The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-06-21


self-respect. as do With every word
speak to you? DO you think II costs
me nothing to be here, where | feel
every look you cast on me Is an insult
every breath take in your presence a
contamination. Nothing. Monsieur
She laughed in bitter irony "Oh. hc
sure. something, But something which
I despair of making clear to you"
sat for a moment in my saddle
shaken and quivering with pain. IL
had been one thing TO feel that she
hated and scorned me. 10 know that
the trust and confidence which she had
begun to place in me were changed 10
loathing. II was another TO listen to
her hard. pitiless words, TO change
color under the lash of her gliding
tongue. For moment could not fnd
voice to answer her. Then ] pointed
to NJ. de Cocheforet DO you love
him." | said, hoarscly, roughly. The
gliding tone had passed from her voice
TO mine She did not answer.
Because. if you do" continued,
you will let me tell my tale Say no but
once more. Mademoiselle-I am only
Humankind so. And you will repent
Il all your life"
had done better had taken that
tone from the beginning. She WINGED.
her head dropped. she seemed TO grow
smaller. All in moment, as il were,
her pride collapsed Il will hear you, -
she answered feebly.
aaaat-
please" I said. keeping the advantage
had gained. you need not fear.
Your brother will follow"
caught hold OF her rein and turned
her horse. and she suffered u without
demur. In moment we we're pacing
side by side. the long. straight road
before us. At the end where IL topped
the hill. I could see the fnger-post-.
two faint black lines against the sky.
When we reached that. invoiuntarily
checked my horse and made II move
more slowly.
"Well, Sir" she said impatiently.
And her figure shook as II with cold.
at is a tale desire TO tell you,
Mademoiselle," | answered. speaking
with effort Perhaps may seem to
begin a long way OH. hut before | end
promise to interest Two months
ago there was living in Paris man.
perhaps a bad man. at any rate. by
common report, a bard man"
She turned 20 me suddenly, her
eyes cleaning through her mask. ''Oh,
Monsieur. spare me this." she said.
quite scornfully. Il will take IL Cor
granted"
Every well. replied steadfastly.
Good or bad. this man. one day,
in defiance OF the cardinals edict
against duelling, fought with young
Englishman behind St Jacques
church. The Englishman had influence,
the person Of whom | speak had none.
and an Indifferent name; he was ar
rested. thrown into the chatelet, cast
for death. left for days 10 face death.
At the last an offer was made to him.
II he would seek out and deliver up
another man. an outlaw With a price
upon his head, he should himself so
free"
I paused and drew deep breath.
Then | continued looking not at her,
but into the distance; ''Mademoi-
selle, II seems easy now 10 say what
course he should have chosen. II
seems hard now TO find excuses for
him. But there was one thing which
/ plead for him. The task he was asked
to undertake was a dangerous one.
= l. H.. q nd
the event proved him right. his life
against the life Of this unknogn man.
And-one thing more-there was time
before him. The outlaw might be TAX
en- by another, might be killed. might
die. might. But there. Mademoiselle,
we know what answer this person
made. lie took the baser course, and
on his honor. on his parole. with
money supplied to him. went free
free on the condition that he delivered
up this other man"
{ paused again, but / did not dare
to look at her, and after a moment
OF silence ! resumed. Some portion
of the second half of this story you
know Mademoiselle; but not all. SUI
flee It that this man came down to a
remote village, and there at a risk,
but Heaven knows, basely enough,
found his way into his victims home.
Once there, his heart began 10 fail
him. Had he found the house gar
risoned by men. he mieht have pressed
on to his end with little remorse. But
he found there only two helpless. loyal
women: and say again that from the
first hour of his entrance he sickened
OF the work he had in hand. Still he
pursued It, lie had given his word,
and IL there was one tradition of his
race which this man had never brok-
en-. II was that of fidelity to his side;
to the man that paid him. But he
pursued it with only half his mind. in
great misery sometimes. II you will be-
lieve me. in agonies Of shame. Grad
ually, however, almost against his
will, the drama worked itself out be-
fore him. until he needed only one
thing"
! looked at mademoiselle. Buc her
head was ayerted; | could gather
nothing from the outlines of her form.
And | went on. do not misunder-
stand me-" said. in lower voice.
DO not misunderstood what am go
ing 10 aav noxf This Il M love eforv