The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-04-26

CHAPTER yu.-CoNrrSuED.

None. Madernolselle."
she had drawn the shawl over her
head and / no longer saw her face.
That is all you aslSf' she mnrmured.
That is ali ask-now." an
swered.
IT is granted" she said slowly and
firmly. Forgive nee II seem to speak
lightly-lf seem 70 make little OF your
generosity or my shame; but can say
no more now am so deep in trouble
and so gnawed By terror that can
not feel anything much tonight. either
shame or gratitude. | am in dream;
God grant 1t may pass as a dream! We
are sunk In trouble. But for You ana
what you have done. NJ. de Barthe--I
-" she paused aud | heard her fight
ing with the sobs which choked her
forgive me-. I an overwrought.
And my-my feet are cold" she
added suddenly and irrelevantly. VIII
you take me homer"
"Ah. Madsmolsslie." cried re-
morsefuIly. II have been a beast!
You are barefoot and have kept you
here"
1T is nothing" she said In voice
which thrilled me. My heart is warm,
Monsieur-thanks to you. 1t is many
hours since It has been as warm"
She stepped out of the shadow as she
spoke-and there. the thing was done.
As had planned. so Il had come about.
Once more I was crossing the meadow
In the dark 10 be received at Coche-
foret a welcome guest The frogs
croaked In the pool and a bat swooped
round US in circles: and. surely never
never. [ thought with a kind Of
exultatlon in my breast-had man been
placed in a stranger position.
Somewhere In the black wood be-
hind us-probably IN the outskirts OF
the village-lurked M de Cocheforet
In the great house before us, outlined
by score OF lighted windows. we're
the soldiers come from Auch to take
him. Between the two. moving side
by side IN the darkness. in a silence
which each found to be eloquent. were
mademolselie and L: she who knew so
much. who knew all-all but one lit
tie thingl
We reached che house and I sug-
Rested that she should steal In first 81
the way she had come out. and that I
should walt a little and knock at the
door when she had had time to explain
matters to Clon.
They do NOT let me see CIon. she
answered slowly.
Then your woman must tell him."
rejoined. "Or he may say something
and betray me"
They will not let our woman come
to US"
WHAT" I cried, astonished. But
this Il Infamous. You are not pris-
onersi"
MsdsmoiseIIe laughed harshly. Are
We not' Well. | suppose not; for II
We wanted company. Captain Larolle
said he would be delighted to see US
lin the parlor"
HE has taken your parior7" said
"He and his Iieutenants sit there.
But suppose we should be thankful" .
she added bitterly. I'VE have still our
bed rooms left to us"
Very WELL" I said. Then I must
deal with Clon as I can. But I stu
have q favor to ask, Mademoiselle. II
IS only that you and your sister will
descend tomorrow at your usual time.
lin the parlor."
Il would rather not" she said.
pausing and speaking 10 a troubled
voice.
Are you afraid7"
mo Monsieur; ! am not afraid. she
answered proudly. But"
You will conner" ! said.
She sighed before she spoke. At
length. YES. I will come-if you wish
e." she answered. and the next mo-
ment she was gone round the corner
OF the house. while laughed 70 think
Of the excellent watch these gallant
gentlemen were keeping. M. de Coch
eforet might have been with her in the
garden. might have talked with her
as had talked. might have entered
the house even. and passed under their
noses scot-free. But that Is the way
of soldiers. They are always ready
for the enemy. with drums beating and
flags fiying-at ten O'Clock in the morn
ing But he does not always come
Al that hour.
waited little and then CROPPED
my way to the door and knocked on
II with the hllt Of my sword. The
dogs began TO bark at the back and
the chorus OF a drinking song, which
came ftfully from the east wing. ceased
altogether. An inner door opened
and an angry voice. apparently an Of
ficer's, began to rate some one for not
coming Another moment and clam
or of voices and footsteps seemed to
pour into the hall and oil It. I heard
the bar jerked away. the door was
flung open. and in a twinkling a ian
thorn, behind which dozen flushed
vtsages we're dimly seen. was thrust
into my face.
why. who the ficnd is this?' cried
one. giaring at me In establishment
"Morbleu. II is the mani" aIotter
sAyisksd -Gslzs him!"