6, and March 19,(both dates in clusive) will get choice of the special prizes and tne can didates that have the largest amount of money in respec tive rotation will get choice until all the larger prizes are taken, and every candidate that has turned in $25. betwee March 6 and. March 19 at 6 p. m. will get a hand bag, so don’t get discouraged you will get a prize. It’s easy to collect $25, all you have to do is to ask four subscribers to pay 4 years each and you have it. You must not be afraid to ask for big subscriptions. Your friends can pay ahead as far as t;hey like. A word to the wise is sufficient, the subscription price of this paper is $1.50 per year. Contestants who live outside of Loup City may send their money by mail with list of sub scriptions, but the post' mark must show that the subscriptions were mailed not later than six o'clock p. m., Mar, 19 Schedule of Votes on Sucscrip tion Contest 1 year $1.50.300 votes 2 years $3.00."00 votes 3 years $4.50.1200 votes 4 years $6.00. 1800 votes 5 years $7.50.2500 votes 6 years $9.00.3300 votes 7 years $10.50. 4200 votes 8 years $12.00.5200 votes 9 years $13.50 .6300 votes 10 years $15.00.7500 votes Not The Close of The Contest Do not confuse March loth and the’ prizes to be awarded at that time with the close of the contest. The above prizes will be given as an extra reward for work done by centestants from March 6 to March 19. The clos ing day of the contest when the Auto mobile is to be awarded will be an nounced later. The regular schedule of votes will apply to money turned in on special prize period, and the votes will count on the Automobile and other capital prizes. Prizes For Everyone All contestants wno turn in at least $25.00 who do not win one of the above prizes will receive a beautiful leather hand bag. JP“h Contest Manager, Care Northwestern
