Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-13
UNDER, THE
RED ROBE
WEYMAN
lcopyrieht. 1874, By Stanley ]. weym.n.,

i her sobs. do not touch me. There Is
| too much between u.s.
sYet there must be one thing more
between u.s." answered firmly. "Yor
must listen tc me little longer
whether you viii or no, Mademoiselle
| for the love you bear to your brother
There is one course still open to me by
which may redeem my honor; 1t has
been in my mind for some time back
to take that course. To-day, am
thankful to say, L can take it cheer.
fully, il not without regret; with q
steadfast heart, If with no light one
Mademoiselle," continued earnestly,
feeling none Of the triumph, none Of
the vanity, had foreseen, but only
Joy in the 10Y could give her, "l
thank God that It is still in my power
to go back to him who sent me- and
telling him that I have changed my
mind and will bear my own burdens,
to pay the penalty"
We were within q hundred PAGES Of
the brow of the hill and the finger-post
now. She cried out wildly that she did
not understand. What is it you have
Just said?" she murmured. II cannot
hear" And she began to tumble with
the ribbon of her mask.
"Cnly this, Mademoiselle," an
swered gently. 81 give back to your
brother his word and his parole. From
this moment he is free to go whittier
he -pleases. You shall tell him so from
me. Here, where we stand, four
roads meet. That to the right goes to
Montauban, where you have doubtless
friends and can lie hid for time; or
that to the left leads to Bordeaux,
where you can take ship If you please.
And in word, Mademoiselle," I con-
tinued. ending a little feebly, ri hope
that your troubles are now over"
She turned her face to me-we had
both come to standstill-and plucl1ed
at the fastenings of her mask. But her
trembling fingers had knotted the
string and in moment she dropped
her hands with cry of despair. "And
you? You?" she said, in voice SO
changed I should not have known it
for hers. what will you do? do
not understand This mask! I cannot
hear"
There is third road" answered.
1T leads to Paris. That is my road,
Mademoiselle. We part here"
'But why? Why?" she cried wildly.
because from to-day would faiu
II agin to be honorable" I answered, in
low voice. Because l dare not be
generous at another's cost. must go
back to the chatelet."
She tried feverishly to raise
her mask with her hand. 81 am-not
WELL" she stammered. II cannot
breathe"
She swayed so violently in her sad
die as she spoke, that sprang down,
and running round her horses head,
was just in time to catch her as she
fell. She was not quite unconscious
then, for, as supported her, she muir
INJURED, Leave me! Leave me! am
not worthy that you should touch
me-"
Those words made me happy. car
ried her to the bank, my heart on fire,
and laid her against it just as M. de
Cocheforet rode up. He sprang from
his horse, his eyes blazing with anger.
what is this?" he cried harshly.
What have you been saying to her
man."
"She will tell yo1," I answered dry
Iy, my composure returning under his
eye" amongst other things, that you
are free. From this moment, M. de
Cocheforet, I give you back your pa
role, and take my own honor. Fare
we'll"
He cried out something as l
mounted, but did not stay to hear
or answer. dashed the spurs into my
horse and road away past the cross.
roads, past the finger-post; away with
the level upland stretching before me,