Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-08-09
HER HAND TREMBLED.

dress. And | saw that her hand trEm-
bled too and that her check was dark
with bushes.
She turned at cnce and began to walk
towards the house. Presently she
spoke Heaven forgive that | should
misjudge you a second time!" she said,
in a low voice. And, after all, who am
| that I should judge you Mt all? An
hour ago, | would have killed that man
had I possessed the power"
you %repented, Mademoiselle," I
said huskily. l could scarcely speak.
30 you never repent?"
Eyes. But too late. Mademoiselle."
perhaps it is never too late" she
answered softly.
ALAS. when a man is dead"
"You may rob a mar of more than
life!" she replied with energy, stopping
me by a gesture. eff you have never
robbed a manor a woman-of honor!
If you have lever ruined boy or girl,
M. de Berault! If you have never
pushed another into the pit and gone
by it yourself! If-but for murder?
Listen. You may be a Romanist, but
am a Huguenot, and have read. Thou
shalt not kill it is written; and the
penalty, by nan shall thy blood be
shed!' But If you cause one Of these
little ones to offend, it were better
for you that a milestone were hanged
about your neck, and that you were
cast into the depths of the sea-"
"Mademoiselle, you are too merci-
full" l muttered.
81 need mercy myself she an
swered, signing. "And | have had few
temptations. How do | know what
you have suffered"
"Or done!" | said, almost rudely.
where a man has not lied, nor
betrayed, nor sold himself or Others
she answered firmly, but in a low tone
81 think l car forgive all else. I can
better put up with force" she added
smiling sadly, than with fraud"
All, Dieu! I turned away my face
that she might not see how 1t paled
how | WINGED; that she might moi
guess how her words, meant in mel.
cy, stabbed me to the heart. And yet
then, for the first time, while viewing
in all its depth and width the gull
which separated us, I was not hard
ened; l was not cast back upon my.
self. Her g%entleness, her pity, hel
humility, softened me, while they con
victed me. My God! How could I dc
that which l had come to do? How
could I stab her in the tenderest part
how could l infict on her that rend
ing pang, how could | meet her eyes
and stand before her. a Caliban, 6
Judas, the vilest, lowest, basest thing
she could conceive?
| stood a moment, speechless ant
disordered; stunned by her words, by
my thoughts-as | have seen a mar
stand when he has lost his all, his last
at the tables. Then I turned to her;
and for an instant I thought that my
tale was told already. | thought thai
she had pierced my disguise, for hel
face was aghast, stricken with sudder
fear. Then | saw that she was not
looking at me. but beyond me, and
turned quickly and saw a servant
hurrying from the house to us. Il
was Louis. His face, It was, hat
frightened hes. His eyes were staring
mis- hair waved, his cheeks were fab
by with dismay. He breathed as Il
he had been running.
what is it?" mademolselle cried
while he was still some way off
Speak, man. My sister? Is She"
"Clon," he gasped.
The name changed her to stone
"Clon?" she muttered. What o.
him."
"In the VILLAGE" Louis painted, hi.
tongue suffering with terror. The,
are flogging him! They are killing
him! Mademoiselle! To make hin
tell"
Mademoiselle grasped the sundia
and leant against it, her face color
less, and for an instant, | though
that she was falnting. "Tell?" sale
mechanically. But he cannot tell
He is dumb, man."
"They will make him guide them,
Louis grcaned, covering his ears Will
his shaking hands, his face like paper
"And his cries! Oh, Monsieur. go!'
he continued, suddenly appealing t.
me, in a thrilling tone Save him
All through tho wood heard them
It was horrible! horrible!"