Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 258: what you’re looking at

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

THE QUEEN'S BODY GUARD. 251 Then Manuel, who had crept up softly, evidently mtending to play the spy, announced that the countess would receive her jailer. CHAPTER XXI.—AN INTERVIEW WITH THE COUNTESS. MANUEL started to lead the way, but Daron interposed. “ T am in attendance on her ladyship,” he said. ‘I will guide monsieur.” Manuel hesitated and turned his shifty eyes from one to the other. He evidently had had his instructions, and was now in something of a quandary. “ All right!” he said presently: ‘ It’s all the same to me,” aad he turned his back on the two. “ Every man in this den of thieves is a spy! ” muttered the Frenchman as he and Cottrell strode along the wing containing the countess’ apartments. They proved to be spacious enough, but gloomy and barren to a degree. Cottrell felt his hcart swell with pity as he thought of the dreary life of the well bred young girl awaiting she knew not what fate. But there was one thing that in his modesty he had not realized, and that was Marie’s complete confidence in him and his power to rescue her; for her faith in him was built on her love for him—a love that she did not understand, but which was snch a sweet and beautiful thing that it filled her whole life, coloring the dreary hours of her existence with rainbow hues—an antidote for all hardships. And while the girl Anne sat moaning in a corner, the young countess, with a smile on her lips, would teli her to be of good cheer, for “ Monsteur Henrs will come, and he will take us far, far away from this awful place and these brutal men.”’ How Cottrell could accomplish this ; whither he would take them, she did not know; she only knew that he would come, and then all would be well. Fortunately, no indignity had been offered her. Cavara was cruel, merci- less; but a certain chivairy, the heritage of a noble name, still clung to him. He was a curious anomaly ; a courtier by birth; an outlaw by force of circum- stances, the great dominating passion of his life was a continuous revolt against civilization. He felt that God and man had cheated him of a great career. Brooding over his fate had made him morose and bitter; a man of flint, from whom the only sparks struck were those of anger or hate—anever of pity. The countess was sittmg by a huge window looking out over the landscape, when there came a knock at the door. Anne cautiously opened it, to admit Jean and Cottreii, who closed the door behind them. Marie had been told of his disguise, so she knew the Americes at once, and the color crept up in her wan cheeks as she held out her hand. “ I knew you woald come,” she said, and there was no mistaking the ex- pression in those eloquent eyes. Cottrell forgot for the moment the net in whose meshes they were en- twined, and he felt a great yearning to take the beautiful girl in his arms and pour into her ears the words of love that came to his lips. it was the practical little Daron who bronght them both back to the stern reality of the present. GONG OOO UN ceo