Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-12-18

Ou are sllH our guest, Monsieuf dHt- it must be done"
 But I cannot suffer it." cried, in misery. Madam de Cocheforet, will would rather do 1t myself" She raised her hand with a strange, patient expression on her face Hush, please" she said. Hush! you trouble me-"
 Tie fire took light and blazed up az she spoke and she rose slowly from fl. and, with a lingering look at it, went out; leaving me to stand and stare and listen in the middle of the floor ! Presently I heard her coming back | along the passage and she entered, bearing tray with wine and meat and bread. She set It down on the table and with the same wan face. trembling always on the verge of tears, she be- gan to lay out the things The glasses clinked pitifully against the plates as she handled them; the knives jared with one another; and stood by, | trembling myself and endured this l strange, this awful penance. l She signed me at last to sit down and eat; and she went herself and stood in the garden doorway, with
 her back to me. obeyed. sat down; l but though I had eaten nothing since l the afternoon of the day before,
 could not swallow. I fumbled with my
 knife, and munched and drank; and
 grew hot and angry at this farce; and
 then looked through the window at
 the dripping bushes, and the rain, and l the distant sundial, and grew cold again.
 Suddenly she afned round and came
 to my side. You do not eat" she
 said.
 l I threw down my knife and spraug up in frenzy of passion Mon Dieu.
 Madam!' cried. Do you think
 have no heart?'
 I And then in a moment knew what
 had done. In a moment she was on
 her knees on the floor, elasping my
 knees, pressing her wet cheeks to my
 rough clothes, crying to me for mercy
 for life, life. life! his life! Oh, it
 was horrible. It was horrible to see
 her fair hair falling over my mud
 stained boots, to see her slender little
 form convulsed with sobs, to feel that
 this was woman, a gentlewoman, who
 thus abased herself at my feet.
 ''Oh, Madam! Madam" I cried. in
 my agony. "I beg you to rise. Rise.
 or must go. You will drive me out!'
 Grant me his life!" she moaned pas
 sionately. "Only his life! What had
 he done to you, that you should hunt
 him down? What had we done to you,
 that you should slay us? An, Sir,
 have mercy! Let him go, and We will
 pray for you; and my sister will pray
 for you every morning and night Of
 our lives.'
 I was in terror lest some one should come and see her lying there, and l stopped and tried to raise her. But
 she would not rise; she only sank
 the lower until her tender hands
 clasped m my spurs, and l dared not move Then I took sudden resolu- tion. Listen then, Madam" l said,
 almost sternly, If you will not rise.
 When you ask what you do, you for get how stand. and how small my power isl You forget that were l tr , release your husband to-day. he would be seized within the hour by those who are still in the village. and who are watching every road-who have not ceased to suspect my movement and my intentions. You forget. I say, my circumstances"
 , She cut me short on that word. She sprang abruptly to her feet and faced
 me. One moment, and should have said something to the purpose. But al 1 that word she was before me. white , breathless, disheyelled. struggling foi : speech. "Oh yes, yes" she panted
 eagerly. q know! understand" And . she thrust her hand into her bosom and plucked something out and gay, it to me-forced it upon me into m, , hands. q know. I knowl" she sait , again. Take 1t, and God reward you , Monsieur! We give it freely-freel, , and thankfully And may God blesi you!"
 stood and looked at her. and looket at 1t. and slowly froze. She had giveE : me the packet-the packet 1 had re 1. stored to mademoiselle. the parcel O !. jewels. I weighed 1t in my hands. ant !, my heart grew hard again, for knev
 that this was mademoiselle's doing !, that it was she who. mistrusting th' /, effect of madam's tears and prayers
 had armed her with this last weapol : this dirty bribe flung 1t down ol I the table among the plates. all my pit. . changed to anger. Madam" I erie l. rufhlessly. you mistake me altogeth . CT. have heard hard words enougl 4 in the last 24 hours. and know wha
 you think of me, But you have yet ti learn that have never turned traito to the hand that employed me. no z sold my own side, When do SO fo . a treasure ten times the worth c z that. may my hand rot oh," ii oue sanh lnto h seaAs Nitn mo1 of despair. and al that moment tn | door opened. and N. de Coehefore |. came in. Over his shoulder l had il glimpse of mademOiselle's proud faes o little vhiter to-day. with dark mark l, under the eyes. but still firm and cold
 What is this?" he said. frovnin r and stopping short as his eyes Iighte i, on madam.
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