MY LADY'S KISS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13723, 13 April 1908, Page 3

MY LADY'S KISS.

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL AEEANGEMEOT.

HISTORICAL ROMANCE. BY NORMAN INNES, Author of "The Surge of War," '' Par sort Croft," " The Lonely Guard, etc. / [COPYRIGHT.] CHAPTER Vl.—(Continued.) In- Callara di Morini von Neufel's frigid nature had found a quickening impulse. She had broken through his coldness and , reserve, she alone could share his schemes, could weigh with him the chance of gain or loss, could aid him with her advice, and thereafter drive cares of statecraft to the winds with jest and song and laughter as could no daughter of Teuton stock. In his life Ignatz of Neufels had been ruled by his brain alone and had stifled the call of all else in his being, till this guest from the South had woken his numbed, dead heart with wit sharp as dagger's blade, voice soft as the lap of brimming stream. More than once he had thought of making her his wife—as a companion she never wearied him, he trusted her as no other, woman or man. Then he had laughed at his weakness and had put it aside; .that a man should follow his heart's impulse in those days was deepest folly ho knew. Scattered through Bavaria there were women whose hands were worth a stronghold, a regiment, tho cost of a year's campaign, to whose , blemish of form or feature he who would prosper must needs be discreetly blind. Thought of all this held him speechless; she saw her advantage and ruthless pressed it home. " So you would weu this Saxon, Ignatz of Neufels?" said she, leaning forward with her elbows oil the grey stone coping. "My lord, I know it, have known it these many days." " 'Ti.s policy only that prompts me," muttered the man doggedly. Ah," she sighed, though a smile seemed ready to break on her lips, " then needs must that I leave Neufels." " That you need not," rejoined the other. " I wed of necessity, I tell you." " And I tell you therefore that I of necessity must go. I brook no rival in Neufels." There was no- heat in her speech; she spoke slowly as though her departure, was of little moment, albeit she was on tenterhooks for a sign of wavering in the man. Though she had no fear of the future*—in the seventeenth century, ladies of her charms might look for welcome and royal entertainment wherever hot-headed gallant ruled castle or town—yet if the truth were known, for reasons of her own, she would have delayed an immediate departure from Neufels.

" Come, Cattara," answered the man, " as for the woman I did but seek to learn her uncle's inclinations, since should things chance to go ill with our party 'tis better to have a friend ypon our borders than an enemy. St. Eux did but sound the Freiherr."

" And kiss the lady. Sir Count." Von Neufels swallowed his wrath as best he might. " And therefore should hang," said the woman coolly; - Mistress Cattara had never a good word for the free-captain. " By the fiend, he merits no better fate," growled the count, who for all his anger appreciated the worth of his lieutenant to the last grosehen of his pay. " But St. Eux, sweet mistress, is by now in Staren with this whelp of old Conrad's 'neath his care. I can scarce hang the man for a drunken freak, and at the worst he served me well in the matter."

But the lady of the Red House had black spite against St. Eux. He was ne'er drunk in his life, I warrant me. Were lin your shoes, Sir Count, I would hang the knave," then she laughed—" good luck, Ignatz of Neufels, your captain lias kissed your bride." Stung by the taunt her companion's rage sought blindly for another channel. '* My bride?" he gasped. "Hell burn the wench. I tell ;you I have no thought of a bride. Come with me to the palace, Cattara. the evening's cold." "Nay, I sup in my own house," said she and turned.

The count caught her by the arm; his grip was rough, his voice harsh. " With me in the palace," he insisted. She wrenched herself free. The sun had dipped beneath the western hills and the man's heat woke her fears.

" By heaven, you shall," he hissed. " Unhand me, my lord," she cried in alarm. " See here con: some of the guard." An oath broke from von Neufels as he caught the ring of footsteps on the walk above. Three men were standing at the head of the flight of steps, one was the seneschal, the others, men-at-arms. May it please Your Excellency," said the former, " the young lord of Kemmel is newly arrived at the palace and waits your pleasure in the audience-chamber." "Heaven's thunder! Who say you?" cried the count, with a glance at the woman.

"The Heir Ernst," replied the man, " son to the Freiherr von Kemmel"

Von Neufels' face grew black. " Then where is St. Eux, in the fiend's name," lie cried. " And what does the boy here? He should be in Staren."

The other was unperturbed. " He is in the audience-chamber, may it please Your Excellency, or one who takes to himself the young lord of Kemmel's name and style." " Then for that name and style the wight shall pay dear," replied the other. "Get ye gone, fools, and bring the knave hither to the long alley beneath the yews."_ As the men hurried away to do his bidding, lie turned to his companion whose resentment it seemed had yielded to Hjjriosity. " Come, Cattara, you shall sup with me when we have done with this fellow." His tones were softer, he would have smoothed their quarrel, but the woman was not so easily to be persuaded, notwithstanding her longing for a sight of the impostor. "I know not, sir, 1 said I would sup alone." and then, as if the matter were settled : " Here conies the prisoner, a, brave youth, by St. Mark.'' They had strolled to a grass grown alley where von Neufels hud seated himself upon a stone bench with the woman standing at his side. Ignatz, with his elbows upon the back of the settle, scowled as they led the man forward, who, in his turn, stared at his father's foe sprawling at his ease 111 the glow of the sunset with that tall lady behind him. For a moment he forgot the dishonour of his reception, the sudden arrest. For the moment the peace of that garden held him, the woman's beauty, the soent of the flowers; all was very fair save the. moody, scowling figure upon the seat. But a harsh voice drowned the splash of the fountain, the hum of the belated bees. . , "Whence come you, knave?" cried \he count. "Your tale and quickly, or my yeomen flay your back—" "I am Ernest von Kemmei," the prisoner answered, " son to the Freiherr Conrad, and looked for gentler usage at the hands of a, count of the Empire." The young man spoke fearlessly; the lady of the* Red House leant forward upon the stone back of the * settle. The prisoner was well looking without a doubt, and had come by some hurt of late, for there was a darkling bruise upon his temple aid his cheeks were very pale. " Ari impudent rogue, by the fiend." gasoed von Neufeß " How, fellow, if I te'.l you that Ernst of Kemmel rode forth from this town some two hours after noon? Will you hold to your tale?" The other's speech was short. " That will I, since did Your Excellency say as much I should say Your Excellency lied."

The count sucked in his breath. "Death"! I tell thee, knave, that 'tis as 1 say, a* a dozen of my guards, as half my town can witness, young von Kemmei rode hence I say this afternoon." The prisoner paid no heed to his gathering passion. "And I say, Sir Count, that he did not. Ernst von Kemmei stands here." "Heaven's light," bellowed the spadebeard, " are you mad? Are—"

He, could hardly speak for his fury, Una came nigh to choking- ~, . . . "You are deceived, my lord, rejoined the other calmly. "He who rode forth from Neufels was not the man whose name he claimed, I pledge you my wo™- _ . "Thy word, knave, good lack.' lhy word? Why, I have the word of my captain, Giers do St. Eux, to hack me, and c-ne boy brought letters of warrant. What titer have you, I say?" Cuttara'di Morini had been watching the youth intently, and at this she noted, despite the fading light, that for a- momen., his cheeks lost their tolour, the daiit eves their assurance. For a moment he hes,-tat-ed, and then answered hurriedly— "I have no letter, Sir Count-. One robbed me upon my journey." _ Ignatz von Neufels broke into a hoarse chuckle, the guards grinned. ".Robbed?" cried he. '"Aye, 1 have heard the tale before, by the saints. Away with the rogue, to the Eastern gate-house with him. Hold him close, knaves, till we have leisure to question him further. Nor would he hear another word from the prisoner as the men-at-arms dragged him away, but smiled in his companion s face, with humour changed for the better. " Now to supper,.Cattara," said he, rising, "'ere the fiend sends me another of these von Kemmels." The lady paused and was silent. "Come,'you will sup, mistress," insisted the count. She shrugged tier shoulders, it seemed she would change her mind. "If it please you," she answered musingly, " Yet this rogue was a pretty youth." "An impudent knave of a lying tongue and stout assurance." "If his tongue were false, his face spoke truth." Yon Neufels chuckled again. "An impudent knave, I say. He deceived my men and would have cozened me." The other laughed dryiy. "Maphap, Sir Count, you deceive yourself." " Think you then, mistress, that this is indeed Ernst von Kemmel. Saints, I held, your wit was shrewder." The lady of the Red house shook her head and .'looked down to her «ilver-bupkled shoes. "Nay, I know not, but to my fancy he spoke from his heart." "Thousand devils!" cried Ignatzhis temper was short" I tell you I saw the boy, with my own eyes this noon." " Or one who said he was Ernst of Kemmel," hazarded the woman. "Good luck!" cried the count, "he gave me a letter from his sire, told a straight tale, and what is more, was recognised by St. Eux who was new returned from Kemmel within the hour." Cattara did M'ormi bent her gaze once again to the ground. "So?" said she softly, and then, after a moment's silence, "come, Sir Count, see, the mist is rising, and the blind bat circles. We will sup and have no more of these rogues and their tales." In the twilight these two made their way to the palace where they supped, von Neufels with no small satisfaction at the events of the day, his guest all complaisance, her resentment forgotten, though, perhaps, more silent than was her wont.

(To be continued daily.)