The Price He Paid — page 66: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

P sas 5 r, "vere Ti 47 Se i a “ez * LIVING 1N REBELLION. : 57 the well ,and thus the preposterous delusion is kept alive. Itis high time to put an end to it, and that can only be accomplished by doing away with the object to which the superstition clings. Jam sorry that one of the castle’s notable old curiosities should ‘have to fall a sacrifice—but no matter, the sacrifice must be made.” “But you will be robbing the garden of its chief ornament,” cried Gabrielle. “It is the sparkle and murmur of the fountain which gives to the place its greatest charm. And that silver-clear water is to be driven down into the earth? It is a shame, Uncle Arno, and I won’t see it done.” Raven, who was still busy closely inspecting the fountain, turned his head slowly toward her. “You won’t see it done?” he asked, looking at her sharply, but not with the threatening’ imperious frown wherewith he was accustomed to crush con- tradiction in the bud; there was even the faintest flicker of a smile about his lips. “Then, of course, I shall have no alternative but to recall the order I have given; it would be the first time such.a thing - ever happened to me! Do you suppose, child, that I shall give upa resolve of mine in deference to your romantic fancies?” Again there came that superior, half-derisive, half-pitying smile which Gabrielle hated, and the word ‘child’ which was equally abhorrent to her. Deeply wounded in her dignity as a maiden of seventeen, she preferred to make no answer, but contented herself with casting at her guardian a look eloquent with indignation. “You are behaving as though the demolition of the fountain were a personal affront to yourself,” said the baron. “I see you still preserve your childish respect for the old hobgoblin stories, and are inright earnest afraid of the nixies and the hantom-folk.” | “T wish the nixies would avenge the contempt now shown them andthe intended destruction of - their home,” said Gabrielle, in atone which was meant to be playful, but which vibrated with real anger. “The chastisement would not fall on me.” Eomichboo S (ee)