The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-05-28

busy round me. busy with a steaithy
| diligence, Master Lindstrom was pack
ing his plate. Dympina, pale, but with
soft, happy eyes--for had she not cause
to be p~roud9-5was preparing food and
thick clothing. The duchess had fetched
her child and was dressing IL for the
journey. Master BERTHE was collecting
small matters and looking to our arms.
In II or other OF these occupations
l can guess in which-Van Tree was
giving his aid. And so, since the Ouch
ess would not let me do anything, 1t
CHANGED that presently i oun myself
left alone for a few minutes with Anne.
1 was not watching her. I was knaw-
ing my nails In a fit Of dependency,
rejecting that 1 was nothing but a
hindrance and q drawback to my
friends, since whenever a move had to
be made / was sure to be i~nvaliCed,
when i became aware, through some
mysterious sense, that my companion.
who was kneeling on the floor behind
mo, packing, had desisted from her
work and was gazing fixedly at me. I
turned. Yes; h was looking at me,
her eyes, In which q smoldering fire
seemed to burn, contrasting vividly
with her pale face and contracted
brows. When she saw that I had
turned-of which at first she did not
seem aware-she rose n came to me
and laid a hand on my shoulder and
leaned over me. A feeling that was
very like fright fell upon me, her man
ner was so strange. What is it?" I
stammered as she still pored on me in
silence, still maintained her attitude.
What Is the matter, Amer"
Are you quite a fool?" she whisp-
cred, her voice almost a hiss, her hot
breath on my cheek. Have you no
sense left that you trust that man?"
For a moment / failed to understand
her. What man?" 1 said. "Oh. Van
Treei" -
AYE, Van Tree! Who else? Will
aid for your" She moistened her lips
with her tongue, as though they were
parched. You are all mad! Mad, /
think Don't o see," she continued.
STOPPING over me again and whispering
hurriedly, Der wild eyes close to mine,
that he is jealous OF you?"
He was" / said ~uneasily. THAT Is
all right now"
He was? He Isl" she retorted. sHe
went away wild with you. He comes
back smiling and holding tut his hand.
Do o trust him. Don't you see-don't
you see." she cried, rocking me to and
fro with her hand in her excitement,
that he Is fooling you? He is leading,
us all into a trap that has been laid
SoA SAOu6H. nat 10 IulS ldlC Oh
an English envoy on his way to Ger
many? Rubbish-rubbish, I tell youI"
But Clarence
Bah! II was all your fancylc she
cried ~fiercely, her eyes for the moment
fitting to the door, then returning to
my face. How should he find us? Or
what has Clarence to do with an Eng
lish envoy?"
Il do not know" I said. She had not
In the least persuaded me. In a rare
moment I had seen into Van Trees
soul and trusted him implicitly. Please
take care" I added, wincing under her
hand. You hurt mel"
She sprang back with a sudden
change OF countenance as if had
struck her and for e moment covered
away from ne. her former passion still
apparent fighting for the mastery I'm
her face, l set down her condition to
terror at the plight we were all in or to
Vexatton that no n would lake her
view. The next moment / went fur
Their. l thought her mad, when she
turned abruptly from me, and flying to
the door by which Van Tree had en-
tered began with trembling fingers TO
release the pin which confined the bar.
stop! Stop! You will ruin ALT" I
cried In horror. They can see that
door from the river, and If they see
the light they will know we are up and
A1 - n IN CA otNN NAAC1 IIIay
make a dash to secure us. Stop, Anne!
Stop!" l cried. But the girl was deaf.
She tugged desperately at the pin and
had already loosened the bar when I
caught her by the arms, and pushing
her away set my my back against the
door. Don't be foolish!" / said gent
ly. You have lost your head. You
must let US men settle these things.
Anne" ."
She was indeed beside herself, for she
faced me during a second or two as
though she woul& spring upon me and
tear me from the door. Her hands
worked; her eyes cleaned; her strong
white teeth showed themselves. I
s~huddered. / had never pictured her
looking like that. Then, as steps
sounded on the stairs and cheerful
voices-cheerful they seemed to me as
they broke In or hat strange scene
drew nearer she turned, and walking
deliberately to a seat fell to weeping
Historically.
What are you doing to that door?-
cried the duchess sharply as she en-
tered with the others. / wa securing
the bar again. ....r. @..-#
Nothing" l said stolldly. II am see
ing that 1t Is fast"
And hoity toity, miss" she con-
tinued. turning to Anne. What has
come over you, i would like to know?
Stop crying. girl. What Is the matter
with you? Will you shame us all be-
fore this Dutch maid? Here, carry
these things to the back door,"
Anne somehow stified her sobs and
rose. Seeming by a great effort to re-
cover composure, she went out, keeping
her face to the last averted from me.
(ContInued Mex Weekl