The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1907-08-23
iii'i - r ssfi,ss IN ?
Your sister e.

ne began hesitattngly.
1T ts there only that my purposesfal
ters," said the other earnestly. ''If
1t were but possible to spare her all
knowledge Of this last trial, and to leave
the accomplishment Of the terrible task
to me alone?"
II think 1t is possible," interposed
Lomaaue. Listen to what advise.
We must depart for Paris by the dill
gence Tomorrow morning, and we must
take your sister with us-to-morrow
Will be time enough: people don't sign
marriage contracts on the evening aft
er long days journey. We must go
then. and we must take your sister.
Leave the care of her in Paris. and the
responsibility Of keeping her in igno-
rance OF what you are doing. to me. Go
to this General Berthelin's house at n
time when you know Danvtlle is there
1--WE can get that knowledge through
the servants). confront him without q
moments previous warning: confront
him as q man risen from the dead; con-
front him before every soul in the
room. though the room should be full
OF people-and leave the rest to the
self-betrayal of panic-stricken man.
Say but three words, and your duty will
be done; you may return to your sister,
and may depart with her in safety to
your old retreat at Rouen, or where yo;i
please, on the very day when you have
put it out of her infamous husbands
power to add another to the list of his
crimes"
"You forget the suddenness of the
journey to Paris" said Trudaine. GLOW
are we to account for it without the risk
of awakening my sisters suspicions?"
Trust that to me-" answered Lo.
maque. LET us return to the cottage a,
once. No; not you," he added sudden
ly. as they turned to retrace their steps.
There is that in your face which would
betray us. Leave me to go back alone
Il will say that you have. gone to give
some orders at the inn. Let us sepa-
rate Immediately. You will recover
your .self-possession-you will get to
look yourself again sooner if you are
left alone-I know enough of you to
know that. We will not waste another
minute in explanations: even minutes
are precious to lis on such day as this.
BY the time you are fit to meet your
sister again, shall have had time To
say all wish to her, and shall be wait
ing at the cottage to tell you the result"
He looked at Trudaine. and his eyes
seemed to brighten again with some
thing of the energy and sudden iecis-
ion of the days when he was man in
Office under the Reign of Terror.
Leave it to me-" he said; and waving
his hand, turned away quickly in the
direction of the cottage.
Nearly an hour passed before Tru.
dame ventured to follow him. When
he at length entered the path that led
to the garden gate, he saw his sister
waiting at the cottage-door. Her face
looked unusually animated; and she
ran forward step or two to meet him.
"Oh. Louisw she said, II have a con-
fession to make, and must beg you
to hear it patiently to the end. You
must know that our good Lomaaue,
though he came in tired from his walk,
occupied himself. the first thing, at my
request, in writing the letter which is
to secure to us our dear old home by
the banks of the Seine. When he had
done, he looked at me and said, I sh ,nld
like to be present at your happy return
to the house where first saw YOU oh,
come, come with us! said directly. 4
am not an Independent man. he an
swered: I have margin of time al
lowed me at Paris. certainly. but it is
not long-if were only my own mas
ter and then he stopped. Louis! |
remembered all we owed to him; re-
membered there is no sacrifice we
ought not be too glad to make for his
sake; felt the kindness of the wish he
expressed: and, perhaps, l was little
Influenced by my own Impotence to see
once more my flower-garden and the
rooms where we used to be so happy.