Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-05-27

gle between the two men, but cycling
moro than any man alive. Alive or
deadi or dead! You have thwarted me,
NJ. de Pavannes. and taken from me the
have killed YOU I had it in my power
[ had but to leave you to the rabble. re-
member. and you would have been rot
ting at Montfaucon to-day, M. de Pa
vannes.''
''That is true,'' said Louis, quietly.
why so many words?"
But the vidame went on as if he had
not heard. 81 did not leave you to
them," he resumed, lend yet I hate you
more than I ever hated any man yet,
and I am not apt to forgive. But now
the time has come, sir, for my revenge!
The oath swore to your mistress fort
night ago / will keep to the letter. L
Silence, babel" he Numbered, turning
suddenly, cor will keep my word with
you, tool"
Croisette had muttered something,
and this had drawn on him the glare of
lezers' eyes. But, the threat was eff
fectual. Croisette was silent. The two
were left henceforth to one another.
Yet the yidame seemed to be put out
by the interruption. Muttering string
of Oaths, he strobe back again. The
cool cynicism with which he was wont
to veil his anger and impose ON other
men, while it heightened the effect of
his ruthless deeds, in part fell from
him. He showed himself as he was
masterful, and violent, hating, with all
the strength of a turbulent nature
which had never known a check. /
quaiIed before him myself. confess it.
"Listen!" he continued harshly, com
ing back and taking his place in front
of us at last, his manner more violent
than before the interruption. 81 might
have left you to die in that hell yonder!
And did not leave you. 1 had but to
hold my hand and you would have been
torn to pieces! The wolf, however,
does not hunt with the rats, and a
Beers wants no help in his vengeance
from king or canaillei When I hunt
my enemy down 1 will hunt him alone,
do you hear? And as there is Heaven
above me"-he paused moment-s'if
] ever meet you face to face again, NJ.
de Pavannes, l will kill you where you
stand,''
He paused, and the murmur of the
crowd without came to my ears; but
with and heightened by some
confusion in my thoughts. Istruggled
feebly with this, seeing rush of color
to CrOisette's face, tightening in his
eyes. as if veil had been raised from
before them. Some confusion-for
1 grasped the vidame's mean
ing; yet there he was still glowering ON
his victim with the same grim visage,
still speaking in the same rough tone.
Listen. NJ. de PavanneS,'' he con-
Cinued, rising to his full height and
waving his hand with a certain mai
esty towards the window-no one had
spoken. The doors are open! Your
mistress is at Caylus. The road is clear
go to her; go to her. and tell her that
have saved your life, and that give
it to you not out of love, but out of
hate! If you had fiinched would have
killed you, for so you would have suf-
fered most, NJ. de Pavannes. As it is,
take your life-a gift! and suffer as I
should if | We're saved and spared by
NY enemy"
Slowly the full sense of his words
came home to me. Slowly: not in its
full completeness, indeed, until l heard
Louvre in broken phrases, phrases half
proud and half humble, thanking him
for his generosity. Even then almost
lost the true and wondrous meaning
Of the thing when l heard his answer.
For he cut Pavannes short with bitter,
caustic gibes, spurned his proffercd
gratitude with insults and replied to
his acknowledgements with threats.
''Goi GO" he continued to cry vio-
lently. Have 1 brought you SO far