The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1906-04-06

~ .
Eyes and recovered himself. NAY, II
Is not strange, mademoiselle," he re-
sumed, that I should speak thus, for
I love La Sale. and he loves you, and
I am pledged by all the claims Of
friendship and loyalty to bring you
safe to your journeys end"
Before Renee could reply the comte
entered, followed by a squaw. Hardly
had she seen the prisoners before she
uttered a cry, and Tonti stared in be-
wilderment into the face Of Madame
BLIZZARD. It was indeed she, but how
changed! The roses had left her
cheeks and lines Of care and suffering
were strongly marked about her eyes.
Clad in the slattefnly dress Of an Iro-
Quois squaw, she had lost the trim
ness Of figure that had been her chief
attraction formerly. No longer were
the lashes dropped in coquettish
glances, but a hunted look had taken
their place. The comte stood watch
Ing them, smiling grimly. 80 1t
seems that o two are acquainted"
Madame BLIZZARD then seeing Renee
for the first time, rushed to her and
clasped her arms about her, weeping
violently. This action displeased her
lord, for he advanced and, g%rasping
her roughly by the shoulder, pulled her
away, giving her a rude shove that
sent her rolling on the floor. He then
seized her by the hair and pulled her
up into a sitting posture, crying bru-
tally, Get up or you will fare worse"
The poor woman did not seem t think
this treatment at all unusual and
meekly did his bidding. take ma
demoiselle to her lodge and serve her
wants." was the next demand; so,
reckoning Renee to follow her, she led
her out.
They passed to the adjoining house,
which had been hastily prepared for
its new occupant. Some attempts had
been made at cleaning the place, a
large number of skins and rugs hav-
ing been spread about. Renee's COM
panion was silent until they had en-
tered. After casting a backward
glance to see that they were not fol-
lowed, she fell on her knees and
burst into tears. Renee, who pitied
her forlorn condition and remembered
her kindness to her when she first ar
rived at Quebec, strove to soothe her,
and the kindly, womanly sympathy
thus displayed had its effect, for soon
the tear-stained face wa raised and q
sad smile lighted up her features.
"Ah! mademoiselle," she murmured,
you are SO good to pity an unfortu-
nate castaway like myself. I have
sinned deeply, but I have been cruelty
punished. Since seeing you I have
had time to reflect and realize how
great a wrong-doer l have been. Many
a night have I lain awake in my
misery, and thought Of all the happi-
ness l might have had, but which I
thrust aside. You can see the misery
of my fate without telling you.
However, 1t is FOUR future that trou-
bles me, for rather than see you in his
power l would bury a knife in his hate
full breast. But tell me how you hap>
pen to be here?"
Renee then rapidly sketched the
events that had led up to their jour
ney and the adventures encountered
since then. AS she told of Tonti,s eff.
forts at the time of their shipwreck,
Madame Bizard's Eyes g1owed and a
faint tinge of color returned to her
cheeks.
"How brave he is, and how noble!
My love told me that he was good and
worthy"
your Lowell" exclaimed Renee.
Eyes, my love, for l will confess it to
you, mademoiselle-I loved him. II
was my insane love that drove me to
tempt him to the very act to which the
comte yielded. But he was strong
and rebuked me, shaming me for the
thought"
"But you told me-"
Eyes, but l lied. My heart was full
, Of bitterness at finding him 30 much
better than 1; for his teaching me thai
a mans honor was even stronger thar
a wcman's. 1t was the desperate mem
{ DRY Of his refusal of my suggestion tt
: fly with me that drove me mad, and
made the society Of my husband, your
self, and all who were good and pure
a torment, and was the goad that urgei
l me to the step I took. But my re
l pentance has been bitter"
I "And his wife and child abandoned
l in Paris?" eagerly asked Renee, as sh'
clutched the woman by the arm, he,
breath waiting on her reply.
more lies. I could find nothing bal
? enough to say about him. I hatet
him for the deep humiliation he hat
! caused me. and loved him all the tim
for his nobility Of heart. He spoke o
one in France whom he adored.
: would have given my right arm to hav
: heard him speak Of me with that sam
0 feeling and reverence in his tones
g Now all is done. and 1t is too late 70
repentance. A weary life of servi
: tude amongst these savages is my por
ton. I can do nothing to retrieve tn
past, unless indeed I could effect you
escape. That would I gladly do wer
? I to pay for it with my life. Hav
4 courage, mademoiselle, I shall accom-