The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-06-07

cHAPrrR xI.-coNrNuEp.

stood in the garden doorway WIN
her back to me. obeyed- Isat down;
but though had eaten nothing since
the afternoon OF the day before, l
could not swallow. fumbied 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 sundiai, and grew cold
again. Suddenly she turned round and
came to my side. ''You donot eat" she
said.
I threw down nv knife and sprapg
up in a frenzy of passion. mon Dieu!l
Madam" cried. DO you think
have no hearth"
And then in a moment l knew what
had done. In a moment she was on
her knees on the floor. ciaspins my
knees, pressing her wet cheeks to my
rough clothes. crying to me for mercy
for life! life! lifei his life, oh. II
was horrible. II was horrible to sec
her fair hair falling over my mud
stained boots, 20 see her slender little
form CONFUSED with isobs. 10 feel that
This was a woman. a gentlewoman. who
thus abaset herself at my feet.
"Oh. Madam, Madsm." | cried. in
my agony. 81 beg you TO rise. Rise.
or must so! You will drive me OUT"
Grant me his lifei" she moaned pas
sionately. ~oniy his lifel What had
he done TO you. that you should hunt
him down. What had we done you.
Il.
have mercy Let him go. and we will
pray for you; and my sister viii pray
for you every morning and night OF
our lives"
was in terror lest some one should
come and see her lying there, and !
stopped and tried to raise her. But
she would not rise; she only sank
the lower until her tender hands
elasped my spurs. and | dared not
move. Then,I took sudden rcsolu-
ton. Listen then. Madam" I said,
almost sternIy. If you viii not rise.
When you ask what yon do, you for
get how | stand, and how small my
power is! Yot forget that wsre 4 ~
release your husband to-day. ne would
be seized within the hour byrthose who
are still in the village. ana who are
watching every rOad--who have not
ceased to suspect my movement and
my intentions. You forget, | say, my
circumstance"
She cut me short on that word She
sprang abruptly to her feet and faced
me one moment. and should have
said something to the purpose. But at
that word she was before me. white.
breathlcss. disheyelled. struggling for
speech. ooh yes. yes" she painted
eagerly, Il know understand And
she thrust her hand into her bosom
and plucked something out and gave
n to me--forced it upon me into my
hands. Il know, know" she said
again. Take II. and God reward you,
Monsieurl We give II freely-freeiy
and thankfully And may God bless
you"
stood and Looked at her. and looked
at II. and slowly froze She had given
me the pacbet-the psclset l had re-
stored TO mademoiseile, the parcel Of
jewels. ] weighed II in my hands. and
my heart grew hard again. for / knew
that this was mademoiselle's doing;
that il was she who. mistrusting the
effect OF madam's tears and prayers.
had armed her with this last weapon
this dirty bride I flung it down. on
the table among the plates, all my pity
changed TO anger. Madam" | cried
ruthlessly. you mistake me altogeth-
er. I have heard hard words enough
in the last "a hours. and know VIII ut
you think of.iRe! But you have yet to
learn that / have never turned traitor
20 the hand that employed me, nor
sold my own sidei When / do SO for
a treasure ten times the worth Of
that. may my hand rot orr
She sank into a seat. with a moan
OF despair and at that moment the
door opened. and NJ de Coebeforet
came in. Over his shoulder I had a
glimpse OF mademoiselle's proud face,
little whittier today. wioh dark marks
under the eyes. but stiIl firm and coii
''What is this?" he said frowning
and stopping short as HIS eyes lighted
on madam.
1T is-that we start at eleven
o'clock Monsieur J answered, bowling
CURLY. Those, l fancy. are your prop
erty" And pointing 10 the Jewels. I
went out by the other door.
That might not be present at their
parting remained in the garden IN.
Ill the hour had appointed was well
passed: then without entering tie
house | went to the stable entrance.
Hero found ali ready. the two troop
ers (whose company had reauisitioned
as far as Aucn) already in the saddle
my own two knavrs waiting with ny
sorrel and n De Cocheforet's chestnut
Another horse was being led up and
down By Louis. and. alas my hear
WINGED at the sight. For It bore =
lady's saddle and I saw that we wrr;
20 have company. Was It madam whc
meant TO come with US: OF maGemol
selles And hcH far To Auch? OF