Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1906-01-12

which the mulatto had but now passed
vas a man cloaKed, Matted, booted and
ipurred as for the road. AT her Cry
re DOTTED his hat and
My dears, L shall never be able to
raw for YOU the hideous death-mask
his man was wearing for a face.
scanned and SCARED, shriveled and liv-
Id in purple and crimson welts, you
would think a n~ine-thonged whip of
ire had scourged out avery sembiance
Of comeliness, leaving only the skeleton
frame on which 10 hang this CHASTITY
.aricature of a human face. Fearing
MIN not at all, l could scarce forbear
a shudder at the sight of his walking
death-mask of the libertine, Sir Fran
! els Falconnet.
And If his face were terrifying in re-
pose, twas fair demonaic when he
laughed.
Hal" he said, bowling again in a
mockery Of politeness. you are sur
my lords order and thought / would be
by now some miles on the road to Sails
bury?"
IF you were the loyal soldier you
should be, sir she said, drawing her
self up proudly, you would be at the
head of your troop, as his lordship di-
rected." And then, with a gesture that
NdS LnOSL queehly stand ASIDE, SIT
LiDertine, and let me pass"
His answer was another mocking
laugh, and he stepped within to close
the door n lock 1t. When he turned
TO front her again his face was the
face OF a toemented devil.
BY God! you think too lightly Of
me, Mistress Margery. Before ever this
day dawned | owed you much, but like
a spiteful little hellicat you must needs
add to the score by making me a tar
get for your wit at the supper table.
Twill cost a life to more than one of
them who laughed with you, my lady,
but twin cost you dearer still"
He came nearer as he spoke, thrust
ing that horrible face farther into the
circle Of candle light; but she would
not draw back nor finch a hair, and I
marked that the hand that held the
candlestick was as steady as a rock.
But when he made an end she flung n
quick glance. over her shoulder and my
heart leaped for joy. For then 1 knew
she was leaning upon me.
once more, Captain Falconnet, will
you let me pass?" she said.
MOI" he snarled, adding a horrid
blasphemy. Twas passion in me
once, and I am one so sure there was
not a time when you could have cooled
it into love. But now it's hatred and
lNANll5ts LIC DIlAppth AiS IiiSEAo III
her face. The thing they'll find here
in the morning"
He fell face downward at her feet,
and / set my heel in the small of his
back to hold him whilst 81 could drive
the point Of the Ferara between his
ribs, But my dear lady would not have
it so.
NO, no! for the love Of heaven, not
that, Monsieur john" she cried; and
fnV t,A moment bnr Gyon pprr,-n 90 yHroc oil
swallowed up Of pity and she became
a compassionate woman pleading for q
life.
But now my blood was up. You are
my wife" | said, coldly. IF he had a
dozen lives / should take them all for
that which he said to you"
"But not that Way-oh, not that way,
/ do besech you!" she begged. Think
Of what il will mean to yOu-and-and
to me. For your sake, Monsieur
john
! took my heel from the mans back.
Your wish is law to me, dear lady.
But your way is clear now. 0 may
go"
She took q step toward the door.
You will not kill him when l am
gone. Monsieur john"
by the name he bears he was
doubtless born a gentleman; since you
wish it, he shall die like me"
l saw she did not take my meaning;
that when she was gone | should let
him have his chance to die sword in
hand.
Remember, l have your promise"
she said, turning to go. The army is
on the march for Salisbury, and in a
little while your friends will be here
to
The sentence ended III a very wom-
anly shrek of terror. Watching his
chance, my bastard enemy had bound
ed to his feet to make a quick lunge,
not at me, but at her.
OF course | came between to parry
the murderous thrust, and after that it
was life for one of us and death for
the other. / looked to see my lady
run. shrieking; indeed, l called to her
to go, but she stood fast as if her ter
ror had frozen her; and so 1t was her
candle that lighted the grim vault for
the duel.
AS you will know full well, l was not
minded to give this thTice-accursed
fiend more than the gentleman's chance
| had promised to give him. But now,
as twice before, he fought most des-
perately, trying by every trick of fence
to come between me and the silent lit
tie figure holding the candle aloft. AS
| have often said, he was q pretty
swordsman, and at this crisis, with life
at stake, and all the fury of the seven
devils of disappointed vengeance to
nerve his arm, his sword play was most
mastery.
Continued Next Weekly