Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1904-06-16
ODE Black ygg
w offs Breed
e.py-'s,s ,s.. rs By Herr. Dickson

Captain de Mouret, you are soldier,
messed, veputed a man of untarnshed
honor. VIII you truly answer NC ono
question upon the sacred blood of Christ %
His carnestness appealed to every bet
ter Instinct of my nature, so ! replied to
him:
II WILL
Have 1 your oath?'
~ GU have"
Then, sir, to which of these ladies.
either, did you intend this note should
he delivered; and which, If either. did YOU
meet at the ruined chanel al s;ceaux?
Speak, In Gods name and do not spare
me! Suspicion is more terrihle than
truth"
The very worst had come, and felt my
resolution waver. knew not what story
Agnes had told her husband, nor did /
know who that other lady MAS. She
looked enough Hike Agnes 10 have afforded
shallow pretext for an evasion. Verify
here was strong temptation for a lie
and | was almost minded 10 tell il and
relieve Agnes. Agnes though, would
give me no cue: never once did she lift
her eyes to mine. / might even then have
told the lic but for the reelection il would
compromise an innocent woman.
Captain, in Gods name, speak, do YOU
IlOl ste tilal GIll IuiSl anu StIi com
trolled?"
'Chevalier de la Mora, | shall tell You
the exact truth, and held you to your
promise that there shall be no violence
now. What ] did was through my fault
aleue. nor did your fady give me the
slightest encouragement-sile is blame
less. 1t is sore strait YOU have placed
me in. but this is the lady who has an
soldiers love- and Il soldiers RESPECT.
which she has done nothing 10 forfeit
AS l spoke, | Indicated the shrinking
figure of Agnes, and turned 30 meet III.
storm. Verify the storm did come b,
from a different source.
The elder lady rose with a fervenN
Thank Cod" which | could nnd no rea-
son for her saying. Agnes ucrvoasls
twisted at the table cover her checks
crimson with the shame. 4 could not re-
sist a long look down upon her and dc
what I might, my love showed fun ana
strong in my face and mien.
De la Mora keenly watched us An That
other lady, for whom | had no Thought
to my utter surprise, moved toward hin
with hands outstretched, and cfec
"Charles."
For moment he hesltated then:
"Oh. Agnes, Agnes, a lfctimc's lose am,
service cannot compensate you for villa
I've made you sutIer-thc doubt 1 boa
my loyal wife
He fell upon his knee before her an,s
carried her hand to his lips as though s!i
were goddess, and then sprang toward
me with the giaddest of glad smiles
thrust his hand at me, and came near l.
cracking mire by the eigor of his grasp
His throat choked up. and he said nothing
And all this while looked from one 10
the other with a most dull and stupid
stare.
and confused, then lowered her eyes
again.
The chevalicr broke silence which VIZ:
becoming intolerable. to me at least. who
did not understand 1t all
Captain de Mouret, you have been IT,
error and have done me no wrong This
lady here is my worshiped wife, Madam,
Agnes de la Mora" / looked upon he,
incredulously, while that gracious woman
took one hand from her husband lont
enough to extend to me her greeting
Thoroughly perpieNed by this most ui
looked for uenouement, asked.
who, then. is this?"
This chit" he replied, walking round
the table. happy as boy. and almost lift
ing her bodily, this Is madame's little sis
ter, Charlotte. She confessed this even
Ing to having spoken with you once In tn.
chapel at Sccaux and /, may God for
give me, doubted but she had done 1t TO
shield her sister knew the little mink
had warned you In tn. park, but thought
nothing of 1T. Charlotte. come hcre."
And Charlotte dc Nergcs laid her warn
little hand in mine, For thirty years IL
has rested there in peace
Thus, through many strange pcrils anu
purifying sorrows came the abiding hap.
pincss which blessed these last two chill
dren OF the Black VOLTS Breed"
THE END