Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-10-19

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were strongly marked about her eyes.
Clad in the slatternly dress OF an Iro-
quois squaw. she had lost the trim
ness of figure that had been her chief
attraction formerly. No longer were
The lashes dropped in coquettish
elances, but hunted look had taken
their place. The cOmte stood watch
ing them, smiling srimly. so it
seems that you two are acquainted"
Madame Bizard then seeing Renee
Tor the first time, rushed TO her and
clasped her arms about her, weeping
violently. This action displeased her
lord, for he advanced and, grasping
her roughly by the sh houlder, pulled her
away. giving her a rude shove that
sent her rolling on the floor. He then
seized her by the hair and pulled her
up into a sitting posture, crying bru-
tally, Get up or you will fare worse"
The poor woman did not seem to think
this treatment at all unusual and
meekly did his bidding. Take ma
demoiselle to her lodge and serve her
wants" was the next demand; so
her out
They passed to the adjoining house,
which had been hastily prepared for
its new occupant. Some attempts had
been made at cleaning the place,
large number of skins and rugs hav-
ing been spread about. Renee's COM
panion was silent until they had en-
InpnI Aftrr Gtinp Hnn
glance to see that they We're not fol-
lowed, she fell on her knees and
burst into tears. Renee, who pitied
her forlorn condition and remembered
her kindness to her when she first ar
rived at Quebec, strove to soothe her,
and the kindly, wOmanly sympathy
thus displayed had it's effect, for soon
the toar-stained face was raised and a
sad smile lighted up her features.
'Ah! mademoiselle," she murmured,
you are so good TO pity an unfortu-
nate castaway like myself | have
sinned deeply, but have been cruelty
punished. Since seeing you | have
had time to reflect and realize how
great a wrOng-doer | have been. Many
night have | lain awake in my
misery. and thought of all the happi-
ness | might have had, but which l
thrust aside. You can see the misery
of my fate without telling you.
However, it is your future that trou-
bles me, for rather than see you in his
power l would bury knife in his hate
full breast. Bat tell me how you hap
pen to be here?"
Renee then rapidly sketched the
events that had led up to their jour
ney and the adventures encountered
since then. AS she told of Tontis eff,
forts at the time of their shipwreck,
Madame Bizard's eyes glowed and a
faint tinge OF color returned to her
cheeks.
How brave he is. and how noble!
My love told me that he was good and
worthy"
Your loye!" exclaimed Renee.
Yes, my love, for | will confess it 10
you, mademoiselle-I loved him. 1t
was my insane love that drove me to
tempt him to the very act to which the
comte yielded. But he was strong
and rebuked me, shaming me for the
thought"
But you told me-
Yes, but | lied. My heart was full
Of bitterness at finding him so muck
better than | for his teaching me that
a mans honor was even stronger than
a Woman's. 1t was the desperate mem
ory of his refusal of my suggestion to
fly with me that drove me mad, and
made the society of my husband. your
self, and all who were good and pure
torment, and was the goad that urged
me to the step l took. But my re.
pentance has been bitter"
And his wife and child abandoned
in Paris?" eagerly asked Renee. as she
clutched the woman by the arm, her
breath waiting on her reply.
More lies. | could find nothing bad
enough to say about him. | hated
him for the deep humiliation he had
caused me, and loved him all the time
for his nobility of heart. He spoke of
one in France whom he adored. |
would have given my right arm to nave
heard him speak of me with that same
feeling and reverence in his tones.
Now all is done, and it is too late for
repentance. A weary life of servi-
tude amongst these savages is my por-
ton. can do nothing to retrieve the
past, unless indeed | could effect your
escape. That would I gladly do were
| to pay for it with my life. Have
courage, mademoiselle, | shall accom-.
plish whatever can for you"
But Renee heard not the wall of re-
gret nor the womans determination to
redeem her wrong. Her eyes streamed
with a strange peaceful light of happi-
ness. In her mind stood forth her
lover as she had first believed him.
worthy, after all, in spite of the calum-
MES of his enemies. Nay, worthier,
for had she rot now proof of tempta-
tion resisted, his love for her con-
slant and enduring? The gold had
been tried and had come forth from
the furnace unstained and with a
bTi al Iurtop tbaV Eafcwa rInr