OCR Text |
Show "Yon were picked up for dead os the beach In the storm, she answered, "and wire brought hither by two captains in the service of the Prince of Plrssenburg!" hue S 1&CRQCKEZrT.leftcr a (Copyright. IMS, 1M CHAPTER XVI. Born on the Great Wave. It chanced that In the chamber from which Werner von Orseln had come o swiftly at the cry of the Wordiest Man. Boris and Jorian, after sleeping through the disturbances above them and the first burst of the storm, were waked by the blowing open of the lattice as the wind reached its height. It was tall Boris who first made his way to the window. The lattice hung by one leathern thong. The other had been torn away and indeed it was a wonder that the whole framework had not been blown bodily into the room. For the tempest preened against it straight from the north, and the sticky spray from the waves which broke on the shingle drove stingingly into the eyes of the s as he looked out. Nevertheless he thrust his head out. d looked a moment through we and then "Jorian, cried, eyelids are surely lost. The sea is breaking in upon us. It has passed the beach of shingle out there!" And seizing Jorian by the arm Boris made his way to the door by which they had entered, and. undoing the bolts, they reached the walled courtyard, where, however, they found themselves in the open air, but sheltered from the utmost violence of the tempest. But the Instant Boris head d was above the copestone, and the a like met him blast northerly wall, he fairly gasped, for the furious onslaught of the storm seemed to blow every particle of breath clean out of his body. In another moment Jorian was beside him, crouching on the top of the wall to save himself from being carried away. And there, in the steamy smother of the sea, backed by the blue electric flame of the lightning, they saw the slant masts of a vessel laboring to beat against the wind. "Poor souls, they are gone! said Boris, trying to shield his eyes with his palm, as the black hull disappeared and the masts seemed to lurch forward Into the milky turmoil. "We shall never see her again. For one moment all was dark as pitch, and the next a dozen flashes of lightning burst every way, as many appearing to rise upwards as could be seen to fall downward. A black speck poised Itself on the crest of a wave. "It is a boat! It can never live! cried the two men together, and dropping from the top of the wall they ran down to the shore, going as near as they dared to the surf which, arched and fell with ponderous roar on the narrow strip of shingle. "Back, Boris, back! cried Jorian of suddenly, as after a succession smaller waves a gigantic and majestic roller arched along the whole seaward front, stood a moment black and Imminent above them, and then fell like a whole mountain range In a snowy avalanche of troubled water which rushed savagely up the beach. The two soldiers, who would have faced unblanched any line of living enemies In the world, fled terror-strickeat the onrush of that sea of milk. "And where Is this place, and when can I leave It to proceed upon my Journey?" The girl's head was turned away from him a trifle more haughtily than before, and she answered coldly, "Yon are In a certain fortified grange somewhere on the Baltic shore. As to when you ran proceed on your Journey, that depends neither on you norj on me. I am a prisoner here. And i so I fear you must also consider your self! Then has my broth"A prisoner! starter ?" cried the Prince-Bishop- , and elbow his on Instantly ing up dropping back again upon the pillow with a groan of mingled pain and weaknesa. Joan looked at him a moment and then, compressing her lips with quick resolution, went to the bedside and with her hand under his head rearranged the pillow and laid him back in an easier posture. "You must lie still, she said In a commanding tone, and yet softly, "you are too weak to move. Also you must obey me. I have some skill In leech-craf- t. Fte&tfdL3l&o by 8. R. Crockett.) grizzled hair blown out like a misty aureole about his temples. "Come down, shouted Boris, making a trumpet of his hand to fight the wind withal. We hare found a drowned man on the beach!" They carried the body into the great hall, where the duchess and the old servitor met them. There they laid him on a table. Joan herelf lifted the lantern and held it to his face. At the sight the heart of the duchess leaped wildly within her. Conrad!" she cried that word and no more. And the lantern fell to the floor from her nerveless hand. It was the White Knight of the Courtland lists, the noble Prince of the summer parlor, the prelate of her marriage day. Conrad of Courtland. Prince and Cardinal, but to her. "he" the only "he. red-robe- d man-at-arm- half-close- Ice-col- n When Conrad. Cardinal-designat- e of the Holy Roman church and Archbishop of Qourtland, opened his eyes, it seemed to him that he had passe)! through warring waters Into the serenity of the life beyond. A girl, sweet and stately, sat by his bedside. By the door to which alone he could raise his eyes, stood a tall, gaunt man, clad In gray from head to foot, his hands clasped In front of him, and his chin sunk upon his breast. The Prince-Bishopeyes rested languidly on the girl's face, on which fell the light of a shaded silver lamp. There was a book In her lap, written upon sheets of thin parchment, bound in silver embossed leather. But she did not read It. Instead she breathed softly and regularly. She was asleep, with her hand on the coverlet of rosy silk. Slowly the drifting mists steadied themselves athwart his brain. The actual recomposed itself out of the shreds of dreams. Conrad found himself In a long, low room such as he had seen many times in the houses of o rltters along the Baltic shores. The beams of the roof-tre- e above were carven and ancient. Arras went everywhere about the walls. Sliver candlesticks, with princely crests graven upon them, stood by his bedhead. After each survey his eyes settled on the sleeping girl. She was very young and very beautiful. It was yet It could not be the Duchess Joan, whom he himself had married t5 his brother Louis In the cathedral church of his own archleplscopal city. Conrad of Courtland had not been trained a priest, yet, as was comnym at that age, birth and circumstance had made him a prince of the Roman church. He had been thrust into the hierarchy solely because of his name, for he had succeeded his uncle Adrian In his posts and emoluments as a legal heir succeeds to an undisputed property. In due time he received his red hat. Nevertheless, Conrad of Courtland had all the warm life and Imperious Impulses of a young man within his breast. Tet he was no Borgia or Della Rovere, cloaking scarlet sins with scarlet vestments. For with the high dignities of his position and the solemn work which lay to his hand In his northern province there had come the resolve to be not less, but more faithful than those martyrs and confessors of whom he read dally In his Breviary. So this finest and most chivalrous of young northern knights had laid down the weapons of his warfare to take up the crucifix, and now had set out Joyfully for Rome to receive his cardinals hat on his knees as the last and greatest gift of the vicar of Christ. But scarcely was he clear of the Courtland shores when there had come the storm, the shipwreck, the wild struggle among the white and foaming breakers and then, emergent, like heaven after purgatory, the quiet of this sheltered room and this sleeping girl, with her white hand lying lax and delicate on the rosy silk. The book slipped suddenly from her fingers, falling on the polished wood of the floor with a startling sound. Then, from the pillow on which his head lay, Joan of Hohenstcin saw the eyes of the Prince Conrad gazing at her, dark and solemn from within the purplish rings of recent peril. "You are my brother's wife! he said softly, but yet In the same rich and thrilling voice she had listened to with so many in the summer palace, and had last heard through the cathedral church of Court-lanon that day when her life had ended. A chill came over the girl's face at his words. I am Indeed the Duchess Joan of she answered. Hohenstein, "My father willed that I should wed Prince Louis of Courtland. Well, I married him and rode away. In so much I am your brother's wife. He smiled wanly. The light of the lamp seemed to 'waver again before his eyes. The world grew full of sleep and rest and refreshment. There was no longer need to care about anything. His eyes closed, and he semed about to sink back into unconsciousness, when Joan rose, and with a few drops of Dessauer's phial, which she kept by her In case of need, she called him back from the misty verges of the things which are without. He came to himself with a start. Will you tell me how I came here, and to whom I am Indebted for my " he said. 's well-to-d- won-drous- northerly blast held him like a wall. By this time the morning was advancing and the storm growing somewhat less continuous. The thunder retreated growling behind the horizon. The violent lightning grew less continuous, and only occasionally rose and fell in vague, distant fllckerings toward the north, as if someone were lifting a lantern almost to the sea-lin- e and dropping It again before reaching it. Looking back from the summit of the mound, Boris saw something dark lying high up on the beach amid a wrack of seaweed and broken timber which marked where the great ware had stopped. Something odd about the shape took his eye. A moment later he was leaping down again toward the shore, taking his longest strides, and sending the pebbles spraying out In front and on all sides of him. He stooped and d found the body of a man, tall, and of manly figure. He was and stripped to his bareheaded breeches and underwear. Boris stooped and laid his hand upon his heart Yes, so much was certain. He was not dead. Boris took a handful of small pebbles and threw them up at a lighted window. The head of Werner von Orseln immediately appeared, The Ice-ho- ld well-forme- "I am content to be your prisoner, said the Prince-Bishosmiling "that is, till I am well enough to proceed heart-stirring- s d lit-1?- "Conradl she cried. on my Journey to Rome, whither the Holy Father Pope Sixtus hath summoned me by special messenger. "I fear me much, answered Joan, that, spite of the Holy Father, we may be fellow prisoners of long standing. Those of my own folk who hold me here against my will are hardly likely to let the brother of Prince Louis of Courtland escape with news of my hiding place and hermitage! The young man seemed as If he would again have started up. but with a gesture smilingly Imperious Joan foTbade him. she said, "perhaps If you are patient I will tell you more. Here comes our hostess. It Is time that I should leave you. Theresa von Lynar came softly to the side of the bed anil stood beside Joan. The young Cardinal thought that he had never seen a more queenly pair Joan resplendent in her girlish strength and beauty, Theresa still In the ripe glory of womanhood. There was a gentler light than before in the elder woman's eye, and she cast an almost deprecating glance upon Joan. For at the first sound of her approach the girl had stiffened visibly, and now, with a formal word as to the sick mans condition and a cold bow to Conrad, she moved away. Theresa watched her a little sadly as she passed behind the deep curtain. Then she sighed, and turning again to the bedside she looked long at the young man without speaking. (To be continued.) ," GATES WAS NOT BETTING. When Mifehty Plunger Backed Down. The right before the Frick commit tee presented Its report to the Kquit-abl- e directors a party of the warmest sports in Wall street gathered about one of the tables in the Oak Room of to discuss stocks, the Waldorf-Astorihorses and affairs in general. Before was the Equitable muddlp long brought up. A broker who often is employed by Mr. Frick and the Pittsburg steel crowd in their stock market deals ventured the opinion that the committees' report would exonerate Hyde. "Not on your North American tintype, said John W. Gates, as he tapped the hell and motioned for the waiter to refill the glasses. Would you like to bet anything on It?" asked the broker. I read "Well." replied Mr. Gate that I lost In one of the papers five millions In wheat. Ill have to pinch my bets for a while. If you're real modest, however. I might be Induced to go you Just once. "I'll tell you what I'll do." said the broker; "I'll Just bet yon fifty cents." "You are too sporty for me and I'll have to pass it up. replied the great You surely must know plunger. something. Everybody laughed, for It was the first time on record that John W. Gates had refused a bet. One Occasion to-da- y Fell Into Deep Disgrace, Is no Mr. Starhoarder longer one of the guests at m;- table." Friend "Why did he leave? ' landlady "At my request. J asked him to say grace the other day and he said: Oh, Lord, we need thy help to make us thankful for what we are about to receive! " landlady THE MISSING MAN By NARY R. P. HATCH Author of " Th Bank Tragedy Town on her knees went Constance at the thought and she prayed fervently to be set right to have taken from her all that Interfered with her huaband'a memory! But even while she prayed sweet strains seemed to Importune her to listen, and the sad, haunting eyes of Primus Edea to be looking into her very soul. The facts of Mrs. Hamilton's presCmrliM, lies, kr Lm Ml ents to him had Just become known In the neighborhood, and even reached to the ears of the Rev. Arthur CHAPTER IX Continued. experienced a faint uprising of curioswho bad lately been ven Up to this time the lodger had ac- ity regarding the letter so close at Hammerly, to how soon he might turing speculate without cepted theae hand, and yet so far from any revelaMrs. Hamilton with some ehangea aa emanutlng from Mrs. Fry, tion to herself, unless Mrs. Fry had approach little attention whose gentle office it end had done many an odd Job for made hereelf acquainted with It a con- might be to fix her regard upon himher In return, hut the coat puzzled tents. self. him. Taking It to her he said: She had, as her next words InHe heard of the strange infatuation "1 found It, but it Uu't mine. I formed her visitor. sever had one like it." I read It from beglnnin' to end," said to exist in the mind of Mrs. Hamhe said, calmly; "but, lor. It never ilton for a humble workman at her "Well, if I was you, I'd Jest wear It an' ask no questions, said Mrs waa wrote to Kdea in the world nev- uncle's mill. Mr. Hammerly remembered him. A man of downcast, Try, speaking aa she would to a child. er." brooding habit, quiet and orderly of But a look of decision flashed into Why?" the man's face. "Because It begun dear husband. demeanor, but with nothing. It would "I can't wear it until I know where an' was signed your lovin' wife, an seem, to attract the regard of a womIt comes from." he told me blmaelf he never waa mar- an like Constance Hamilton. Slay! Did he not resemble her hus"Oh, well, if you must know, Mrs. ried. So It atanda to reason. Hamilton sent It over. It's Christmas, "What did she write? asked Mrs. band slightly? Certainly he did. Mr Jon know, or was last week, and she Hamilton, led on by her curiosity In Hammerly could see it if nobody else did. If Mrs. Hamilton noticed him in always thinks of them that's alone In spite of herself. the world. Oh, she waa lonesome without him, any way it was because of this. Mr. Hammerly called to see her With a sudden gleam of light in his an' wanted him to come home an neteyes, the man left her and went Into tle down, quiet like with her. Who- that day, and left her with a wanner hla room. It was Sabbath morning, ever 'twas wrote to, orter gone back pressure of the hand than usual. But and he never came mt for hours. If to her, for you could see, plain as her thoughts were otherwise occupied and she did not notice it. Mrs. Fry could have awn him with could be, she set her life by him. the coat on, sitting by bis table paThus matters stood. Constance Do you recollect the name signed twe tiently trying to form the letters after to It? wayed by a strong emotion; Dan's copy, and again and again writ"No, I dont Ive forgot It Seem'n men, by dreams of love and Its fulfil ing the word Constance, she would If Iwai I, or S It began with;' Jest ment; a towering monument some have been puzzled. And the happy, one name It waa. times glistening 'nrath the grudging peaceful look on hla face when he "U you say. Waa It Lenora?" for winter sunlight, but oftener merely succeeded fairly well, would have puz- that name would live in her consciousgleaming purely, frostily white, with zled her, likewise, for Primus Edea ness forever, she thought. Its full Inscription now. Vane Hamilwu not an imbecile in any sense. Twn'nt that. I'm pretty sure. ton. and ready for the cemetery when - Mr. Swan had long ago learned that I've a good mind to open that letter. spring should open; a carping, proaalo Primus Edea came from a Western I will, If you say so. village, with buying and selling and city, where for at least n month he "Oh, no; I have no right to It any- eating and sleeping going on as It had worked in a sash and blind fac- way, and I am ashamed of my curios- will to the end, while Just outside Its limits and that of the present an astory, that he bore a reaped able char- ity." And so the letter went away, tounding event was walking straight acter, was deemed a little dull, though 8 good workman, and that a man freighted with a writing portentous In toward it In the perron of a tall, handman who alighted, named Harrison Arkwright worked in meaning and possibilities, not alone some, light-haire- d the same factory at the same time, to Primus Edes, but to others, among unnoticed, from the train one afterbut was now gone away, so It waa them the stalely lady whose hand had noon In February. Impossible to learn whether he waa touched that very packet He waa passing by the marble esthe person who had owned the artablishment of IJslo ft Allen when JEr. ticle! of clothing marked H. A. or not CHAPTER X. Allen waa In the act of courteously Swan learned to his satisfaction opening the door for a lady to pass The Cashiers Return. that Edes neither sent off nor received out, and saying: letters. Indeed, aa appearances IndiEight months had slipped away "I am glad It pleusea you, Mrs. cated, Edea could not write a legible since the mysterious disappearance of Hamilton. letter If he tried. Ills education must Vane Hamilton, and In all that time "Ycr, it pleases me very well," said have been terribly neglected, ho once not ono word of tidings aa to hla the lady, In a sweetly modulated been aid to Mrs. Fry with an air of ex- - whereabouts had received. voice. The gentleman In the atreet had stopped and waa Blaring paat them both at (he gloaming marble at which they were looking. A curious, slightly humorous glance, followed by a graver one, came Into hla face aa he woman. A alight the black-clahesitation waa manifest In his manner. Ilo look a step forward and then halted. The marble cutter waa looking at him now curiously, and the lady's glance followed hla for an InThen a shriek waa wrung stant. from her white llpa and her voice rang out in the wild cry, "Vane Hamilton, and she fell, or would my husband! have done so If Mr. Allen had not caught her and planul her in a large And still he stood there, though terribly moved, as could be plainly seen, until Mr. Allen, whose mind grasped the situation, said as quietly as he could. Your wife has fainted. Mr. Hamilton, for I presume you aro that gentleman. "I am; hut his eyes turned toward the name on the monument rather than to his wifes face. Your wife thought by your long, absenee that you acre dead, and this was to have been erected in the spring," explained Mr. Allen. Yes, I aiipiHMted so. My absence was unavoidable," replied Mr. Hamiltreme candor, and this remark she (Iroreilale. meanwhile, was busying ton briefly, and then he looked fully Itself, as small active villages are apt at his wife for the first time since repeated to the detective. But he did not now apOh, hes Just what he seems, you to do, over a scandal of Its own. And entering. Const anre was the subject of It. proach Iter. may be sure of that, she said. (To be continued.) "Then you are willing to help prove Stream- - that, the high-brereserved It, I suppose," said the wily detective. woman should give cause of It; but 8AIL0RS FAI.TH IN OMENS. she did. For her infatuation for the Yes, I am. "Well, then, if yon ever find a scrap Illiterate workman, known as Iriinua Are Picturesque of writing, never so small, I want you Biles, was only too evident to any one Sea Superstitions and Many of Ancient Date. to lend It to me. I will leave an ad- who chore to Investigate ihp matter. are usually Sailors' superstitions dressed and stamped envelope," and She had not meant to succumb to Many of them are very he handed her an envelope prepared the strange fascination that Primus picturesque. as he said. Edes from the first seemed to Impress old nnd many of their beliefs are com"Ill do as you say, but it will be a upon her facilities by his fancied re- mon the world over. To break a looklongtime before you see this wrapper, semblance to her husband. It had ing glass on shipboard means a shatI guess, she answered, with a smile grown Insensibly, and after he tered compass. A sneeze Invites misat hla folly. brought her hoy back to her and ten- fortune unless you sneeze to the right. But strange to say the good woman derly carried him home, she felt that The mail ut the wheel under any flag waa mistaken, for the day following gratitude could not lie withheld any will tell you that he can not steer pasMrs. Hamilton longer. Swan's departure straight if there Is a cross-eyesee In to her. was He never ,'alled intrusive; indeed, It senger aboard. Women me considered extremely She found Mrs. Fry at work mend-t- g was Constance herself who talked the lining to an old coat. most, who was most to blame. It was unlucky on a warship or merchantYou find me to work. I've threat said. He seemed rather to avoid her, man and are supisiseil to bring squally to take a day for she thought, urn! she reasoned ued an threatei-eit weather and dangerous gales. Away he last month to mend up Edes' would do no harm to lie kind to him. bark in tlir- early 'fids, it was customkings. Why. his clo'es is all off his So whenever she went, to Mrs. Frys, ary for a caplatri ill the navy to take ack. You never did see! or chanced to encounter him else- his wife and family with him on long Mrs, Fry was given to exaggeration. where, she would Invariably say a few voyages, bit' today the women are An to think," she said a moment words In a gentle, gracious way that left at home. St. Elmo's light ate aunt In r source iter, "after all I said to that detec-!v- e to him seemed divine. She was a musician of more than of uneasiness to tin- sailor. They are feller, that I should find a letter n the linin of the first coat I look to ordinary gifts, and when she chanced usually seen in the tropics and are to hear him playing one evening in probably due to electricity, bin they end." his room while she sat talking below certainly present a spectral sight on a A letter!" Yes, crowded way Into the corner with Mrs. Fry, she was charmed Into dark night at sea, when the little Haines are ;f the linin; went through the hole In forgetfulness of her errand by the globular, rare melody. seen flouting nnd flickering above the he pocket, most like." "Where is the letter." Why, I did not. know ho could play yardarms, jumping at a bound from like Ihat? site said, as the wonderful topsail yard to topgulliint. yard or disOver there on Hip table. Constance glanced in the direction strains ceasrfi.' appearing there, tin' to reappear on Yes. an' it's only lately lie's took the truck of the inaiiiiiiust. These Indicated, and saw a business-lookinaddress, "Robert l. Swan. with It up, said Mrs. Fry: so he says." phenomena precede a storm and bename and street nun, her, which she "Is it possible!'' said Constance, come visible during a cm in that Is As she took her way homeward the generally followed by n deluge of rain knew perfectly well. Turning It. over ho observed that it was sealed. passionate strains followed her until and an electrical display of unusual "You can open it If you want to." she reached her own door, and she brilliancy. said Mrs. Fry, whose principles al- knew (hat he must hne opened his Originally known as ("orpin! Cristi ways accommodated themselves to window so that she might hear him. lights, the settlor have corrupted the Mri. Hamilton's needs, satisfied that Strange, inexplicable man! Would name to corposants" and believe them he have left her as Vane did with to be the souls of departed seamen they could not go far wrong. But Mrs. Hamilton shrank from those mysterious Journeys all unex- appearing to presage misfortune, usuhaving a seal broken to a wrapper plained? Ah! lint to doubt her hus- ally the loss of the ship. It was forprovided by the receiver, and. besides, band now with the clods of suspicion merly a hard task to get a sailor into what right had she wl'h the corre- weighting him down, with speculation the rigging while a "corposant'' waa flickering aloft spondence of Irlmus Edes? Still she clouding his sainted memory! Ihti4 d arm-chai- r. d - g |