Potosi journal., 1906-12-26

dress. And | saw that her hand tren-
bied 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
misjudge you a second time!" she said,
in low voice. And. after all, who am
I that should judge you at all? An
hour ago. I would have killed that man
had I possessed the power"
You repented, Mademoiselle."
said huskily. | could scarcely speak.
'no you never repent?"
yes But too late. Mademoiselle" p"
''Perhaps it is never too late" she
answered softly.
ALIAS. when a 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 manor WOman-Of honor!
If you have never ruined boy or girl,
NJ. de Berault! If you have never
pushed another into the pit and gone
by it yourself! If-but for murder?
Listen. You may be Romanist, but
I am Huguenot. and have read Thou
shalt not kill!' it is written; and the
penalty, BY man shall thy blood be
she'd! But If you cause one of these
little ones to offend, it were better
for you that milestone were hanged
about your neck, and that you were
cast into the depths Of the sea-
tsNTolcrpoico11a
full" l muttered
Il need mercy myself she an
swered. signing And / have had few
temptations How do l know what
you have suffered?'
''Or done!" said. almost rudely.
Where man has not lied, nor
betrayed, nor sold himself or Others"
she answered firmly but in low tone,
II think I can forgive all else. 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 1t paled,
how l WINGED; that she might not
guess how her words. meant in mer-
cy, stabbed me to the heart. And vet,
then, for the first time, while viewing
in all its depth and width the gulf
which separated us, | was not hard
ened; I was not cast back upon my
self Her gentlene&s, her pity, her
humility. softened me, while they con-
victed me. My God. How could I do
that which | had come to do? How
could | stab her in the tenderest part,
how could I inhict on her that rend
ing pang how could meet her eyes,
and stand before her. a Caliban. a
Judas, the vilest lowest, basest thing
she could conceiveo
| stood a moment, speeches. and
disordered: stunned by her words, by
my thonghts-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. I thought that
she had pierced my disguise. for her
face was aghast stricken with sudden
fear. Then saw that she was not
looking at me. but beyond me, and
turned quickly and saw a servant
hurrying from the house to US It
was Louis. His face. 1t was, had
frightened b"l His eyes were staring,
mis- hair waved, his cheeks were fab
by with dismay He breathed as if
he had been running.
What is it?' mademoiselle cried,
| while he was still some way Off.
| Speak, man. My sister? Is She
"Clon," he gasped
The name changed her to stone
"Clon?" she muttered What Of
him."
"In the village." Louis painted his
| tongue suffering with terror. They
are flogging him. They are killing
him, Mademoiselle. To make him
telI!'
! Mademoiselle gTasped the sundial
| and leant against it. her face color
| less, and for an instant. | thought
| that she was fainting. "Tell?' l said
mechanically. But he cannot tell.
| He is dumb, man."
They will make him guide them
/ Louis groaned, covering his ears with
| his sharing hands, his face like paper.
| "And his cries, Oh, Monsieur. go!''
| he continued, suddenly appealing to
| me, In a thrilling tone Save him.
| All through the wood ] heard them
1t wa. horrible! horrible!"