Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-30

feeling of the heart? Is death all that
comes suddenly, unexpectedly? Are
there no sweeter things that come as
swiftly? All, n man can live a year in
an hour, mademoiselle-a lifetime with
in one little day. Yesterday, you say I?
Mademoiselle, yesterday for me were
only dim waters and gray sky; now
there are flowers and birds and laugh
ter and all glad things. Shall tell you
what has changed 1t all? The moment
you spoke to me on the wharf, the hour
we have ridden side by side along the
field, most of all, mademoiselle, the
moment you will not have me tell you
of, that one moment lived when death
came falling out of the sky upon us,
when you cried out-when''-
"Stop! she protested, her hands to
her red cheeks.
when your face was on my Shout
der-I felt your breath! You chung to
me-to mc--you, the fairest lady God
has made! My arms were around you"
"Oh!" she gasped. "No more! You
have 10 right
"Right?"
mo" she cried stormily, her breast
rising and falling. "No! You presume
upon danger into which fate thrust
me without my wish. Why, we have
but ridden half league. l know not
even your name! Who are you to speak
thus to me?"
"Who am I?' repeated the young man
slowly, the rich color dyeing his face.
II am-only a Frenchman, mademoi-
selle, only man who gazed upon your
face in crowd and whom-whom you
asked to ride beside you in the coach"
His tone had fallen. as it his fault,
madcmosclle, if his custom is not the
custom of your land, If he knows not
to reprcss If he must say what he
feels?" He finished very low. as it
his fault that lie cannot forget that
your face hid itself upon his breast for
one little moment here in the forest?"
She was alternately flushing and pal
ing. and her eyes were shining. "You
must not! You must notr she cried
out with softer voice.
With the words she started walking
rapidly, Fastening without CHANGING at
him. The dimness of tile interlaced
branches overhead parted; the trees
stood sparser. Just ahead leafy arch
let in the fading sunlight and view
OF yellow stubble, and beyond this
showed a broad gateway-twin brick
pillars crested with Notwithstanding
on winding road to great house that
looked many Widowed welcome
1t sat Struggled in elms on hill from
whose crest a terraced lawn fell softly
into the arms Of the shining, twisted
rivera southern home in its high days,
its dairy, meat house, ice house and
granaries all dazzling white against
| the blue and olive of sky and wood.
Spacious offices stood to the left, and
wide negro quarters squatted ut some
distance behind it. Near by tiny creek
sparkled down to wash tangle of is
lands. From adjacent fields came the
piping whistle of cartridges in grass.
Just before the gateway the young
mans voice caught her. For the sake
of that one moment, mademoiselle.n he
said huskily,
She paused. looked back and held out
her hand. He dropped upon one knee
and touched his lips to her fingers.
Il am glad ! owe my life to you," she
said softly.
Gazing at him uncertainty IN instant,
she hesltated, then turned and ran ran
idly up the winding drive. Her hound
lifted his shag head from the columned
porch and came leaping down to meet
her, while his whine drew Nanny Ey-
aline pcering from the kitchen door.
her weather beaten face dilating into n
smile.
"Lawd, dar come mammy's honey
chile safe an soun'!" she cried to Mrs.
Tillotson, who came hastily to the
steps and waved her hand at the girls
fiuttering signal.
Down, Sweetlips! Down" cried
Anne rs the hound leaped against her.
She stopped, bethinking herself of the
indenture.
She ran back to the gateway, but the
young Frenchman was not to be seen.
AS she stood peering into the pines the
breeze went playing with some torn
bits of paper scattered in the ruts. She
picked up several fragments and stroye
TO declpher them. (Which term the said
bond servant faithfully shall serve
- : does covenant with the said Louis
Armand, holder" she read.
Then she caught her breath and. for
bearing to glance in the direction of the
forest road. walked toward the anxious
figure ON the porch of the great honso