The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-07-22

ny, again interposed and drove them /
back despite De TremblecourFs angry
protests, while De Clermont stayed his |
rage quietly.
"Be still, De Tremblecourt. The king
will be here in ten minutes with our
other prisoner, and we will deal with
messieurs-in a bunch" And he glanced
at me with a meaning in his eyes that !
l read as an open page.
''Come, madame" said De Rosny,
who saw my pallor. "Let me take you
out of this. l pledge the word of Be
thune that no harm will touch you,
but that is to happen, fear, which is
not fit for you to see." With these
words he took my arm kindly and led
me inside, unresisting and as in a
dream. In the hall, where we stopped,
I forced myself to regain some cour-
age. 1t was no time for faint heart.
Monsieur, what does this all mean?
What is to happen to De Lorgnac?
Tell mel am his wife, monsieur"
He bowed gravely, yet sadly. 'The
king of Navarro is generous, madame.
Henri will be here soon, and all may
yet be well. In the meantime rest you
here and compose yourself. You are
safe from HARM"
With this he who was in after years
to be the 6yst man in France left me,
almost stunned and broken by what l
had heard Now that l was about to
lose him-nay, had already lost him.
for nothing, l felt sure, would move
these pitiless hearts-I realized to the
end what De Lorgnac was to me, and
with this came the dreadful conviction
that it was l, and l alone, who had
brought this on my husband. l, fool
in my folly, who did not know my own
heart; l, who with word might have
stayed and kept him, who was all in
all to me, had driven him forth with
my senseless pride to death. l could
do nothing to save him. What could
woman do against these men? And
then it was as if the whole horror that
was to be pictured itself before my
eyes and a hooking fiend gibed in
whispers in my ears, "You-you have
done this!' Almost with cry l sprang
from my seat, my hand on my fore
head and an unspoken prayer on my
lips. / felt that my brain was giving
way and that must do something to
regain myself and think. This was no
time for aught but action, and here l
was giving way utterly. l might do
| something-surely my woman's wit
| could suggest some means of saving
my husband. Then what happens to
| those who are face to face with an
awful terror happened to me, and as
once before, 1 fell on my knees before
| Gods throne and prayed in a mortal
agony. "God help me in my distress!'
called out aloud, and a quiet voice
| answered:
perhaps he has sent the help, De-
Mise"
l sprang up with a start, wild hope
rushing through my heart and saw
Raoul de Clermont before me, with the
sneering hardness out of his face and
all the old soft light in his eyes. If it
was so, if he but bore me the glad IT,
dings his words limited at, l could for
give him all and be his friend forever.
"Say that again, monsieur! | gasped
"Say it again, and l will bless you tt
my last BREATH" And as ] spoke the
heavy folds of the curtain that Gov
cred the doorway moved as if stirred
by wind.
81 said that perhaps God"-and he
bowed reverently (ah, devil and trail
torD-"that perhaps God has answered
your prayer. You have asked for help
and it has come. l am here to offer it
l, and | alone, can save De Lorgnac
by force, if necessary, for l have fifty
lances at my heels, and it rests will
you to say the word. | have been mad
Denise; then l came to my senses, and
now l am mad again. love you-dC
your hear?- love you as man never
loved woman. You beautiful thing OF
ice! Come with me, and De Lorgnac il
free! Conner
In his eagerness he put forth his han6
toward me, but with a shudder | drew
back, and his face darkened. Then
J nerving myself, l made one last ap
peal:
; "Raoul de Clermont, l believed yor
; once to be man of honor. Let me
think so again; give me the chance; b(
merciful for once; save my husband, as
you say you can! See, it is wife whC
pleads! Man! There must be some
spark of knighthood in you to fire you
soul! You are brave, know. Can you
not be generous and pitiful? You have
tried to kill my soul. Monsieur, will
forget that will forget the past an(
) thank you forever if you do this. Say,
him, for l love him"
"Love himp
; "Yes, love him as he deserves to b,
, loved and by better woman. De Cler
mont, be true to yourself"
His breath came thick and fast, anC
then he spoke with an effort
| you ask too much, Denise. L have
offered you my terms. l give you fly,
t minutes to say yes or no, and l will
take your answer as final. God is an
! swering your prayer in his own way
he went on, with the shadow of a sneel
L.