MY LADY'S KISS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13744, 8 May 1908, Page 3

MY LADY'S KISS.

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL : ARRANGEMENT.

-• HISTORICAL ROMANCE. ; BY NORMAN INNES, Author of "The Surge of "War," " Parson Croft," " Ilia Lonely Guard," etc [COPYRIGHTS CHAPTER XlX.—(Continued.) He knew the Lady of the Red House too well to pin any great faith to her promises of goodwill towards the. woman, and the thought that- Mistress Ertha's tate was in the hand* of this Italian wife of his woke his fears, when he remembered all that had followed the draught she had given him. At the thought he clenched his hands and at that moment a key grated in the lock of the dungeon door, and as with the creak of bolt and hinges the door opened, St. Eux sprang from off the pallet to blink at Ignatz of Ncufels standing lantern in hand in the entrance. The count peered round the bare, stoneflagged chamber and then at the prisoner, looming gaunt. and grim with the bandage still wound about his temples,-and instinctively his hand stole to the butt of the pistol in his belt. The stealthy action did not escape St. Eux. Would the man murder him in cold blood where he stood? Then yon Neufels, mastering any doubt he might have felt of the other's intent, set down the lantern upon the flags, swung the door all but to, and plunged into the "matter uppermost in his mind. " St. Eux," said lie, fingering a folded slice of paper, "I conic here to put a question to you, a question that none can answer but yourself." "Of Staren?" suggested the dragoon in the pause that followed. His master shrugged his shoulders. "Staren has fallen," said he . bitterly. "I have heard the tale. .It was upon another matter that I would have your answer. What of him I sent away in your charge, the young Freiherr von Kemmel?" The officer winced; such, indifference to the fate' of Staren argued deepest interest ill the prisoner. "My prisoner?" said lie, with the faintest sign of hesitation. " 1 brought my prisoner hither; I could save nought else." The count fondled his beard. "To Ncufels? Then, where is he? 1 tell you, man, that at this time he's of more account than a score castles." "My prisoner was in the Red House," the other answered, supped there last night and

"Rode for Kemmel this morning unless this-letter deceives me!" cried the count, holding forth the scrap of paper. - St. plus drew a, breath, for a moment the colour surged to his cheeks, relief to his heart; he all but smiled. He cared nothing for the writing, nothing for the count, "his wounds or his prison. That the woman had escaped was for the moment enough for him. Von Ncufels had paused, he was watching the mini keenly. . "Ave, thy prisoner's, gone, man!" he cried,*" and "i«rlhe guise of a woman. St. Kux, a very woman? or my eyes piayed me sonic trick.' ', .\ ,„ . . "A woman say you, Sir Count.' rejoined the wounded juan,; nor could ho repress a. -laugh: "My prisoner without a doubt, A woman I bore from Neufels, and a .woman I brought hither again."' The laugh, the ill-concealed triumph, albeit misunderstood, that rang in the man's tone nettled.the other. "Hell's pit, man, you laugh; the wench was the Ladv von Reuth : Ertha von Reuth,. who was worth two of her cousin to me in mv strait." ' ".' . ' 'Giors de St. Eux>had grown grave in a moment. „ •. ; "I lost Staren, mr lord, said he bluntIV. " but I held my 'prisoner, well knowing her- worth to thee. . I swooned last night, in the Red House—'•' ' " And. were drunk this morning,' snarled his master. •M know not,.but it was little wine that passed mv lips overnight. When I slept I held my duty done. "Do I merit a prison, Ignatz von Nenfels?" \ The count was silent; in his heart he had never doubted the man for all the whispered malice of the Lady of the Red Mouse. The dragoons fame was fair in Bavaria as a oik who could hold a trust. It was the prisoner •who spoke and he asked a .p;ostion. ■'':■','■'.'■;■', '-4V '-' :•:•,' '■ Who told you, my lord, that I had returned? The-guard,at the gate, or the Ladv Cat tarn.?" But still the other was silent, no answer had St., Eux but the" dripping of the moisture in that gloomy vault. Von Nenfels bit his lip, the man was forgotten, he was thinking of the woman who had betrayed his officer and at the same time had played him false. The twilight of his doubt grew clearer,- the dawn was breaking. She had deceived him from the first ; as he had learnt from Till Lorenz, it must have been her who had aided the.other who had escaped from the eastern gatehouse in fashion so strange. ' He had been dull, St. Eux a fool, and she had outwitted both and sot a. seal upon their ruin. And at the thought of how he had been cozened, oi sucit rare opportunities lost, his anger grew hot and random.

" you kissed this lady in Kemmel, so they tell me" he cried. " Thou, a soldier of Fortune."

"I, a soldier of Fortune," rejoined St. Eux, "to,my shame and my sorrow. Some fiend possessed me.'' "And you knew her in my audiencechamber, graceless knave," cried the other, " when the wench stood disguised before me." '..";

"Aye, Sir Count," answered the prisoner —it stuck in his throat—-" but I am but a soldier of Fortune, nor recked of what would follow. If these; are, my only faults, then, my lord, you are revenged." Never had von Neufels looked for this humility. " By heaven, you were mad, man,"' he gasped, and looked on the other in silence. "I was n'uid, now -I sec my madness. Would it might be undone." The other caught the shame in his voice, the shame and the great' sorrow that he was at a loss to understand, and eyed him wonderingly. What was the man's folly, after all, beside -his worth in the hour of stress?. What mattered the rumours that had gathered about. Staren and its loss, what was a woman's kiss the more or the less? Von Neufels weighed .the matter swiftly, knowing his need and the town's. Then he spoke and his tones were calmer. "We have traitors in Neufels it seems, since your prisoner rode forth this morning." , . The wounded man was silent yet, turning over the matter in his brain. What possessed the woman that she must act thus without rhyme or reason, carry out his dearest wish and ruin him at the same time? Then Count Ignatz spoke, ho had folded the lettei he held and was slipping it within his doublet when he drew it forth again. "St. Eux," said he, "we have both been betrayed ; and if I forgive you these mischances, the fall of Staren, the loss of my prisoner?" The dragoon smiled, at a loss to find cause sufficient- for this clemency, scarce holding his master was schooled in generosity. "Then I shall be a free man," he answered simply. Von Neufels was looking at him, and for an instant that rare senile hovered on his lips. "Then I grant you freedom and my pardon," said lie. "You can read, St. Eux.'" He ' tossed ' the letter he liad been fingering for the pant half-hour to his officer, and stood with hands on hips as the other stooped beside the lantern.! "You can read, man?" he asked again. " I can read, my lord," rejoined the kneeling figure, ami caught his breath as he read. "To His Excellency, the Count of Ncufels,-- . , " y. . • •" . - • . " In the assurance that- you were ignorant to-whom you gave permission to pass the gates of your town this morning, and havfnsr*pledged my word that at some future time I would return to Neufels. knowing also that your officer, the Heir de St. Pais, is 'sick, and on my account has, risked your-

high displeasure. I - pledge you my word to return forthwith to: Neufels and to give my consent to the: matter set forth in my uncle's writing delivered by me, these seven day.* since, on condition that you grant pardon to this HeiT Giers de St. Eux without reservation of any kind, and with your pardon, his freedom and his life. ;.* "On assurance reaching me in Kemmel of: the performance of your part, I will; at once set out for your town. / In the inn at Ulmskirche— "Ektha VON ' EKT7TH."

Now St. Eux had read and re-read the letter ere he lifted his eyes. Perhaps he staggered as he rose, perhaps his face was drawn and paler than oefoie, but von Neufels set 't down to his wounds. "Fair proposals, my captain," chuckled he. " What say you V ■ The other shrugged his shoulders. "Will —?" he stammered. "Can this lady reach Nefifels ere the Saxons leaguer, the place''" " If we use speed she may," answered the other. "'She'll not play me false?" " Nay, she will not," rejoined St. Eux.. It cost him an effort to frame his answer, :but he scorned to say aught ill of the woman.

"Then I grant you freedom, St Eux; pardon, freedom, your life, and that without price of your paying. Let us go, man, for. this place strikes chill."

• - (To be continued daily.)