Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-05-23
HER HAND TREMBLED.

bled too and that her check was dark
with bushes.
She turned at cnce and began to walk
towards the house. Presently she
spoke. Heaven forgive that I should
m1sjudge you second time!" she said
In a low voice. And, after all, who am
| that l should judge you at all? An
hour ago, would have killed that man
had possessed the power
'You repented. Mademodselle,
said huskily. I could scarcely speak.
"Do you never repent?"
eyes. But too late. Mademoiselle.' -
perhaps it is never too late" she
answered softly.
ALIAS. when man is dead"
"You may rob a man of more than
life!' she replied with energy, stopping
me by a gesture. IF you have never
robbed a major woman-Of honor!
If you have never ruined boy or girl,
M. de Berault! If you have never
pushed another into the pit and gone
by it yourself! If-but for murder?
Listen. You may be a Romanist, but
I am a Huguenot, and have read. Thou
shalt not kill 1t is written; and the
penalty, BY man shall thy blood be
shed!' But If you cause one of these
little ones to offend, it were better
for you that a milestone were hanged
about your neck, and that you were
cast into the depths of the sea-
"Mademoiselle, you are too merci-
full" muttered.
II need mercy myself" she an
swered, signing. "And I have had few
temptations. How do I know what
you have suffered?'
"Or done!" said, almost rudely.
where a man has not lied. nor
betrayed, nor sold himself or Others"
she answered firmly, but in low tone,
Il think can forgive all else. I can
better put up with FORCE" she added,
smiling sadly, than with fraud"
All, Dieu! I turned away my face
that she might not see how it paled,
how WINGED; that she might not
guess how her words, meant in mer-
cy, stabbed me to the heart. And yet,
then, for the first time, while viewing
In all its depth and width the gulf
which separated US, I was not hard
ened; was not cast back upon N.Y.
self. Her gentleness, her pity, her
humility, softened me, while they con-
victed me. My God!. How could / do
that which l had come to do? How
could stab her in the tenderest part.
how could I inflict on her that rend-
ing pang, how could l meet her eyes,
and stand before her, a Caliban, a
Judas, the vilest, lowest, basest thing
she could conceive?
l stood a moment, speeches. and
disordered; stunned by her words, by
my thoughts--as have seen man
stand when he has lost his all, his last.
at the tables. Then I turned to her:
and for an instant thought that my
tale was told already. thought that
she had pierced my disguise, for her
face was aghast, stricken with sudden
fear. Then l saw that she was not
looking at me, but beyond me, and l
turned quickly and saw a servant
hurrying from the house to US. It
was Louis, His face. it was, had
frightened her. His eyes were staring,
his hair waved, his cheeks were fab
by with dismay. He breathed as. IL
he had been running. -
What is it?" mademoiselle cried,
while he was st)} some way off.
Speak, man. My sister? Is She" =:
"Clon," he gasped. =" $50:
The name changed her to stone.
"Clon?" she muttered. What Of
him. " :. *:... q, :, ..,..s2=.$
I'm the village!" Louis painted, his
tongue suffering with terror. They
are flogging him! T. They are killing
him! Mademoiselle! To make him
tell!", *' 70 X u. = 4 l. s&:e
Mademoiselle. grasped the sundial
and leant against it,, her face color:
less, and for an instant, thought
that she was fainting. Tell o. I.said
mechanically. But he cannot tell.
He is dumb, man.. ... ,.f".. !. +: = !.
"They will make him guide them, =
Louis grcaned, covering his ears with
his shaking hands, his face like paper.
"And, his cries!4v Oh, Monsieur, go!"''
he continued, suddenly appealing to
me, in thrilling tone. Save him.
All through tho wood i heard them.
It Wnar horrible! horriblei & $ I. 81