Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1907-08-15
CHAPTER XvH.-fCoxr1Nurp.,

He paused, and Trudaine again en-
deavored to speak such words as mighS
show that he was not unworthy OF the
deadly risk which Lomaque was pre-
pared to encounter. But once more the
chief-agent peremptorily and irritably
lnterposed.
at tell you, for the third time he
said, 81 will listen to no expressions OF
gratitude from you, till know when
deserve them. It is true that recollect
your fathers timely kindness to me
true that I have not forgotten what
passed five years since, at your house
by the river side. / remember every
thing, down to what you would consld-
er the veriest trif1e-that cup Of coffee,
for instance, which your sister kept not
for me. told you then that you would
think better of me some day. | know
that you do now But this is not all.
You want to glorify me to my face for
risking my life for you. / am weary
of life 1 can't look back to it with
pleasure. I am too old to look forward
to what is left of it with hope. There
was something in that night at your
house before the wedding-something
in what you said in what your sister
did-which altered me. I have had my
days Of gloom and self-reproach, from
time to time, since then. l have SICK
ened at my slavery and subsection, anu
duplicity and cringing, first under one
master, then under another. have
longed to look back at my life. and COM
fort myself with the sight Of some goou
action, just as a frugal man comforts
himself with the sight of his little saw
ings laid by in an old drawer. l can't
do this. and I want to do 1t. The
want takes me like fit. at uncertain
intervals-suddenly. under the most IN
comprehensive influences. A glance
up at the blue sky-starlight over the
houses of this great city, when I look
out at the night from my garnet win
dOW-a child's voice coming suddenly,
don't know where from-the piping
of my neighbOr's linnet in his little cage
now one thing, and then another,
wakes up that want in me in mo-
l.
words your sister spoke to the judge
went through and through me like
knife Strange, in man like me, isn't
it? am amazed at it myself. My life?
Bah! I've let it out for hire to be
kicked about by rascals from one dirty
place to another, like a football! It's
my within to give it a last kick myself,
and throw it away decently before 1t
lodges on the dunghill forever. Your
sister kept good cup of coffee hot for
me, and give her bad life in return.
Thank me for it! What folly! Thank
me when have done something useful.
Don't thank me for thatp'
He snapped his fingers contemptu-
ously as he spoke, and walked away to
the outer door to receive the jailer,
who returned at that moment.
We'll" inquired the hunchback, has
anybody asked for me?"
NO. said Lomaque; mot soul has
entered the room. What sort of wine
did you get?'
"So-so! Good at pinch, friend
good at a pinch"
"Ah! you should go to my shop and
try a certain cask, filled with a.partic-
ular yintage!"
What shop?' Which vintage?"
81 can't stop to tell you now; but we
shall most likely meet again to-day.
I expect to be at the prison this after
noon. Shall I ask for you? Good! I
won't forgetr' With those farewell
words he went out, and never so much
as looked back at the prisoners before
he closel me door behind him.
Trudaine returned to his sister, fear
full lest his face should betray what had
passed during the extraordinary inter-
view between Lomaque and himself
But whatever change there might be in
his expression, Rose did not seem to
notice it. She was still strangely mat
tentive to all outward things. That
spirit of resignation, which is the cour-
age of women in all great emergencies,
seemed now to be the one animating
spirit that fed the flame of life within
her
When her brother sat down by her,
she only took his hand gently, and said:
'Let us stop together like this, Louis,
till the time comes. | am not afraid OF
it, for l have nothing but you to make
me love life, and you, too, are going to
die. Do you remember the time when
I used to grieve that I never had
child to be some comfort to me? l was
thinking a moment ago how horrible
it would have been now, if my wish
had been granted. 1t is blessing for
me, in this great misery, that I am
childless! Let us talk of old days,
Louis, as long as we cannot of my
husband, or my marriage-only of the
old times, before l was burden and
a trouble to YOU"