The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-04-19

persistent chorils reminded me of the
night when hsd come to the house.
door hurt and worn out and Clon had
admitted me and she had stood under
the gallery In n hall. Things had
looked dark then. had seen but a very
little way ahead. Now all was plains
The commandment might be here with
all his soldiers, but II was who held
the strings.
We came to the little wooden bridge
and saw beyond the dark meadows the
lights OF the house. All the windows
we're bright Doubtless the troopers
were making merry. Now, Mademoi.
selle," said quietly. II must trouble
You 10 stop here and give me your at.
tention for a few minutes Afterwards
you may go your way"
Speak" she said dehantly. And
be quick. cannot breathe the air
where you are! II poisons me"
"Ahl" | said slowly DO you think
you make things better by sach
speeches as thosei"
"Ohl" she cried-and l heard her
teeth click together. Would you have
me fawn on your"
Perhaps not" answered. "Stin
you may make one mistake"
What is it?" she painted.
you forget that am 10 be feared ne
we'll as--loathedl" | answered grin,ly.
'Ay. Madomoiselle. TO be fearedl" 7
continued. do you think that do not
know why you are here in this gulse.
Do you think that | do not know for
whom that pitcher of broth was In
tendedP Or who will now have to fast
tonight! tell you know all these
things. Your house Is full OF soldiers.
your servants were watched and could
not leave. You had to come yourself
and get food for him.
She clutched at the hand-rail of the
bridge and for an instant chung to Il FOR
support. Her face. from which the
shawl had fallen. glimmered white In
the sh adow Of the trees. At last had
shaken her pride At last What Is
your price?" she murmured family
II am going 10 tell YOU" | replied.
speaking so that every word might
fall distinctly en- her ears. and satiug
my eyes on her proud face. had
never dreamed OF such revenge as this!
About a fortnight ago. NJ. de Coche-
foret left here at night with little
orange-colored sachet in his posses
sion"
She uttered a stifed cry, and drew
herself stifIly erect
1T contained-but there. Mademoi-
selle. you know its contents" | went
on. Whatever they we're. NJ. de Coch-
foret lost il and them at starting A
week ago he came back-unf0rtunate
~ for himself-to seek them"
She was looking full in my face
now. She seemed scarcely IN breathe
in the intensity of her surprise and ex-
pectatiSa. you had a-search made,
Mademoiselle," I continued quietly,
your servants left no place unex-
plored. The paths. the roads, the very
woods were ransacked. But In vain,
because all the while the orange sachet
lay whole and unopened In my pocket"
moi" she cried impetuously. You
lie. Sir The saehet was found. torn
open. many leagues from this place."
Where threw IL. Mademoiselle,"
| replied, that | might mislead your
rascals and be free to return. oh! be-
ileve me-" I continued. letting some
thing Of myself, something OF my tri-
umph. appear at last in my voice. You
have made a mistake You
would have done better had you trusted
me. am no bundle OF sawdust. Mad
emoiselle. but a man: a man with an
arm to shield and a brain to serve.
and--as am going 20 teach you--a
heart also,"
She shivered.
"In the orange-colored sachet that
you lost believe there we're IS stones
Of great value?"
She made no answer. but she looked
at me as II fascinated her Her
very breath seemed TO pause and. wait
on my words She was so little con-
scious OF anything else. of anything
outside ourselves. that a score Of
men might have come up behind her
unseen and unnoticed.
| took from my breast little PACKET
wrapped in soft leather. and held Il
towards her "Will you open this?"
said. Il believe il contains what
you lost That It contains all will not
answer, Mademoiselle. because | spilled
the stones on the floor Of my room
and may have failed TO find some.
But the others can be recovered-I
know where they are"
She took the packet slowly and be-
gan 10 unroll IL, her fingers shaking.
A few turns and the mild lustre OF
the stones made a kind of moonlight
in her hands-such a shimmering glory
of imprisoned light as has ruined many
a woman and robbed many a man OF
his honor Morbleu, as | looked at
them-and as she stood looking at
them in dvll. entranced perplexity-
I wondered how | had come TO resist
the temptation.
While ! gazed her hands began to
a