The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-07-18

the Danger of our meeting any of De
Clermonts following we once more
left what by stretch might call the
direct road and again took to the hill
tracks, where our wearied beasts,
which from my heart l pitied, STUN
bled slowly and painfully along.
But if the beasts were wearied how
was it with myself and my maid? !
was able to keep up no doubt because
of the mental excitement under which
/ labored, but have never understood
how my faithful Mousette endured
that journey. 1t was in truth a road
of suffering.
l simply went on mechanically, my
mind prey to thousSnd conflicting
emotions and to Thoughts that chased
one another across it like dry and
fallen leaves in a forest glade blown
hither and thither by an autumn
wind. 1t had struck me, as there was
nothing to be feared from De Termes,
| that ] should order Lalande to turn
| and guide me back to madame and
| PerigueuX, but De Clermont barred
the way, and it was better after all
| q cooler head than now possessed de-
! eide what to do. What had l not pass.
| ed through within the last few hours?
| | had made trouble enough for myself
| by jumping womanlike to conclusions
| and imagining that the postscript of
De Termes' letter to his wife referred
| to me, whereas it clearly, concerned
some one else. That was perhaps
pardonable error, considering the cir
cumstances, but there were other
things, and even now my face grows
hot when l think of them.
My nature is proud. That can never
alter, though sorrow and many a bitter
lesson have brought me good sense, but
it cut like knife to realize how l had
been fooled by De Clermont and how
near | had been to- fall a victim to q
| pitiless libertine 1t is a bad and cruel
lesson for any woman to learn that she
has been the sport of man, ten times
bad and cruel if the woman be proud
and high spirited. And as for De Lor-
gnac l did not know what to think.
My mind concerning him was a chaos.
l had misjudged him, wronged him ut
terly, but it was gall to me to know that
he had stood forth as my champion.
| 1t was bitterness untold to think that
1 must humble myself in my heart be-
| fore him. could never do so in words
to bis face if ever we met; daughter
of Mieux could not do that. 1t was aw-
full to think that his hands were red
with blood for my sake, ard l shud
dered as l reflected that had been as
it were the immediate cause of a
frightful death. De Lorgnac had no
business to kill that man, whoever he
was; he had no right to make me feel
almost murderess, and withal there
rose in my heart kind of fierce pride
in the man who could do this for my
sake and a joy / could not make out
because he was other than took him
to be-because, in short, he was a gal
liant gentleman, and notch, | need
say no more!
When we had Travelled for about the
space of two hours the horse of one of
the two troopers that M. de Norreys in
his kindness had lent to me fell while
crossing a water cut, and on examina-
ton it was found to be so hurt that 1t
was impossible for it to continue the
journey to Millevranches. 1t was de-
cided that the two men should be left
behind to return to their camp-they
had not far to go-and that we should
press on as before. | gave the good
fellows a brace of crowns apiece, and,
commencing myself to M. de Norreys,
we went on the sheep track-I can
call it by no better name-now passing
through all the widest scenery sur
rounding the Puy de Meymac.
"If luck befriends us, madame, and
the storm which has kept off so long
does not come, we should reach Mile
vranches in a little over two hours, y
said Lalande to me as we rode down a
narrow and steep descent.
"Why should the storm come on
now? There is no breath of air stir
ring, and the moon is clear"
The equerry did not reply until
reaching the more level ground at the
foot of the incline down which we had
ridden and then, pointing behind me
said simply, "Look, madamep'
Turning, l saw that half the arc OF
the heavens was, as it were, obscured
by thick curtain that hung heavily
and sullenly over it, and as we looked
chain of fire ran across the black
ness, the distant roar Of thunder came
to US. and then low, deep moaning
4 vibrated through the air.
"The storm is afoot l fear, madame
We must press on and cross the
Luxege, which, though narrow enough
to jump over now, may in an hour be
impossible, and with the darkness il
will be impossible to tell the way"
At this speech Mousette gave little
cry Of alarm and then, her fears over
coming her, began to declare that she
could go no farther and begged US tc