Marble Hill press., 1896-05-07


riage, posting along at full speed. l
| cannot see inside that carriage; but
look at the box seat, and recognize on
it the old man Dubois. He oNhirls by
in cloud of dust, but I am certain of
him, and say to myself, what now
say to you, no time is to be lost"
mo time shall be lost" answered
Trudaine, firmly. Three years have
passed" he continued, in a lower voice
speaking to himself rather than to
Lomaque; three years since the day
when I led my sister out of the gates
of the prison-three years since l said
in my heart I will be patient, and will
not seek to avenge myself. Our wrongs
cry from earth to heaven; from man
who inflicts to God who redresses.
When the day of reckoning comes, let
1t be the day of His vengeance, not Of
mine. In my heart I said those words
I have been true to them-I have
waited. The day has come, and the
duty it demands of me shall be full
filed"
There was a moments silence before
Lomaque spoke again. "Your sister?"
he began hesitatingly.
1T is there only that my purpose fa1-
ters," said the other earnestly. ''If
it were but possible to spare her all
knowledge of this last trial, and to leave
the accomplishment of the terrible task
to me alone?"
II think 1t is possible" interposed
Lomaque. Listen to what I advise
We must depart for Paris by the dill
gence tomorrow morning, and we must
take your sister with us-to-morrow
will be time enough; people don't sign
marriage contracts on the evening aft
er long days journey. We must go
then. and we must take your sister.
Leave the care of her in Paris, and the
responsibility Of keeping her in igno-
rance of what you are doing, to me. Go
to this General Berthelin's house at
time when you know Danville is there
1--WE can get that knowledge through
the seryants), confront him without
moments previous warning; confront
him as man risen from the dead; con-
front him before every soul in the
room, though the room should be full
of people-and leave the rest to the
self-betrayal of panic-stricken man.
Say but three words, and your duty will
be done; you may return to your sister,
and may depart with her in safety to
your old retreat at Rouen, or where you
please, on the very day when you have
put it out of her infamous husbands
power to add another to the list Of his
crimes"
"You forget the suddenness of the
journey to Paris" said Trudaine. "How
are we to account for it without the risk
of awakening my sisters suspicions?"
"Trust that to me-" answered Lo-
maque. "Let us return to the cottage at
once. No; not you," he added sudden
ly, as they turned to retrace their steps.
There is that in your face which would
betray us. Leave me to go back alone
I will say that you have gone to give
some orders at the inn. Let us sepa-
rate Immediately. You will recover
your f-possession-you will get to
look yourself again sooner if you are
left alone-I know enough of you to
know that. We will not waste another
minute in explanations; even minutes
are precious toNus on such a day as this.
By the time you are fit to meet your
sister again, shall have had time to
say all wish to her, and shall be wait
ing at the cottage to tell you the result"
He looked at Trudaine, and his eyes
seemed to brighten again with some
thing of the energy and sudden decis-
ion of the days when he was a man in
office under the Reign of Terror.
Leave it to me-" he said; and waving
his hand, turned away quickly in the
direction of the cottage.
Nearly an hour passed before Tru-
dame ventured to follow him. When
he at length entered the path that led
to the garden gate, ne saw MS sister
waiting at the cottage-door. Her face
looked unusually animated; and she
ran forward step or two to meet him.
ooh, Louis" she said, Il have con-
fession to make, and l must beg you
to hear it patiently to the end. You
must know that our good Lomaque,
though he came in tired from his walk,
occupied himself, the first thing, at my
request, in writing the letter which is
to secure to us our dear old home by
the banks of the Seine. When he had
done, he looked at me and said, I should
like to be present at your happy return
to the house where first saw you oh,
come, come with us! said directly. I