The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1904-04-07

The poor girl must have been wea-
ried out with her watchings by my bed,
for she burst into such an uncontrolia-
BILE weeping as / fain would have pre-
vented. / did my rough best at COM
fort, bu had to let her sorrow run Its
course.
ooh, Monsieur, think Of it! I must
go back to that dreadful wine shop to
the gaming tables: must continue to
draw men there to be despoiled of their
money, perhaps of their lives; must
laugh and be gay. though my heart
break at its own debasement. There
have been many, ali, so many, l nave
iured to hat place, and 1t came so
near to costing o your hfe-you who
We're so kind to Florine."
She had sunk to the floor, and catch
Ing my hand poured out all the bitter
ness of her heart.
Yet, Monsieur, what can Florine do?
Their is 40 way for q weak woman to
do anything In this wretched Paris.
If I do not bring players to the house
my unit beats me. See,'' she drew UP
her sleeve, and exposed the welts OF
cruel cuts across the bare white flesh.
She denies me food in my garnet. So
/ must work. be merry and work-and
weep all the day for the misery of the
nights" My heart went out to the girl
with all sympathy, but, every whit as
helpless as she, l only wondered what
could be done.
Monsieur, 1t was not of my choos-
ing, believe me, believe me, 1t really
was not. My father thought his sister
SO Well off in this fine Paris, when she
offered to bring me up as her own
child, and sent us presents, he made me
! come with her. We were so poor, SO
cruelty DOR. My mother could not
come for me, and now how can | go
back? L dare not let her know how /
am treated. 1t would break her heart,
and she is so old and lettering. If I
seek other employment no n Will
take me, no one would give me a char
acter for service. All the world is
open to you. You go where you please,
do what pleases you. All the world IS
shut to Florine And you, Monsieur,
my only friend. I hoped when you were
We'll again, such a rich gentleman
could find me a place among his
friends; find me some quiet place
where 1 might live and be Of use, not
bringing evil to all I touch. What an
evil life, what a wicked life / lead. Oh,
Monsieur. save ne from it; ave me!
The horrible man o defended me
from that night pursues me every
where; my aunt is Jealous because of
him. She hates me now and would
like to drive me out upon the streets
ugh! the terror of 1t. But her husband
won't let her; he is kinder than she.
See, l am pretty, 1 bring custom. She
can not tell her husband why she hates
me. No, no. Bertrand would kill her.
And 1 dare not tell him. They would
kill me-
Her speech rambled on now. dis
connected and incoherent. Still by
catching sentences here and there the
whole pitifui story was clear to me.
My eys would always overflow at sight
pf woman's suffering, my throat
ehoked up; I could speak no word to
aer. OF a truth what a horrible life
1t must be; what iron webs do sin and
circumstance weave around their VIC
tim. The covering girl sobbed con-
rulsiveiy on the fioor at my feet. I
laid my hand tenderly upon her head.
sFlorine. l have but two friends my
self in all this land Of France. You
have served one of these faithfully in
helping me. I will commend you to
him, and am sur he Will reward you
well"
Monsieur. / seek no reward; l
served o not for money
She shaned me, though / persisted.
Not a reward. FIortne, but surely
you can let him ser you back to your
mother. Here Is money. his money,
not mine; he Is rich. l am poor. He
can pay you for valuable service,
can only give you my undxing graft
tude.'
I bent down and kissed her pale fore
head, whereat she wept afresh.
sClaude's wife will keep you mere
safe until we come again. Then W.
Will find means to protect and provide
for YOU"
I bade her rise now and calm her.
self, for a hustle in the street an
nounced the noisy arrival OF severe
horsennen. A few moments. and Jer
ONES voice called me from below t
make all ready.
+ called Claude's wife UP and deliv
| cred the girl to her keeping, he
| turned to loonk out into the stree
There were now drawn UP In front G
the IGOR four sturdy equerries, we
mounted, and leading two exceller
nags, which ! took to be those Jeron
had provided for u own use.
Jerome obliged me nee more I
dress with exceeding care, but ! frette
much for my WI easy garments Whic
p%erInitted a man to use his limbs wit
the freedom God had given Their
Verify there would be no regret wfe
all this frtppery could be cast asid
and by my faith, 1t was much sitnpl,
to lay 1t off than to array ones self /
L never did learn all the eccentriciti
OF tina remarkable rig my %fashionab
friend had adorned me with.
"EIad we better not strap on our pi!
tols?' / asked. not Knowing what /
purposed.
mo; gentlemen do not wear the
Beside, at Sceaux one sharpens one
wits, and lets even his good blade dr
and rust"
We mustered six stout swords as y
. clattered away from the Austria
Arms, and I could not but note, d
spite what Jerome had said, he tot
good care to provide trusty fellows 81
! swift horses.
! "a lean hound for e long race Je
ONE ~langhingly remarked, noticing n
inspection OF the not over-fed nag / b
strobe.
We took that road leading past I
heights of Viliejuif, which In hard
. more thar an hours brisk ride broug
MS to hi narkof Seeaux. oversooki
I the Beautiful Eontaray yaney 4 Wal
IsEasdassdned u learn macn Dl
a.ss nissr nad1 iIassrrs to spsa
TAgtlia ssegsn gaa gar
4 Ead aaaEra ii i
assfIs ssSs 4s
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