The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1900-10-25

they would sleep more quietly. trem.
bled at the haste with which the man
obeyed. double locking the door be,
hind him. In the anguish that possessed
me had mind to cross the corridor
upon which their room opened, to get a
ladder, and climbing up to watch them
through the narrow DELL de boeuf win.
dow pleced high In the wall, but my
courage failed. Still | could not aban
don our guest to the mercy of his
enemy. M. Henrrs vendean soldiers
shared my fears, but they dared not
dlsobey the command.
when NJ Henri says a thing, he
means it," they said, but l persuaded
one of them to place his mattress
across the door, begging him to spend
the night there. ready to break In at
the first alarm. This done, | retired,
but | was still uneasy. Though l
threw myself dressed upon my bed, |
could not sleep. An hour passed wear
lily by. then another; the suspense be
came unbearable. Unable longer to
suppress my fears l took a ladder
from n lumber room at the end of the
corridor, placed 1t noiselessly under
the DELL de boeuf window, climbed up
and looked into the room. The light
was still burning, though the house
was plunged in silence.
NJ. Henri was lying on the side of the
bed nearest to the wall, and Ripard,
having placed the light upon the table
near to the head of the bed, was stand
ing motionless beside 1t watching the
sleeper's face.
could not see his expression, for his
back was toward me. He remained
thus some minutes, debating perhaps,
whether the serenity of those noble
features were not ruse.
The young chiefs shirt was open at
the neck, showing medallion attach
ed to a silver chain that reposed upon
his breast. His breathing was calm
and regular, his lips half open In
smile that betokened a peaceful and
happy dream. Ripard's right hand was
half hidden in the shadow of the table.
| could see that it held the pistol, his
finger upon the trigger. He seemed
to hesitate. Then raising his arm
slowly he aimed straight at the sleep
ers heart. | was petrified with hor-
ror. My heart ceased to beat. A cry
of terror and anguish died away In
my throat. Still | watched. powerless
to move, rs in a dream. And NJ. Henri
slept on, smiling and breathing pc. =.
fully, unconsciously offering his warm
breast to the cold muzzle that was
menacing him. In that awful moment
| felt the cold SILVER of death upon me.
Rlpard maintained his murderous aim.
still he did not fire. He sighed deeply,
his hand trembled. Then he lowered
the pistol with a furious movement,
turned and stepped backward from the
bed He was hideously pale, his eye
lids trembled He shook his head.
placing his hands before his eyes as
though chasing some hideous vision
and noiselessly placed the pistol upon
the table. | waited no longer. l scram-
bled down the ladder. stumbled to the
door of NJ. Henri's room, woke the
Fendean snoring upon the mattress
and in breat haste bid him to
force the lock gently that the Marseil
las should not hear The soldier drew
a knife from his pocket and, though
he handled it adroitly, the work was
long and difficult. At last the lock
gave. flung the door open and stood
dumfounded upon the threshold. Side
by side NJ Henri and Ripard were
sleeping as children sleep. their breasts
rising and falling with the same regu-
lAr and peaceful movement and much
the same smile upon their lips.-Trans-
lated From the French For st. Louis
Star.