The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-02-19


after a while, and began to think Of
getting back to the inn freside. 7 re-
traced my steps perfectly, I thought,
and it my calculations were right
should have stood where the broad, we'll
lighted street I had traversed corners
on Rue st. Denis. Blu the locality was
entirely strange. and I had lost sight
of b great tower which i had thought
would guide me home, when a squad OF
the watch halted me and questioned
my errand.
IT am a gentleman. and officer of the
king" I replied with such an air they
passed on.
Il pray you. gentlemen, direct me to
the Rue st. Denis. thence 1 can find
my way"
The man gave me directions which
simply confused me, and. ashamed to
confess my ignorance, I -blundered on
to where five or six narrow, crooked
streets ran together, branching out like
the fingers from my palm. 1 paused
now uncertain which way to go amid
so many devious courses, and deciding
almost at hazard, turned down the best
paved OF all those dingy streets. I had
hardly gone past more than two cross
streets, when there stood at a corner,
looking timidly this way and that, a
slight girl, with blonde hair and eyes
of Breton blue. She seemed so brave,
yet SO U OF place and helpless at that
hour of the night, on such an unfre-
Quented road, I almost made SO bold
as to address her, thinking I might be
of service to a lady in distress. But
my tongue was not formed for such
well chosen words and polite phrases,
sol merely held to one side, she stand
ing to h outer edge to admit Of my
passage.
At the moment I got opposite her, it
seems she had m%isjudged the width Of
the pavement, for 1 heard her give a
slight ejaculation. and one foot slipped
off the paved way as If she would fall
into the muddy street. I passed my
arm quickly about her, and raised her
to a place of safety, but even then could
bring no word Of courtly elegance to
my assistance.
She thanked me prettily and daintily,
and as ! pursued my course, I
could but turn and give yet an
other glance in her direction. She
caught my eye, and again looking
each way, bent her steps down a by
way leading off to the left, which we
We're that instant nearest. There was
hat in her manner, 1 could not say
exactly what, which led me 10 follow
her at a respectful distance, seeing
which she turned her head, and I
fancied 1 could observe a thankful lit
tie smile playing about her lips. At
any rate she quickened her pace and
walked with more assurance, no longer
in doubt about her movements.
For many RODS at times she would be
lost to view in the dark, and her tread
was SO light It, scarcely made a sound
-or the great, clumsy Gathering 7
created drowned it entirely. Just at
the time I thought I had lost her, I
could catch a glimpse OF a fitting skirt
beneath n of the flambeaux, which,
stuck in inches of the wall here and
there, lighted old Paris.
In a very pleasant frame OF mind, I
strobe along behind her. 1t was Won
derful, I thought, how readily a wo-
mans intuition recognizes a protector.
And for | must admit I was young
then; in the ways OF women. far young
ers than my years-I amused myself
with many conjectures concerning what
manne Of errand had taken this young
woman abroad alone or such a night.
A lady h plainly seemed. Disguised
a little, hat might be, for her quiet
dignity did not fully comport with the
style of her dress.
A thousand airy castles I built for
the knightly heroes Of the Crusades,
was v her defender, even her cham
pion in the lists.
Busted with these fancies and ro-
mantle thoughts, 7 lost count of streets
and passages, turning this way. that
and the other. through many narrow
and tortuous byways and alleys, until
I realized I was hopelessly lost. With
my fair guide in front and my good
sword by my side, lightly I rocked Of
streets or houses. Yet I dared not for
get I was on an errand for the gov
ernor and must not expose myself to
bootless peril.
AT last, and somewhat to my relief,
she stopped before a great oaken iron
studded gate, possibly OF five good
PAGES width, in one corner of which
was cut a smaller door so low a man
must stoop to pass. Upon this smaller
door she raped and stood in the at
titude Of waiting.
I had a moment now to look about
me. It was in a quarter of the town
that was ~forbidding. Here were two
huge, dismal, gray-stone mansions,
separated by a court yard Of probably
forty PAGES across: a high wall fronted
the street, fanked by a tower on either
side the gate. On top, this wall was
defended by bits of broken glass and
spikes Of steel, stuck into the mason
ry while 1t was yet soft. More than
this the Pickering brazier would not
permit me TO see. All OF LIllS l. LOOK
in a glance; across the street the
murktness Of the night shut out my
view. She raped again, impatiently,
but in the same I'M as before. A
trifling space thereafter the smaller
door was opened, whoever was inside
first Having peeped out through a
round hole, which closed itself with a
shutter nc bigger than his eye.
The lady looked first to me. then
stepped inside and stood pack as If h
babe me enter.
This was an adventure I had not bar
gained for. Thinking only to see that
the lady reached her destination in
safety, here vas a complication of
which I had never dreamed. What
her singular errand was. or wherein
she desired my assistance, I could not
even hazard a guess. Yet there she
stood n beckoned me to enter, and
1 moved forward a pace or two SO I
could see within the door.
The concierge held the door ajar.
and a more repulsive, defor,acawretch
l never laid eyes upon. His left arm
hung withered at his side: at his
girdle he swung a bunch of keys, with
any n Of which a strong man might
have Drained an OK Every evil pas
sion which curses the face Of men had
left its imprint upon his lowering coun-