The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-06-17

Captain de Mouret You are a soldier,
brave one as my own eyes have wit
messed, reputed a man OF untarniShcd
honor. Will YOU truly answer me one
question upon the sacred blood of Christi"
His earnestness appealed to every bet
him:
II will"
Have l your oath?'
You have"
Then, sir, to which of thesa ladies, If
either, did You intend this note shoulu
be delivered; and which, if either, did YOU
meet at the ruined chapel at SCeauX ?
Speak, in Gods name. and do not spare
me! Suspicion is more terrible than
truth
The YER: worst had come and felt my
resolution waver. | knew not what story
Agnes had told her husband, nor did l
know who that other lady was. She
looked enough like Agnes to have afforded
shallow pretcNt for an evasion. Verify
here was a strong temptation for a lie,
and l was almost minded to tell it and
relieve Agnes. Agnes. though would
give me no cue; never once did She lift
her eyes TO mine l might even then have
| told the lie, but for the reflection ii would
compromise an innocent woman
Captain, i'll Gods name, speak, do YOU
not see that l am quiet and self-con-
troled?'
"Chcvalier de Ia Mora, I shall tell YOU
the exact truth, and hold you TO your
promise that there shall be no violence
now. What did was through my fault
alone nor did Your lady give me the
slightest cncouragemont-she is blame
less. 1t is Il sore strait YOU have placed
me in. but this is the lady who has all n
soldiers love, and Il soldiers respect
which she has done nothing to forfeit
As 1 spoke. | indicated the shrinking
figure of Agnes and turned to meet the
storm. Verify the storm did come, bur
from a different source.
The elder lady rose with n fervent
THANK Cod" which l could find no rca-
SON for her saying. Agnes nervously
twisted at the table cover, her checks
crimson with the shame. | could not re
sist a long look down upon her, and do
what l might, my love showed full ana
strong in my face and men.
De la Mora kecnly watched us all. That
other lady, for whom ] had no thought
to my utter surprise, moved toward him
with hands outstrctcEed and cried ::
"CharieS."
For a moment he hes!tated, then:
"Oh, Agnes. Agnes Il lifetime's love ana
service cannot compensate YOU for what
I've made you suftel-the doubt l bore
my loyal Wife
carried her hand to his lips as though she
were Il goddess. and then sprang toward
me with the gladdest of glad smiles,
thrust his hand at me, and came near to
cracking miEe by the vigor of his grasp.
His throat choked up. and he said nothing
And all this while | looked from one to
the other with most dull and stupid
stare.
Agnes looked up at me once, radiant
and confused then lowered her ewes
again
The chevaler broke a silence which was
becoming inlocrable, to me at least, who
did not understand 1t all.
Captain de Mouret, you have been in
error, and have done ME no wrong. This
lady here is my worshiped wife, Madame
Agnes de Ia Mora" l looked upon her
took one hand from fer husband long
enough 10 extend to me her greeting
Thoroughly perD!eXed by this most un-
looked for denoucmeut, s.rk@d:
"Who then, is this?" ...
This chit" he replied, walking round
the table, happy as a 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 the
chape! at SccauX-and |, may God for
give me, doubted but she had done il TO
shield her sister. | knew the little mink
had warned YOU in the park, but thought
nothing of it, Charlotte. come here.''
And Charlotte de Nergcs laid her warn!
little hand in mine. For thirty years ii
has rested there in peace.
Thus. through many strange pcrils and
purifying sorrows came the abiding hap
pincss which blessed these last two chill
dren OF the BLACK VOLTS Breed
THE L'Nn