Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-01-30
"You impudent

4 e.
And in very cavalier way he took
his officer by the arm and drew him
into sidewalk, leaving me to stand
In the sun, bursting with anger anu
spleen. The gutter bred rescal! That
such a man. should insult me and with
fmpunity! In Paris might have made
him fight, but here it was impossible.
was still foaming with rage when
they returned.
We have come to determination"
the lieutenant said, tugging his gray
mustaches and standing like a ram
rod. eve shall leave you the house
and madam and you can take your
line to find the man. For ourselves,
we shall draw off our men to the viii.
lage and we shall take our line. That
is all. M. lie Capitaine. is it not?"
81 think so,' the captain muttered,
looking anywhere but at me.
Then we bid you good-day, Mon,
sieur," the lieutenant added. And in
moment he turned his companion
round, and the two retired up the walk
to the house, leaving me to look after
them in a black fit Of rage and in
credulity. At the first flush there was
something so offensive in the manner
Of their going that anger had the up
per hand. thought of the lieutenant's
words, and cursed him to hell with
q sickening consciousness that l should
not forget them in a hurry: WAS
playing the traitor to the cardinal or
to these women-which? 2" Mon LDieu!
if ever question--but there! some day
I would punish him. And the captain!
could put an end to his amusement,
at any rate; and would. Doubtless
among the country bucks of Auch he
lorded it as a chief provincial bully,
but would cut his comb for him some
fine morning behind the barracks.
And then, as I grew cooler began
to wonder why they were going, and
what they were going to do. They
might be already on the track, or
have the information they required I'M
der hand; in that case I could under
stand the movement But if they were
still searching vaguely, uncertain
whether their quarry were in the neigh
borhood or not, and uncertain how
ong they might have to stay, it seemed
incredible that soldiers should move
from good quarters to bad without mo-
tive.
l wandered down the garden think
ing sullenly of this, and pettishly
cutting off the heads of the flowers
with my sheated sword. After all, If
they found and arrested the man what
then? should have to make peace
with the cardinal as l best might. He
would have gained his point, but not
through me, and should have to look
to myself. On the other hand, If I
anticipated them-and, as fact,
felt that could lay my hand on the
fugitive within a few hours-there
would come a time when l must face
mademoiselle.
A little while back that had not
seemed so difficult thing. From the
day of our first meeting-and in
higher degree since that afternoon
when she had dashed me with her scorn
my views of her, and my feelings
towards her, had been strangely made
up of antagonism and sympathy; Of
repulsion, because in her past and
present she was so different from me;
Of yearning, because she was woman
and friendless. Then had duped her
and bought her confidence by returning
the jewels, and In measure l had
stated my vengeance; and then, as a
consequence, sympathy had again be-
gun to get the better, until now hard
ly knew my own mind or what | in
tended. | stood there in the garden
with that conviction suddenly new
born in my mind; and then, in
moment, heard her step and turned
to find her behind me.
Her face was like April, smiles
breaking through her tears. As she
stood with a tall hedge Of flowers be-
hind her, I started to see how beauti-
full she was. 81 am here in search Of
you, M. de Barthe," she said, coloring
slightly, perhaps because my eyes be-
trayed my thought, "to thank you.
You have not fought, and yet you have
conquered. My woman has just been
with me, and she tells me that they
are going!"
"Going?" said. Eyes, Mademoiselle,
they are leaving the house."
She did not understand my resewa-
ton. What magic have you used?"
she said, almost gaily-it was wonder
full how hope had changed her. more
over, l. am curious to learn how you
managed to avoid fighting"
/. after taking blow?" said BIT
terly.
Monsieur, did not mean that" she
said reproachfully. But her face
clouded. saw that. viewed in this light
lin which l suppose she had not
seen 1.-THE matter perplexed her still
more.
took a sudden resolution. "Have
you ever heard, Mademoiselle," said
gravely, plucking off while spoke the