Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-07-15

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he a hit the mark; | was too young,
too pink and white, too much OF the
country.
Comforting myself as well as I could
with the thought that time would rem
edy these defects, l turned away,
opened the door and went down the
stair. Beyond the vestibule was the
saloon, a circular marble room, eX-
tremely elegant and well-furnished,
and. still beyond this, the drawing
ROOM, with four large paintings OF the
French victories Of 1744 upon the walls.
There was no one in either room, and
l was examining the paintings, which
no doubt pictured events in which the
father Of my host had taken part, and
which appeared to me Of splendid IKE
cutiOn, when | heard the rustling Of
skirts behind me. l turned to perceive
Mdlle. de Chambray upon the thresh-
old, and the fear of her ridicule was
swept away in the burst Of happiness
at seeing her again.
"Oh, Is 1t you, NJ. de Tavernay? 2"
she said. h~esitating and coloring di-
vinely.
Yes. 1t is /, mademoiselle," l an
swered, trembling at the first time that
she a ever addressed me.
And alone!" she added with a quick
glance about the room. 1T is strange
that madame Is not down"
she ard NJ. &c Coyntc doubtless hare
TO say TO each other" / hastened
to explain, for /, too, thought it strange.
1t would be cruel TO interrupt them"
"Yes-no doubt" she agreed, but
she was plainly not convinced.
Besides, l assure you that I am
quite harmless" l ventured.
This time she permitted her glance
TO dwell upon me for an instant and l
caught the perfect contour Of her face.
Il am not 50 sure of that" she said,
unless your appearance Is most de-
cepttve. l think l would better join
madame" II she made a motion
oward the door.
If there is any oath I can swear,
mademoiselie," l protested, prescribe
til viii take it gladly. / will agree
20 all here in this corner, II you wish
it,"
"Oh. you WILL" she said, and looked
at mo doubtfully, but with a glimmer
of mischief in her eye.
Yes. mademoiselle, I am capable
even Of that heroism."
i hear that you surrendered rather
easily this morning" she tainted.
There was a pistol at my ear" I
explained. "an the face of NJ. le Comte
behind 1t. l saw no reason to throw
away my life for nothing more impor-
tant h a horse. / am doubly glad
now that l was SO sensible
She looked at me. her brows up
lifted.
Life means more to me now than
1t did this morning." / fastened to ex-
plain. "Oh, vastly more. So | rejoice
that l am not lying back there on
the road with a bullet through me.
Ever had NJ. lie Comte missed me, I
should not be here"
2 He would not have missed. A
pistol In the hands OF NJ. lie Comte is
a dangerous thing"
II have never encountered but one
thing more dangerous, mademoiselle."
And that?"
"A pair OF brown eyes, leveled at
me by a person who knows their pow
er." l answered, and trembled at my
temerity.
But instead Of being offended she
burst into a peal of laughter and ad-
vanced into the room.
Really, III. de Tavernay," she said.
II fear that you are not so harmless
as you pretend"
but nevertheless, you will remain,
mademoiselle; you owe me that re-
paration."
"Geparation?' she repeated with
raised brows.
For laughing at me. True, you
turned away your face, but you could
not conceal the quivering of your
shoulders
she colored deeply and this time
retreated In earnest toward the door.
"Oh, do not CO." / pleaded. II par
don you'll was nothing. Laugh at
me again, II you wish. only do not CO."
She hesitated, stopped, came back.
Il do beg your pardon, monsieur"
she said. Believe me-, II was not In
the least at you I was laughing, but
at q sudden thought"
She stopped, evidently confused.
Very WELL" / fastened to assure her.
II forgive and forget. or, rather,
shai! not forget, because you laugh
a~dorably."
OF malice, "one would imagine you were
straight from Versailles Instead Of"
Beaufort" l said, flushing a little.
And how does II happen you are so
far from homer" she queried, bending
upon me a look OF raillery.
Then l remembered; my heart turned
to lead in my bosom. and despite my
self a groan burst from me In the first
sharp agony Of recollection.
What is 1t, monsieur" she question:
ed. Instantly serious, and coming to-
ward me quickly. "You are not m? '
Yes" | said hoarsely. dropping upon
O seat. II am very i'll. mademoiselle-
so Ill that fear | shall never make a
recovery"
"Oh. h~orrible!" she cried. and sat
down beside me and passed her hand
kerchief across my ~forehead-her
handkerchief fragrant with I know not
what intoxicating scent. But a mo-
ment ago. you were quite well. or
seemed SO. Is II tho hearth
Yes. mademoiselie." answered,
rallying sufficiently to perceive that
the situation was no. without it's adj
vantages, and determining to maintain
IL as long as possible. 1T is the heart"
And o are subject 10 such seiz-
ures?" she continued. still gazing at
me a~nxicusly. SO near that 7 could see
the dew upon her lips. could each the
child like fragrance OF her breath. Here
was a woman different TO any that I
had ever known or dreamed of-gen-
uine. unaffected. OF a sincerity almost
boyish.
This Is the first. mademoiseile," I
said. gripping my hands tight in the
effort to maintain my self-controi. to
resist the temptation to seize her and
crush her to me.
how you suffer-" she cried, see
ing the gesture and misinterpretating
II. "Here-perhaps this will help YOU"
and she held a little inlaid bottle be-
meath my nostrils.
III r -