Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-05-03

AS he said this his voice took cadence,
his face took an expression that suddenly
brought back hundred old memories, no
longer vague and misty, but clear and dis
tinct In moment the scales fell from my
eyes, and / saw. seemed to be once more
hawking on the hunks of the Chiana with
madame; was once more in the aisles of the
church at Arezzo, treading down tempta-
tion and bidding farewell to woman who
was trying to be strong.
God in heaven!" gasped to myself, as
leaned back against the parapet and drew
my hand across my forehead, as if to wake
myself from dream. St. Armande did not
notice my exclamation; he did not even OBJ
serve my movement. His own excitement
carried him away.
Promise" he said, and shook my arm in
his earnest entreaty.
"As there is God above me promise"
81 believe you" he said, simply, "and now
am going in"
made no offer to bear him company, and
his slight figure drifted into the moonlight.
1 saw it clearly again, making dark bar
against the red glare in the open door of
the hall, and then it vanished from view. ]
was utterly thunderstruck by, the discovery
had made. A hundred actions, hundred
tricks of gesture, of speech, of manner,
should have disclosed st. Armande's identi-
ty to me. Now knew it, it was all SO sim.
pie and clear, that wondered at my dense
ness in not having guessed through the dis
guise before. Now that had discovered it,
however, now that my blindness was cured,
what was to do? Iresolved on keeping the
secret had probed, and never once letting
st. Armande know he was other than what
ho 1oJ IN ba A oraot p;tu no N, a ~,
in my heart, for there was time when i
almost thought loved this woman, and it
required little conceit to see, after what had
happened, that madame was prepared to
make almost any sacrifice for my sake. ]
was sorry, more sorry than can tell, for
knew my own hands were not clean in this
matter, and paced up and down, finging
bitter reproach at myself, and utterly at a
loss to plan out some way of escaping from
the difficulty in which I was placed. made
up my mind that St. Armande, as will still
speak of the disguised chevalier, should be
placed in no danger, resolving that as soon
as the affair on which we were engaged was
over, that would send him, or rather her
with message to the cardinal, and the mes
sage was to be one that, hoped and trusted
would have the effect of making madame
cease her foolish prank had it at this
moment almost in my heart to be angry with
her; but could not, for the small voice that
kept whispering to me-
"Thou art not free from blame" / was
not; but nothing would induce me to add
another wrong to the one had committed
That in itself was sufficient to haunt me tc
the grave, and shivered as thought o.
the abbe's words: "It is what one carries
beyond the grave that the signor cavaliers
should think Of"
So alternately reproducing myself anC
praying for aid, prayers that brought no re
lief, passed the night, and in the small
hours of the morning stole back into the cas-
tie. Round the fire in the great hall, tn,
figures of my followers were stretched, al
but one, who kept watch, but recognizing
Inc did not challenge. I passed by softly
and entered the other room. The able hat
dropped asleep over his breviary, the lamI
burning low beside him.
Rolled in cloak, and half reclining
against saddle, ST. Armande was in q pro
found slumber. took the lamp in my hand
and holding it aloft, surveyed the sleeping
figure. A last hope had come to my mine
that was mistaken, that perhaps / wa
| jumping too quickly to conclusions. But no
there was not doubt of it. There coult
| be no installing that fair face with its deli
cate features, the straight nose, the curves
| bow of the lips, half hidden under its dis
| guise, the small shapely head with its natura
curls of short golden hair-oh! knew al
| these too well. 1t was Doris 'Entrangue
| without shadow of doubt, and no blind beg
! gar, who CROPPED his way through Lifelong
| darkness, was binder than l had been.
set down the lamp softly, and with sicl
heart stepped back into the hall, where
found room for myself until the morning
which indeed it was already. With. tn
sunrise, awakened from fitful sleep b,
hearing Bande Nere's voice.
'.What news?" asked as drew the oil
soldier aside.
81 have been as far as Sinigaglia, excel
lency, and all goes well. The party lef
Sinigaglia the morning / arrived, and fol
lowed in their track, letting them keep wei
ahead of me to avoid suspicion. Last night
however, passed them. They will be her
about noon, maybe little before"
"The numbers?"
"Ten lances, excellency, for escort. 1t
those we have to deal with. Then there ar
about score of mounted servants, fou
laden mules, and Monsignore Bozardo."
"Um! That is rather strong, if the ser,
ants carry weapons"
"But they march as through frlendl
country, signore, the servants going o
ahead to prepare for monsigaore's arriva
He himself keeps close to the mules, wit
one or two men, and of course the escort"
Doyou know who commands the escort?
mo, excellency-I did not wish to ris
anything, and asked no questions"
''You are right, and have done we'll
here are ten crowns"
"Your excellenoy il generosity ITSELF"
TT d not more than you deserve. Go an
~ senatAiAs - ~ now. ed ~ = aaA