Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-07-22

pitable. So remain, unless this mys-
FERROUS business Of yours Is impera-
tive"
"Tt u.s." 1 said, my face clouding again.
Il must set out at daybreak."
"Ungallant mani" she retorted, look
ing at me with sparkling eyes. ~Do
you ask a favor only to refuse 1t. Do
you understand what you are Saying 2"
only too we'll. mademolselle," I muir
INJURED, disconsolately, "and I would
have rather cut off my right hand than
utter those words"
gesture Of despair. Really, monsieur,
you weary me. Whatever 1t is you
desire, / advise you to ask for II. One
gets nothing in this world without ask
!ns-and when II is refused, taking it
just the same"
But when one may neither ask
0 take, mademoiselleT
shrug OF the shoulders, "one is certain
ly In a bad way. One would better
stop desiring" and she turned her
shoulder to me in the most impudent
manner possible, and gave her atten-
ton to NJ. le Comte.
ut is La Vendee which will re-
establish monarchy in France" he
was saying, his face alight. "Those
peasants are uncomfortable. There are
200, 900 Of them, peaceful men, filling
the soil, tending their herds, as they
had always done, with no thought Of
resisting the republic until the repub-
lie attempted to take from them their
priests and to draft them forth 20 fight
on the frontiers. Then they rose as
n man, fell upon their oppressors,
routed them, cut them to pieces among
the hedges. Now they are back in
their homes again to make their Eas-
ter; that over, they will march against
Thouars and Saumur."
But, M. le Comte," I protested,
forgetting for a moment, my own trou-
bles In the interest of the narrative,
fighting OF that sort can be success
full only near home and in q most ia
vorable country. For a campaign,
troops must have organization"
THAT is true, my friend" he agreed.
We'll these troops are being organized.
once the Bocage Is free of the Blues,
which will be within the month. our
army will be ready to cross the Loire,
take Nantes, advance through Brittany,
Normandy and Maine, where we shall
be we'll received and at last march at
the head of a united northwest against
Paris itself. ! tell you, NJ. de Taver-
nay, the republic Is doomed"
His eyes were sparkling, his face
flushed with excitement. An electric
shock seemed to run around the board
n madame sprang to her feet, glass
in hand.
1.-THE king" she cried, and as we
rose TO drink the toast, / had a vision
OF a boy OF IL issuing triumphantly
from the gate OF the temple to aveng
his murdered father.
and may God protect him!" added
M. lie Comte, as we set our glasses
down.
There was gloom for q moment In
u hearts, and /, at least, felt the
stark horror of the revolution as /
had never done-I saw more clearly
Its blood outlines, its red-madness.
For, In our quiet home at Beaufort,
the delirium of Paris had seemed far
away, almost OF another age and coun-
try.
We had shuddered at the stories OF
the September massacres, not onIy as
one shudders at any tale of horror;
even yet we scarcely believed that the
king was really dead. 1t seemed i'm
possible that such things could hap
pen. Just as the body, pushed beyond
a certain limit of pain, grows numb
and suffers no more, so the mind, after
a certain time. refuses to be impressed.
II was thus with the reports which
came from Paris, as one followed an
other. each more terrible thar the last.
Not even the actors themselves in that
AAS~>eo A&A NSili i-'h.g " dS
passing there; they were but chips In
a maelstrom, hurled hither and thither,
utterly powerless to stay or to direct
the flood which hurried them on and
finally sucked them down to d~estruc-
ton. We Of Beaufort were far off the
beaten track, and of too little conse-
Quence to cause the tide OF revolution
to sweep In our direction; so It had
passed us by at such a distance that
we had caught only the faint, confused
murmur OF II. True, our peasants had,
for he most part, deserted US; our
fields We're untitled. u flocks un-
tended; there was no o In the till
and little meat in the larder, but per-
sonally we a experienced no danger
and expected none. We had been con-
tent to sit quietly by while France
! wrought out her destiny. plying those
less fortunate than ourselves, and
happy in the safety which our OBJ
security won for us.
Now. I vas suddenly brought face to
face with the question: What was my
duty? Was II to stay at home and per-
init these scoundrels to have their way
unquestioned? Was II not rather to Join
the army Of La Vendee and add my
atom to Its strength, to do what In me
lay to render that campaign against the
! cannibals at Paris not q dream but a
reality? For at last I understood.
IInOSe Mucous taIeS were true. The
fair land Of France lay at the mercy
Of the vilest of her people.
"Still bordering the riddle? 2" asked
my companion, and I turned to find her
again regarding me with a provoking
scrutiny.
mo. mademoiselle," I said. " was
thinking that when M. lie Comte rides
back TO the BAGGAGE. / will accompany
, him."
Her eyes flashed a swift approval.
That Is a mans placed" she said
That is where would be, were I Q
mani"
/. "you will wish me G~od-speed
then?" / questioned.
"Yes--provided, of course" she
added. looking at me searchingly, that
you are free TO 60"
Free TO go." repeated. and my
{ chin fell on my breast. What instinc,
was 1t gave her this power TO srat
home whenever she chose?
Then you are not free to go7" sh,
queried. cycling me still moro closely
IT confess" I stammered. tina 4
I was not to don a white cockade l lef
Beaufort"
> But surely any mere personal mat
! ter OF business may be put aside wher
9 ones country calls."