Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-09-06
Copyright, 1894, by Stanley ]. weyman.)
CHAPTER XI.-CoNrINUEp.

stood in the garden doorway, with
her back to me. l obeyed. l a down;
but though | had eaten nothing since
the afternoon of the day before, l
could not swallow. l fumbled with my
knife, and munched and drank;
grew hot and angry at this farce; and
then looked through the window at
the dripping bushes, and the rain, ant
the distant sundial, and grew cold
again.
Suddenly she turned round and came
to my side. "You do not eat" she
said.
l threw down my knife and sprang
up in a frenzy of passion. Mon Dieu!
Madam" I cried. "Do you think l
have no hearth"
And then in a moment | knew what
I had done. In a moment she was on
her knees on the floor, clasping my
knees, pressing her wet cheeks to my
rough clothes, crying to me for mercy
for life! life! life! his life! Oh, it
was horrible! 1t was horrible to see
her fair hair falling over my mud
stained boots, to see her slender little
form ~convulsed with sobs, to feel that
this was a woman, a gentlewoman, who
thus abased herself at my feet.
"Oh, Madam! Madam" | cried, in
my agony. II beg you to rise. Rise,
or l must go! You will drive me out!"
Grant me his life!" she moaned pas
sionately. "Only his life! What had
he done to you, that you should hunt
him down? What had we done to you,
that you should slay us? All, Sir,
have mercy! Let him go, and we will
pray for you; I and my aster will pray
for you every morning and night of
our lives"
| was in terror lest some one should
come and see her lying there, and I
stopped and tried to raise her. But
she would not rise; she only sank
the lower until her tender hands
clasped my spurs, and l dared not
move. Then l took a sudden resolu-
ton. "Listen then, Madam" | said,
almost sternly, "if you will not rise.
When you ask what you do, you for
get how l stand, and how small my
power is! You forget that were l to
release your husband to-day, he would
be seized within the hour by those who
are still in the village, and who are
watching every road-who have not
ceased to suspect my movement and
my intentions. You forget, | say, my
circumstances"
She cut me short on that word. She
sprang abruptly to her feet and faced
me. One moment, and I should have
said something to the purpose. But at
that word she was before me, white.
breathless, ~dishevelled, struggling for
speech. ooh yes, yes" she painted
eagerly, Il know! l understand" And
she thrust her hand into her bosom
and plucked something out and gave
It to me-forced it Upon me into my
hands. 81 know! I know!" she said
again. "Take it, and God reward you
Monsieur! We give it freely-freely
and thankfully! And may God bless
you!"
I stood and looked at her, and looked
at it, and slowly froze. She had giver
me the packet-the packet | had re
stored to mademoiselle, the parcel o.
jewels. l weighed it in my hands, ant
my heart grew hard again, for I knew
that this was m~ademoiselle's doing,
that it was she who, mistrusting thu
effect of madam's tears and prayers
had armed her with this last weapon
this dirty bride. l flung it down OF
this table among the plates, all my pity
changed to anger. Madam" | criet
ruthlessly, you mistake me altogeth
er. l have heard hard words enough
In the last "a hours, and know wha
you think of me! But you have yet tt
learn that | have never turned traito
to the hand that employed me, no
sold my W side! When I do so TO
a treasure ten times the worth O
that, may my hand rot off"
She sank into a seat, with a moal
Of despair, and at that moment tn
door opened, and M. de Cochefore
came In. Over his shoulder I had
glimpse of mademoiselle's proud face
a little whittier to-day, with dark mark
under the eyes, but still firm and cold
what is this?" he said, frownin,
and stopping short as his eyes lighte,
on madam.
1T is-that we start at elevel
o'clock Monsieur" I answered, bowin
CURLY. "Those, l fancy, are your prop
erty." And pointing to the jewels,
went out by the other door.
That might not be present at thei
parting. remained in the garden ur
til the hour | had appointed was we
passed; then without entering til
house l went to the stable entrance
Here found all ready. the two trooI
ers (Whose company l had requisitione
as far as Auch) already in the saddl,
my W two knaves waiting with m
sorre] and M. de Cocheforet's chestnu
Another horse was being led up an
down by Louis, and, alas, my heal
WINGED at the sight. For it bore
lady's saddle and / saw that we wol
to have company. Was it madam VIII
meant to come with us? or nademo
selle? And how far? To Auch? {
farther?
I suppose that they had set SON
kind Of y watch on me; for, as
walked UP, W. de Cocheforet and h
sister came out of the house-he Loo
Ing white. with bright eyes and
twitching in his cheek, though throue
all he affected q jaunty bearing; 81
wearing a black mask.
"Mademoiselle accompanies us y