The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1890-06-06
THE RED FLAG.
M. E. BRADDoN.
Author OF "Lady Audlcy's Secret"
etc, etc, etc.

etc. etc. etc.
It was Madame Michel, with the little rcd
kerchief twisted coquettishly round her
sleek black hair. She Wore a tight cloth
Jacket, frogged q la mtlitdfre, over her
black gown, the skirt of which was short
enough to show on arched instep and n
neat ankle. She had put on a half-viriie,
half-soldIerly air, in honor of the times;
and her walk, her look, her manner, were
already prophetic of the coming petroleuse.
She came along the rampant with her
patriots, who were pointing out the merits
and faults of the Notifications, explaining,
showing her this and that, staggering, brag-
cling, abusing Bismarck and his Pandours,
singing snatches of patriotic verse. She was
close to CASTOR before she recognised him.
Then their eyes met, suddenly, his re-
turning from the far distance, hers staring
intently. Recognition came in a flash, and
the rich carnation Of her cheek faded to an
almost deadly pallor.
What, is 1t you, CiIoyen Mortemar, so
far from the Rue Git IL Cnur? What, are
you too In the National Guard? ] thought so
devoted a husband would have found an ex-
cuse from service. l thought you would be
lying at the feet Of your English-Irish wife
all day, like Paul and Virginia in their far
off island"
THE nation cannot spare even lovers"
answered CASTOR lightly. Hector had to
leave Andromache; and my Andromache
would despise a husband who did less than
his duty. So far our duties have been light
enough, and give no ground for boasting."
But let them come on, those Uhlans,
those grsdtns, those" here came Il string
OF double barrelled substantive adjcctivcS
and adjective s~ubstantives, too familiar aft
erwards in Lie Pere Duchene-'let them
comeF' growled the wine-soaked patriot,
and we will give them-"cre nom! what is
there which we will not give them?'
And then the tipsy patriots retired to an
angle OF the fertilization, and began to play
the intellectual game of boucho1,, forgetful
OF the lady whom they had escorted so far,
for an afternoon on the walls of Paris.
Castor shouldered his chassepot, and be-
gan to walk slowly up and down. Suzon
followed him, came close to his side, and
Kissed i'll his ear.
And so you arc happy with your child
wifeP"
II am as happy as Fate ever allowed a
man to be in this world. Fate gave me the
'fairest and best fol my companion, and
then said, 'Thou shalt find thou hast filed
thy cup of JOY in a day of trouble and war.
Thou shalt drink only a drop at "a time-a
drop now and then-as the miser spends his
gold"
Lucky for you, lucky for her that it is
So" retorted Suzon fercely, 'for you may
so much less soon grow weary of your wax
work wife"
II shall never weary of her" said CASTOR.
Every day draws us nearer. We may tire
of life and its troubles, never of each other"
$50 you think now, while this fancy of
yours has all the gloss of freshness. But
you will weary of her. She is pretty enough,
] grant you; lovely, if you like; but her face
has no more expression than a June lily;
and you, who have a mind full of force and
fire, must weary of such placid inanity, Do
you think do not know you'll who have
heard you talk in the days gone by-I who
was your conttddnte when you were penni-
less and unknown? You are beginning TO
be famous now You sign your articles, and
men talk about them and about the writer.
You are pointed at in the street. But l adj
mired you, l believed in you when YOU
were nobody"
you were always very amiable. cheyenne,
and l hope l did not prove myself unworthy
of your esteem," said CASTOR, with a cere-
monious bow.
He had an idea that a storm was coming,
and he wanted to ward off the lightning if
possible, by taking things easily.
You proved yourself a seducer and a
liar!' she answered savagely, her splendid
eyes flaming as she looked at him, one red
spot Oh either cheek, like a burning coal,
her white lips quiyeling.
She had given herself over to the rule of
her passionate nature in this new period of
tumult and uncertainty, a time when all the
old boundaries seemed to be swept away,
the f%loodgates of passion opened. A queen,
a goddess, in her chosen circle, she had
come to think herself a being bound by no
law, possessing the divine right of beauty
and wit, free to pour out her love or her
venom upon whom she would; and today
Fate had brought her face to face with the
man to whom she had given the impassion-
ed love of her too fervid nature, for whose
sake she had been, and must ever be, marble
to every other lover.
you are mad" he said quietly, "and
your words are the words Of a m~adwoman."
"They are true words. Sedncer-for you
seduced me into loving you-yes, as few
men have ever been loved, as few women
know how to love. Seducerl yes. Your
every word, your every look, meant seduc-
ton, in those dear days when you and |
wandered h%omewards in the midnight and
moonlight, aid lcitered on the bridge or on
the quay, and drank each others whispers.
and looked into each others eyes, and our
hands trembled as they touched. Liar! for
though you never declared yourself my lover,
oil your words were steepeuin love. When
we have sat together, side by side In the
theatre, my head leaning against your
shoulder, our hands clasped as we drew
nearer to each ether, feeling as if we were
alone in the darkened house -what need of
words then to promise loveP Your every
look, your every touch, was q promise; anu
nl those promises you broke when you
deserted me for your new fancy; and by
every touch of your hand, by every look in
your eyes, / charge you with having
promised me your lifelong love, l charge
you with having lied to me!'
There was no doubt MS to the reality of
her feeling, the intensity of her sense of
wrong done TO her in those days of the past.
CASTOR stood before her, downcast and con.
bcience-stricken.
Yes, If passionate looks and tender clasp
1ngs OF tremnlOus hands meant anything, he
had so far pledged his faith-he was in SO
1hucn Il llar. his ooylSh fancy had been
caught by this southern beauty. by this pas.
slonate nature, winch made an atmosphere
nf warmth around it, and gave to the calm
moonbeams of a Partisan midnight the Sc.
tiucing softness Of the torrid zone. He had
been drawn to her in those moonlit hours as
young hearts are drawn together under the
southern cross; and then came morning, and
worldly wisdom and the sense of his OVID
signify; and he told himself, with a half
guilty feeling, that those looks and whispers
on them oonlit quay meant nothing. A pref
W woman who kepta popular cremerie must
have admirers by the score; and when she
was not being escorted to the Porte st. Mar.
TN by him, was doubtless tripping as lightly
10th Chateau d'Eau with somebody else.
These were the dfnOurs pdssdgercs OF
youth, which count for nothing in the sum
of a mans life.
Then came the new and betterlove. Kath.
1een's fair young face became the pole-star
OF his destiny; and from that hour he held
himself aloof from Suzon Michel. And now
she came upon him, like aguilty conscience,
and charged him with having lied to her.
u am very sorry tina. you should have
taken our friendship so Seriously he said
quietly. Il thought that 1 was only one
a. hmnnu N,nur MANI, ol,os-o.n xlk u,