Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-07-08

CuSAOiiitd W libf udi hIlcSS, l. leu,
seated at a table in one corner,
my enemy. my despoiler, smiling at
me as though he were my dearest
friend.
Come" he added. 'join me-" and
such was the wiZardry of his voice and
the gesture which accompanied ii, that,
whatever my reluctance, l could not
but obey.
What is your name, monsieur
he asked, as I took the seat opposite
his, n he smiled again as he caught
my glance.
Jean de Tavernay,'' / answered,
and, monsieur, / have TO say to you
zone mo mt" he broke in, holding
up his hand. MY name, perhaps. you
have already heard"
Yes, II you are who the republicans
said you were"
and hat was?"
"One M. de Favras."
They are not at your heels?"
No, they returned to Tours"
Disappointed"
Extremely So"
He laughed. then grew suddenly
sober In knitted his brows in
thought, which / somehow dared not
interrupt. After all. there was no
cause for haste. He could not escape
me.
1T looked like a trap" he said at
last.
1T was a trap" I assured him.
And set for me?"
Il believe So"
He pondered this a longer,
then put 1t from him.
No matter" he said. why waste
sc.Ss 9. ]. zap from ~witirii ono
has escaped? And now, M. de Tayer-
nav IN Yntfr n ffofs 80 49, y~..l
which IRE trembling on your lips: I
read the thought which Is passing In
your mind. You would say that I have
not used you as n gentleman uses
another. | admit It. You are think
Ing that now you will revenge your
self. / do not blame you. I owe you
an apology for treating you in the
fashion that | did. But 1T was with ms
q question of life or death. l had no
alternative. And assure you" he add
ed smiling grimly, Il should not have
hesitated to kill you had you chosen to
resist. / gave you q chance for your
life merely because / saw that you were
not a republican, but a traveller like
myself. Had o worn the ~tri-color,
would have saved YOU"
"All of which I saw In your eyes,
monsieur" / said, smiling In my turn.
sist."
Well" he asked, looking at me,
which Is II, monsieur-an apology
n this bottle of wine or our swords
back Of the cabaret? For myself, I
hope II is the former"
There was a kindness In his tone
to be resisted, an authority In his
glance and In the expression OF his
face which bore In upon me anew my
own experience.
The wine, monsieur" I said.
The other would be folly"
He nodded and filled our glasses,
then raised his to his lips.
To our better acquaintance" he
said. and we drank the toast. / was
beginning to wonder how / had ever
been so blind as to think this man an
There was one moment" I confessed,
w hen yau were ~ some danger.
Il saw It," he said quietly. ut was
FOR that reason / turned my back TO
you
stared at him in amazement.
To help you overcome the temp
tation," he explained. "One gentleman
does not break. his word by stabbing
in the back"
could not wholly repress the flush
pleasure which sprang TO my cheeks.
Then a sudden vision rose before me
OF a limp body in Republican uniform
But YOU stopped. confused, con-
that ! vas uttering my thought
aloud, and that the thought was not
pleasant one.
All, me went on, smiling sadly,
You would say that l stabbed that
poor fellow in the back. Believe me.
monsieur, ! should have preferred a
thousand times to meet him face to
face. But | had no choice. A NOM
delay. and | should have been
taken. So | hardened my heart and
struck"
Pardon me. monsieur" I muir
INJURED. Il should have thought OF
He nodded. the shadow still on his
lightness. I'VE do as we are
by. And now, M. de Tavernay,"
he added, rising, you will find your
horse awaiting you outside yonder
door, as fresh as when you started
rssth him from Tours. I have secured
another In a less peremptory way
than | found necessary 10 adopt with
you. II Is foolhardy for me to linger
outside the trap-and so / must push
on at n But you may be weary.
you may wish to avoid the heat Of
the day; YOU may, In O word, pre-
fer to remain here and continue your
journey alone and at your leisure. III
so, farewell; but if you are ready to
on, I assure you that / shall be
very glad OF your company"
Thank you, monsieur" I said. my
decision taken on the instant. II am
quite ready to co. and i followed him
to the door.
At the threshold he paused and
toward me impulsively.
IN. de Tavernay," he said, a fine
smile lighting his face. II trust we
shall be friends" and he held out his
hand.
with all my heart" I cried. and
returned his clasp with interest.
Not until we had left the village and
we're cantcring briskly toward the
south with a clear road behind us, did
he speak again. Then II was to ask
me something OF my history-which
was soon told.
AS for myself he said, when I had
f@ished. II am on my way to my cha
tsau. just beyond DANCE. Yon cannot
nope ~ reach Jnateiierauir today, art
ar The delay pghieh 7 hare Ssss. s;Ss
I therefore urge you to be my guest
tonight. I will see you on your way
at daybreak tomorrow and you can
easily reach Poltiers by sunset. l hope
yeu VIII accept. my friend he went
on, seeing hat l hesitated. III only
that I may feel you have wholly for
given me Besides" he added 1T Is