Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-02-26
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A THRILLING STORY OF THE
FRANC0-PRUSSIAN WAR.
CHAPTER VI.
FLED!
KY MAURICE LEGRAND.

~ through the darkness the star
light shonc. 1t fell on the bare
cold walls, and lit up the gloomy re-
cesses. while light misty vapOrs, soft
and silveryas smoke-wreaths, t1oatcd in
from the river, and dwelt shadow
like in every nook and corner. 1t was
an eerie place enough. A place no
man would dwell in from choice-a
place to which its present occupant
had been driven by the sternest law
that rules human life-necessity.
Restlessly his eyes rOved from side
to side through the vast desolate
width of this legend-haunted hall. The
bats cold wings tapped against hi
forehead the night-owls flew to and
fro through its gloomy passages. I'm
speakably dreary. unspeakably desc
late, it seemed to him, who had
towards shrinking fear. and child's
superstitious dread of darkness and
loneliness like this. .'Will she never
Gomez he siad to himself again and
again, as he listened in vain for the
signal he longed to hear-for the
spah of the oars in the river below,
and the consciousness of Il human
brief moments, his self-enforced soil
tude.
1t was an hour past mid
night A fear of i'll that had
CHANGED. of discovery that threat
ened, fell upon his heart. Listening
and Watching, the minutes seemed
long as hours, each filled with new
dread, with ever increasing fear. elf
they have discovered her absence
followed her-oh heavens:' he NUT
tered in his terror, while his eyes
glared through the shadows with the
fear OF hunted animal brought to bay,
and desperate.
While the thought still held him,
the familiar signal reached his ears.
He started to his feet, and looked
anXiously toward the window, then
repeated it, Another instant and a
girls light figure swung itself through
the aperture, and with deft soundless
feet dropped safely down on the floor
within.
..Ninette!' he cried joyfully. then
trembled and turned pale, for with
reeling steps and ashy face the girl
came on through the black noiseless
gloom, and then fell at his feet like
one dead
He bent over her, and mortal ter
ror shook his limbs, an icy fear seizet
his heart.
Senseless and still, like falling
statue, she lay at his feet, with the
cloud of her rich waving hair, floating
over her motionless limbs, shroudins
her death-like face. He called he
name, he chafcd her cold hands, n
dashed water on her face, he tried
with eyes on which tears stood thick
and hands which trembled and shoe
like the weakest woman, to revive he
senses, and recall life to the stricke
form.
..Oh God. Not this life too!'' h
moaned, and the sound OF his voice
that intense stiffness seemed TO hi
charged and fearful.
After awhile her senses returned
slow, quivering breaths beaved M
bosom aud parted her lips; her eyes
wide with terror. dark with pain
opened on tho frightened face abo'
her. She knew it, and raised herse
with sudden strength, and shuddcrt
away from his touch as. il it wei
hateful.
$50, go!" she cried wildly. go
that YOU had never crossed my path
He looked at her in amazemen
scared by the wild words. by the bla
ing eyes.
what has happenedp" he faltere
She rose and faced him in the glool
with despair and a passion in h
face that awed him iotO shamed l
morseful silence.
"What? Only this-that for 20
sake l have lost love. home, hone
Only this-to keep my oath with yC
have sacrificed my husbands hea
perhaps his life. Oh, Heaven! In
sight, at least, stand to-day his IN,
deress."
"You are mad!" he gasped in
bewilderment. She laughed wild
'Mad! Well. perhaps am. The
are wrongs that turn youth to o.
and reason to madness, they s.
Such wrongs are mine. Do YOU KIN
what he has said tonight That
/, his wife. have betrayed and dece
ed him-that steal from his side
the midnight darkness to meet
other lover. Do you hear? A Low
And l could hear that and say no
ing"
..You did not confess?" The frie
ened voice, the terrified fact recall
her to herself. She looked at him
mute scOrn.
'Are you afraid of that?" No, c
fessed nothing"