Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 7, 1928 — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

68 crow to get nearer. He was unaware of the growling imprecations directed at himself, until a great black hand caught his shoulder. Then, he only resented that touch be- cause it held him from rushing to Vio- lette, but he struck out with both fists working like flails, wrenched himself clear, and plunged before the chair, panting and disheveled after his maul- ing, and with the crowd pressing after him and only held in check by the sol- diers who closed in the moment after he had gone by. The girl half-rose from the chair cushions and stared at this disturber of the parade, then she cried out, half in fear, half mad with joy: “Basil! Basil Trelawney! To find you here!” He caught the fingers she extended toward him and bowed, lifting them to his lips. “ Sweet maid, I come to claim you for my own,” he panted, unable in that brief moment to disclose his fears of the plans the emperor had made for her disposal. “* Violette, tell them that we are promised, that you are my be- trothed—for there is danger for you here. “Claim me and admit my claim on you, so they will not present you be- yond all recalling with another hus- band. My sweet, your very honor is in peril in this place!” One hand clutched at the lace around her throat, and one remained in his fingers. She had seen perilous times in France. She had known women of royal blood wed with peasants to save their necks from the guillotine, and she rose to the occasion like the gallant young royalist woman, she was. “‘Walk beside me, Basil. Seem to have been awaiting me. And keep hold of my hand. Kiss it if you will. Tl demand your attendance wherever they take me. I'll claim you for my promised husband, but tell me quickly, what the peril is?” The very boldness of his action ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. saved Trelawney from being torn from her chair by soldiers. It was as if he had been expected for the procession and had arrived late. So topsy-turvy a world had existed on Santo Domingo that the crowd ac- cepted it as a part of the show and the soldiers, knowing nothing different, allowed him to walk beside her chair, voEne more handsome than he real- ized. His coat and knee breeches were of palest blue satin with a waistcoat of grape color edged with silver lace. From his shoulders hung a black cloak lined with white satin. His hat brim sagged with heavy plumes. Not even the commanding figure of the emperor was more resplendent. The procession moved slowly, and Basil spoke hur- riedly: “I came only yesterday. On my ship I learned that your arrival here was expected, and that they planned to wed you to a mongrel, named Baron de Banana.”’ At that name, she laughed. She could laugh in the shadow of such a menace! It showed him better than he had ever known the fine temper of her spirit, the splendid quality of her courage. “ He is half brute, half negro; God alone knows what else. But I got ashore and am here to meet you, my sweet, and do what I may to help you —and keep you for my own.” His face was pale, strangely white in that dark company. Beside this golden girl he walked like a young king, proudly, yet with tender concern. And she— “ By the Eternal, but you are beau- tiful and brave!’ he said. ‘“‘ My heart has left my breast and flown to your keeping. All life and love, all hopes of heaven and joy beyond this world, are wrapped in your smile, my Vio- lette;” Speaking of love under the very shadow of death and worse than death —the pity, the splendor of it! But that (E(0) DOOKS AMG (E@)