Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-11-04

Ways remember
l dared not look back. I felt that
| was forever leaving a spot more dear
and sacred than home itself. So /
strobe blindly on, hurting myself s9V-
agely at the underbrush, until the very
fury Of my eXertions served to exhaust
the fire which ragged within.
Am I going too fast2" / asked, paus-
ing and turning TO her, for her foot
steps told me that she was close at
my heels.
mo" she said, but you must be
firing yourself terribly, and to little
useful purpose I do not require a
path so wide as the n you have been
making
1T was the brute fghting itself
out, i explained: "~exhausting ttself
by bruising and trampling down those
poor saplinEs."
"And is it quite exhausted?'
II trust so. DO you never have an
impulse to destroy things-to rend
thom apart and shatter them to bits?'
Sometimes" she admitted, laugh
ing. tits like a thunderstorm. isn't
it-ail fire and fury while 1t lasts, but
leaving one Cleansed and purified. on,
am far from perfect, > she added,
laughing again as she caught my
glance, cas- you would have seen for
yourself long ere this had o been OF
an observing turn. Is this as far as
we go through this thicket?'
mo" I answered, checking the
words which rose TO my lips, and I
set off again, nor paused until the
village had sunk from sight behind
us. Now, we can rest" / said, and
sat down ct the edge Of the bushes.
She sat beside me and leaned her
chin upon her hand as she gazed down
into the valley. The sur was sinking
to the west and the road seemed the
merest yellow ribbon between It's green
hedges. Far. ahead, I could gee talat the
country again became more broken,
and q low range OF purple hills closed
In the horizon.
AS we sat there silent, a cloud OF
dust appeared far down the road, and
we moved deeper into the cover OF the
bushes, fearing tina IL was another
regiment which approached. But 1t
was only a flock Of sheep driven by
three shepherds.
Food for the enemy" / remarked.
THAT explains why there are no
longer any hocks in these pastures.
The republic has swallowed them,
as 1t has swallowed so many other
things"
We watched them until they passed
from sight on the horizon behind a
cloud of dust, which rose and rose UNI
I'll it covered the suns face.
Wonder behind that cloud lies
Thouars.' I said.
And a league beyond is Coulanges-
and our friends" she added.
Always thinking OF that" l re-
joined bitterly.
'Yes--or safety and home! How
] shall delight to be there once
again"
Homel And I do not even know
where that IS! Why is 1t, madmoi-
selle, that you have told me nothing of
yourself? Do you mistrust me?"
'Mistrust your" she repeated. What
an absurd question. But there is so
little to tell"
And you refuse to tell me even that?
/ know nothing Of you except your
name. How am / TO find you again,
IL fate is indeed kind to me? Where
am | to look for your
"A perfect lover would have trusted
HIS heart TO lead him." she retorted.
But since you do not, you may as well
know that The Chateau de Chambray is
two leagues south OF Poitiers."
Then" | said. Il shall not have far
TO go if-if- ! pray heaven 1t may
be my fortune to seek you there"
I could see by her sparkling eyes
that the spirit OF mischief had sprung
to life again.
I'VE shall be very glad to welcome
you, my father and l." she said. with
out permitting me TO finish. Perhaps
we can even persuade you to bring your
betrothed with you Why not spend
honeymoon at Chambray, mon
sieur?"
Il should like to spend 1t there"
/ retorted, but with another wom-
1t was her turn 10 redden, and she
did SO in good earnest.
do you think fortune will favor
me that far, mademoiselle9" / per-
sisted.
Then she armed herself and struck
me a savage blow.
NO. she answered, quickly; Il
think fortune viii hold you 10 your
promise and that you will soon forget
to rail at her. Your heart Is exceed
ingly innammable and will burn none
the less ardently whether II be I or
or your betrothed who applies the
spark
'If that is your opinion, mademoi-
selle,,' / returned bitterly, there is
nothing more to be said
"And I am quite certain" she added.
smiling strangely. "that you will one
day accept that invitation. My father
will insist upon It."
Let hint" retorted. Are 0
hungry"
NO
"Nor /. This hamper. then, we will
cav here, as We snail Teacn IouiahgcS
tonight. 1t is time we were setting
off"
She arose without a word and fol-
lowed me down the slope. Only when
at last I glanced back, did / perceive
that she was bearing tho hamper.
why are you bringing that?'t / de-
manded, wheeling sharp around.
Food is not plentiful enough In
France to be wasted in that way" she
answered evenly.
What do you propose to do with
II TO leave IL at the door of
the first hut we reach" ms she made
a motion as though 10 pass me.
/ seized the hamper roughly and
strobe on through the dusk. marvel
al the Inconsistencies OF a heart
which could be at the same time so
cruel and SO tender.
CHAPTER XIII.