The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-07-07

breath again for fear that l had cried
the name aloud.
M. de Tavernay has Just had a very
severe seizure Of the heart. madame
answered my companion. II was let
ting him smell Of my salts and he took
a full breath"
Il am better" I said, struggling to
my feet n bowling to madame. "A
thousand thanks, mademoiselle. But
for your thoughtfulness, / might not
have rallied. / needed heroic treat
ment."
Madame glanced from one to the
other OF us. her face alight with
amusement and her eyes with a mean
ing / did not wholly understand.
II shall have to command Charlotte
to remain near you. then, this evening.
that kind, 1t is always well to have
prompt aid at hand"
l bowed my thanks. I was not yet
quite sure of my voice.
And when one Is subject to them"
went on madame. "one cannot be too
careful"
Il have already assured made
molselle," I said, that this is absolute
ly the first"
Then she is very fortunate" MUIR
INJURED madame, pensively.
"She?" I repeated, staring at her.
Il mean you, of course. Then you
are very fortunate, monsieur" and
she smiled broadly.
I confess I did not quite catch
her meaning. I was therefore the
more surprised to see my companion
redden deeply, then rise abruptly and
walk to the other side of the room,
where she paused with her back to
us to contemplate the fall Of Fri
bourg.
Madame smiled again, and cast me
a glance full of meaning.
Yes, you have offended her." she
said.
Offended herr? I repeated in dis
TT is always an error" she ex-
planned. to compel a lady to correct
:" beg your pardon. madame" I said
humbly.
mo, beg hers" she corrected.
II do" 1 said; though l am utterly
In the dark as to the nature Of my Of
Tense"
Come. Charlotte" called madame.
Forgive him."
What" cried M. lie Comte, appearing
stand in need Of forgiveness, Taver-
nay?"
1T seems So" I answered, some-
what miserably.
At the words, Mdlle. de Chambray
ventured a glance at me, and I saw a
smile scatter the clouds. She strug-
gled to hold 1t back, to suppress 1t, but
quite in vain.
s'Come, you are forgiven cried our
host, and 1t seemed to me that in his
glance also there was a hidden mean
ing. II knew she was not hard Of
heart. And now for dinner"
m. de Tavernay," said madame, ito
you / shall confide Charlotte-or should
/ put 1t the other way?"
Either way pleases me immensely,
madame" I said, bowling.
You must know madame contin-
ued. that NJ. de Tavernay Is subject
to sudden seizures Of the heart, and
that Charlotte is the only one here
who can work a cure"
"Our friend Is not the first to be so
afflicted" laughed M. lie Comte, cross
found the one person who could work
a cure
NONSENSE" protested Mdlle. de
Chambray, very red. M. de Tavernay
was really suffering acutely."
well, so have 1 suffered acutely!"
retorted her tormentor. did I not,
madame?'
vi pTClcIQCu W. IeJOlueQ UldQ-
anne. with that disease, 1t is often
impossible to tell where reality leaves
off and p%retense begins, you men have
made 30 close a study of the. symptoms.
But come, monsieur; the dinner waits"
I confess that the arm I gave my
partner was not 30 steady as I could
have wished it; for my heart was torn
between delight and despair-delight
that she should be there beside me, de-
spair at my own stupidity in under
standing SO little Of all this: but I
managed, by some miracle, to enter the
dining room without falling or colliding
with the furniture. to get her safely
seated and to seat myself beside her.
I drew a deep breath Of relief when~I
found myself in port.
you have never been to Paris, M.
de Tavernay?" asked a low voice at
my elbow, and I looked up to find
her eyes on mine.
mo, mademoiselle," I stammered.
Perhaps not eve to Orleans?' and
I saw again In their depths that glim-
mer of mischief.
..No," / answered, not needing 1t as
q wise man would. II have passed all
my life upon our estate at Beaufort"
Something told me sol" she MUIR
INJURED, and turned to her plate as in
nocently as though she were quite I'M
conscious Of having planted a poniard
In nv bosom.