The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1897-03-16
CHAPTER v.-(CoNrINUED}.

Dick, over whose half-consciouS head
this sword-play was Pickering, saw only
that an argument was going on; when
side was which, and why, he could not
understand, and so resolved to SPEAK
with caution if he had to speak at all
Camilla felt that the colonei was
pressing her closely, and tried to DIS
able him by straighter thrust
81 don't suppose you are blind 1ol-
lower even of Lord Glamorgan, she
said to Dick: you probably do not Wlsh
the emperor released?"
'It would not benefit him if did,
he replied; "but I am sorry for him II
he suffers as they say
This was worse than ever for Dick,
and the colonel was prompt to seize
the opportunity.
''He does indeed suffer-" he said. 1T
is our greatest grief, for Madame de.
Montaut is entirely devoted to him. 6
my devotion" retorted Camilla, al
most Indignantly, sis natural enough;
but the loyalty that binds me can have
no hold upon an Englishman."
"There are more kinds Of loyalty than
one,' returned her imperturbahle an
tagonist ST, for instance, am loyal to
the emperor, not only as F'renchman,
but even more strongly from my loyalty
to you, who have made his cause your
own; and this. or something like 1T,
may conceivably be the case with 9TH
ers."
Camilla looked unutterable scorn.
capt. Estcourt," she said, turning to
him with a bow full of graceful mock
cry at her own question, will you, as
a kindness to me, carry the emperor off
from ST. Helena?"
Dick was relieved at her apparent re-
turn to lighter mood. II can hardly
undertake to go SO far myself, he re-
piled laughing; "you had better COM
mission my friend tombstone, the SNUG
gler, to do it for YOU
"Goodv' exclaimed the colonel, join
ing in the laugh with the loud tone of
one who wishes to emphasize jest.
Capital advice, Camilla, and you can't,
do better than follow it,
She did not for the moment grasp
his intention in saying this, and made
no reply beyond distrustful glance.
Dick, meantime, had been looking at
his watch, and now held out his hand.
II am afraid he said, that must be
going home; I have trespassed too long
upon your kindness, and the doctor
said I must be in by sunset"
Zone moment said Camilla, hoping
to gain an instant's privacy in which
to give him some kind of warning.
'Stay a moment; Col. de Montaut will
order the carriage for YOU
"It is at the door, replied the colonel,
and he bowed Dick out before him, and
followed him downstairs.
Camilla heard the front door close
and the carriage drive away. long
silence followed. The colonel had evil
IDENTIFY gone to the length Of accom-
panying Dick to his own lodging. The
mischief might be done by this time,
and here she sat powerless to prevent
it, She fretted under the thought at
first, and her indignation chafed her in
the absence of an object upon which to
spend itself; but at last it seemed to
have worn itself out for time and she
fell into quieter mood.
All the same she started guiltily when
the door opened almost without a
sound. There stood the colonel, like
some willy emissary Of evil, following
up his calculated opportunity at the
most deadly moment of weakness.
He appeared to have entirely forgot
ten his late struggle with her. In his
hand was an open letter, which he held
up to her view.
II have just heard" he said, from
Carnac, who has received a letter from
ST. Helena
She held out her hand for it.
''You are tired" he said; Il will read
it to you. Be prepared, for it is far
from pleasant hearing" and he began
at once:
The letter-or, at any rate, his read
ing of tran as follows:
my Dear M. de Montaut: A packet
dispatched from st. Helena at the end
of January contains the following mel
ancholy intelligence in the cipher of
Gen. Bertrand: The emperor, having
suffered severely in health from want
of active occupation, on Jan. % re
sumed his riding exercise, after an in
termision of two years. The effect Of
this violent change of habit was I'M
happily the reverse of beneficial and he
has been more or less PROSTATE for
week past -
The colonel looked at Camilla, and
went on more slowly:
Ellis majesty has become subject to
fits of profound depression, which are
the despair of his physicians. He bit
terly declares himself deserted and be-
trayed, and his reproaches are terrible
to hear. He talks openly of commit
ting his last wishes 10 paper
In her agitation at this news Camilla
forgot everything else. ooh, nor she
cried. ciasping her hands as though TO