The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-08-25

az the wretch who played the priest
made as though he was elevating the
host, those behind him burst forth
In a hoarse shout:
Long live Reason! Long live
: Reason!"
Attracted by the shout, Others OF the
crowd Joined the group drank Of the
wine which the girl passed down to
them, and began a crazed Bachanal
dance before her. Then a red C
rogue dashed up the step to her and.
screaming with laughter. tore her few
remaining clothes from her back.
Long live Reason!" he shouted.
II baptise thee!" and he dashed q cup
Of wine over her glistening skin.
And another snatched a twig from
a Towering shrub and, bending 1t into
the semblance OF a wreath, placed 1t
upon her head.
Long live Reason!" he shouted In
his turn, but a woman in the crowd,
jealous, perhaps OF the attentions
shown the naked hussy, suddenly
caught up a clod Of earth and dashed
1t INTO her face; whereup the goddess
dismoDnted from her throne, vomiting
forth I know not what v~ileness, and
was caught up by the crowd trembling
with rag and horror at the impious
scene which / had witnessed, n the
thought that our fair land Of France
lay at the mercy of such scoundreis
turned me sick at heart.
Then one of their number mounted
l could catch only a word here and
there, yet 1t was easy enough to guess,
from the frantic shouts which inter-
rupted him, what his subject was. The
mob was in mood to commit any atroc-
ity. 1t needed only the application Of
the spark.
NJ. lie Comics face grew grave as he
gazed down at them.
That Is serious" he said. when
they begin to make speeches, 1t is
time to think Of escape. Have you any
thing to suggest, Tavernay?"
IF we could reach the ground on the
side Of the tower away from the mob"
l said, 1--WE might escape into the wood,
since there seems to be no watch OF
any kind nor any m to intercept u.s."
Eyes, but to reach the ground"
IF we could find a rope"
yes. but where?"
us there none in the tower? Surely
we can find something
least, we can look" he said, and
led the way to the stair.
I followed him, but Pasdeloup, his
arms folded. his head unk in reverie,
kept his place at the battlement, star
ing modify down at the drunken
revel.
We descended to the loor below,
family burning. A glance at II show
ed me that It had been half consumed.
An o more and we should be I'm
darkness-if, indeed, we had not enter
ed the eternal darkness long ere that!
In the first moment. l thought the
room was empty; then I saw madame
half sitting, half lying on a couch In
| ma nornar hnldfn0 tho ~ a x,nVa
an In her arms. AS we approached,
she raised a warning finger to her lips,
n ! saw, with q sudden burst Of ten
derness, that my love had fallen asleep,
exhausted by the fatigue of the ave-
ming.
In a low voice, but at that instant the
sleeper opened her eyes.
For a moment she stared up at us
blankly; then her eyes met mine and
a wave of crimson swept from brow
to hin.
II have been asleep" said she, SIT
ting hastily erect. I'm spite of all my
! me.
YES" said M. lie Comte; land you
should be proud OF your steady nerves
and clear conscience. my dear. Not
many OF us are able to sleep 30 peace
fully in the face of danger"
DdilBeT sHe TepiIeO, anu looked
about her. Has It come, then?" F..
"Oh. not a pressing danger" he as
sured her. Still. we must devise some
means OF escape before 1t becomes so.
We shall have to take the light. I fear"
do So" said madame promptly.
Charlotte and I will ascend to the
PLATFORM"
'It is not a pleasant sight that you
viii see," said M. lie Comte, NOR pleas
ant words you will hear"
I'VE are not children" broke in
madame. "Come, Charlotte"
M. lie Comte lighted them up the
stair and then turned back to me.
1T Is evident there Is no rope here"
he said. holding the candle above his
head and looking about the apartment.
The old furnishings hang together
better than one would think" he added.
It was not until then-so occupied
had my mind been with other matters
that I perceived with what sumptu-
BUSINESS the place was fitted up. The
coverings Of the furniture motheaten
and decayed, and the room itself cob
webbed and moldy-but 1t was i'm
pressive, nevertheless. 1t was a good
sized. octagonal. conforming In shape
to the tower. and In four Of the sides
Tapestries and furniture alike had evil
| IDENTIFY been Of the most costly and ele-
! CANT description.
This was the boudoir of the. fair
Gabrielle" observed M. lie Comte, look
ing about him with a smile. TT has
been years since l set foot here and I
had forgotten how 1t looked. You will
see that with my ancestor 1t was a real
passion; he did not spare himself. In
fact, I should hate to confess how much,
first and last, she cost his family. Be-
low is her bed chamber"