Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-06-20
CHAPTER XI.-CONT1NUED.


her back to rue. I obeyed. sat down;
but though had eaten nothing since
the afternoon of the day before, l
could not swallow. 1 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
the distant sundial, and grew cold
again.
Suddenly she turned round and came
to my side. "You do not eat" she
said.
threw down my knife and sprang
up in frenzy Of passion. 'Mon Dieu!
1ladam!" I cried. do you think I
Lave no HEARTH
And then in a moment knew what
l had done. In moment she was on
her knees on the floor, clasping my
knees, pressing her wet cheeks to my
rough clothes, crying to me for mercy
for life! life! life! his life! Oh, 1t
was horrible! 1t was horrible to see
],ar 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!" l cried, in
my agony. II beg you to rise. Rise,
or I must go! You will drive me QUIT"
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 STAY us? All, 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 I
stopped and tried to raise her. But
she would not rise; she only sank
the lower until her tender hands
clasped my spurs, and 1 dared not
move. Then I took sudden resolu-
ton. Listen then, Madam" said,
almost sternly, If you will not rise.
When you ask what you do, you for
get how I stand, and how small my
power is! You forget that were I to
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, say my
circumstances
She cut mo short on that word. She
sprang abruptly to her feet and faced
me. One moment, and I should have
said something 10 the purpose But at
that word she was before me, white,
breathless, dishevelled, struggling for
speech. ooh yes, yes" she painted
eagerly, II know! I understand" And
she thrust her hand into her bosom
and plucked something out and gave
1t to me-forced It upon me into my
hands, II know! I know" she said
again "Take it, aud God reward you,
Monsieur! We give it freely-freely
and thankfully! And may God bless
you!"
I stood and looked at her. and looked
at it, and slowly froze. She had given
me the packetzthe packet I had re-
stored to mademoiselle, the parcel of
Jewels. l weighed it in my hands, and
my heart grew hard again, for l knew
that this was mademoiselle's doing;
that 1t was she who, mistrusting the
effect of madam's tears and prayers,
had armed her with this last weapon
this dirty bride. I fling it down on
the table among the plates, all my pity
changed to anger. Madam" I cried
ruthlessly, "you mistake me altoeeth-
er. l have heard hard words enough
In the last "a hours, anc know what
you think of me! But you have vet to
learn that have never turned traitor
to the hand that employed me, nor
sold my own side! When l do so for
q treasure ten times the worth of
that, may my hand rot OFF,
She sank into seat, with a moan
OF despair, and at that moment the
door opened, and NJ. de Cocheforet
came in. Over his shoulder I had a
glimpse of mademoiselle',s proud face
little whittier to-day, with dark marks
under the eyes, but still frm and cold.
what is this?" he said, frowning
and stopping short as his eyes lighted
on madam.
1T ls-that we start at eleven
O'Clock Monsieur answered. bowling
CURLY. Those, fancy, are your DROP.
erty.' And pointing to the Jewels. Il
went out by the other door.
= 81
That might not be present at their
parting: remained in the garden un-
I'll the hour I had appointed was well
passed; then without entering the
mousse l went to the stable entrance.
Here | found all ready. the two troop-
ers (whose company had requisitioned
as far as AuchlI already in the saddle
my own two knaves waiting with nv
sorre] and NJ. de Cocheforet's chestnut.
Another horse was being led up and
down by Louis, and, alas, my heart
WINGED at the sight. For it bore a
1ady's saddle and I saw that we wore
TO have company. Was It madam who
meant TO come with us? or mademoi-
selle: And how far? To Auch? or
farther?
l suppose that they had set some
Kind OF u watch on me; for. as
walked up, NJ. de Cocheforet and his
sister came out of the house he look
Ing white. with bright eyes and a
twitching in his cheek, though through
all he affected a jaunty bearing: she
wearing black mask.
"Mademoiselle accompanies us7" Il