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

Mademoiselle uttered a low moan,
and | turned to support her, thinking
each second to see her fall. But with
a sudden movement she Strengthened
herself, and, slipping by me, with eyes
which seemed to see nothing, she
started swiftly down the walk towards
the meadow gate.
| ran after her, but, taken by sur
prise as | was, it was only by great
effort that / reached the gate before
her, and, thrusting myself in the road,
barred the way. LET ME passi" she
painted fiercely, striving to thrust me
on n side. "Out of my way, Sir! l
am going to the village"
you are not going to the village"
I said sternly. go back to the house,
Mademoiselle, and at once"
my servant" she walled. Let me
go! Oh, let me go! Do you think I
can rest here while they torture him?
He cannot speak, and they-they-'
go back, Mademoiselle," l said, cut
ting her short, with decision. you
would only make matters worse! l
will go myself, and what one man can
do against many, l will! Louis, give
your mistress your arm and take her
to the house. Take her to madam"
But you will go?" she cried. Before
I could stay her-I swear | would have
done so If l could-she raised my hand
and carried it to her trembling lips.
"You will go! Go and stop them!
Stop Them" she continued, in a tone
which stirred my heart, "and Heaven
reward you, Monsieur"
did not answer; 0 did l once lock
back, as l crossed the meadow; but I
did not look forward either. Doubtless
it was grass I trod; doubtless the
wood was before me with the sun
shining aslant on it, and behind nee
the house with a fame here and there
on the windows; with a racing pulse,
in a glow from head to heel; conscious
of nothing but the touch of mader,ci-
selle's warm lips, seeing neither
meadows nor house, nor aver the dark
fringe OF wood before me, but only
mademoiselle's passionate face. For
the moment | was drunk: drunk with
that to which ] had been SO long a
stranger, with that which a man may
scorn for years, to find it at last be-
yond his reach-drunk with the touch
of a good woman's lips.
| passed the bridge in this state; and
my feet were among the brushwcod
before the heat and fever in which
I moved found on a sudden their di-
rection. Something began to penetrate
to my yelled senses-a hoa1se inarticu-
late cry, now deep, now shrilling hor-
r1bly, which seemed 10 fill the wood
1t came at intervals of half a minute OF
so and made the flesh creep, it was sc
full of dumb pain, of impotent wrest
ling, of unspeakaDle agony. l am
man and have seen things. l saw the
Concini beheaded and Chalais ten years
later-they gave him "a blows; and
when | was a boy | escaped from the
college and viewed from a great dis
tance Ravaillac torn by horses-tha;
was in the year ten. But the horri5l:
cries | now heard filled me, perhaps be
cause | was alone and fresh from thE
sight Of mademoiselle. with loathina
that was intense. The very wood
though the sun wanted an hour of set
ting, seemed to grow dark. I ran OF
through it, cursing, until the novels
Of the village at length came in sight
Again the shrek rose, a pulsing her
ror and this time could hear the lasl
fall on the sodden flesh, I could see il
fancy the strong man. trembling, quiv
ering, straining against his bonds
And then. in a moment. I was in thu
street and, as the scream once more
tore the air l dashed round the corner
by the inn and came upon them.