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

Captain de Mouret you are a soldier.
a brave one as my own eyes have wit
messed, reputed man OF untarnished
honor. VIII YOU truly answer me one
question upon the sacred blood of Christie"
His earnes;ness appealed to every bet
| ter instinct of my nature, SO replied TO
him:
II will"
"faVe l Your oath?''
You have"
Then, sir. to which of these ladies, if
either did YOU intend this note should
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 Very worst had come and | felt my
resolution WAIVER. 1 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 preteNt for AN evasion. Verify
here was 4 strong temptation for a lie,
and was almost minded to tell it and
relieve Agnes. Agnes, though, would
give ME no cue; never once did She lit
her eyes to mine. l might even then have
told the lie. hut for the reflection it would
compromise AN innocent woman
Captain, in Gods name, speak do You
not see that l am quiet and scn-con-
tvolled?'
"ChevaIier &c Ia Mora, l shall tell YOU
the exact truth, and hold you 10 your
| promise that there shall be no violence
now. What | did was through my fault
alone, nor did your lady give me The
| slightest oncouragemcnt-she is blame
| less. i is 4 sore strait you have placed
me in, but this is the lady who has all Il
soldiers love- and soldiers respect,
which she has done nothing to forfeit"
AS l spoke, l indicated the shrinking
figure of Agnes. and turned TO meet the
storm. Verify the storm did come, but
| from a different source.
| The elder lady rose With 4 fervcnt
| THANK Cod which | could find no rca-
son for her saying. Agnes nervousy
twisted at the table cover. her checks
crimson with the shame. | could not re
sist long look down upon her, and do
what l might, my love showed fun ana
strong in my face and micn.
De In Mora kccnly watched us all. That
other lady for whom l had no thought
to my utter surprise, moved toward him
with hands outsrctched, and cried,
"CharieS."
For a moment he hes!tated, then:
oh Agnes. Agnes, Il lfetime's love and
service cannot compensate YOU for what
I've made YOU suHer-the doubt bore
my loyal wife,
He fell upon his knee before her and
carried her hand to his lips as though she
were a goddess. and then spranG toward
me with the gladdest of glad smiles,
thrust his hand at me, and came near 10
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 duh and stupid
stare.
Agnes looked up at me once, radiant
and confused, then lowered her eyes
again.
The chcvalier broke a silence which was
becoming intolcrable 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 worshped wife, Madame
Agnes lie Ia Mora" l looked upon her
increduously. while thgS gracious woman
took one. hand from FER husband long
enough to extend 10 me her greeting.
Thoroughly perp!eXcd b! this most un-
looked for denouement, s..k2a:
"Who, then, is this?"
This chit" he replied, walking round
the table, happy rs boy, and almost lift
ing her bodily, this is mndame's little sis
ing to having spoken with YOU once in the
chapel at Scc;ux-and l. 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 Ncrges laid her warm
| little hand in mine. For thirty years ii
! has rested there in peace.
Thus, through many strange icrils and
purifying sorrows came the abiding hap
pincss which blessed these last two chill
! dren of the BLACK Wolf's Breed"