Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-10-14
CHAPTER XIX--(Continued.)

to know" / asked at last, that thal
description may not really be deserved
by your How am ] to know that It Is
not some villainy against the nation
which you are plotting at that table
yonder?"
He started, turned red, shifted under
my gaze, and 1 saw that had won.
II swear TO you, citizen" he began
but / cut him short.
And / also swear to you." / retorted,
that I am on the Nations business
which rook no delay. II you are q
friend of the Nation, give me food; II
you are its enemy, refuse 1t. The Ma
ton knows how to punish and It's hand
Ia heavy. Shall / write your name In
my little book and after II the word
suspect Come, prove yourself a good
citizen, and at the same time get these
pieces OF silver for your pocket"
He hesitated yet a moment, going
from one foot to the other In per-
plexity; but the silver, or my argu-
ments, or perhaps both together, car
ried the day.
you shall have it," he said, and
went to the farther end Of the room,
where he opened a cupboard which
was at the same time larder and
wine cellar. From II he produced two
bottles, a fowl already roasted, and a
loaf of bread. AS he passed his two
companions, l fancied that a glance OF
understanding passed between them. A
moment later, they pushed back their
chairs, babe him a noisy good night,
and left the room.
How will this do2" asked my host,
placing the bottles, the loaf and the
fowl on the table before me, his vexa-
ton quite vanished.
'Excellently," 1 answered, noting
with surprise that the fowl had real
ly some flesh upon It's bones. "One
thing more; this road, I suppose leads
To-
'Ioudon," he said.
"And from there to Thouars7"
Undoubtedly"
Il am on the right track, then" /
said, Stimulating a sigh Of relief. That
Is ALL" l added, for / say it was use
less as We'll as dangerous to ask for
shoes. THE silver is yours" and
while he tested ii with his teeth, placed
o bottle in either pocket, and with a
loaf under my arm and the fow In my
hand, opened the door and stepped out
into the night.
I had my pistol ready and looked
sharply to the right and left, but saw
no one. Then, taking care to walk in
the middle of the road, / pushed for
ware at a good pace until I was we'll
away from the inn. I glanced around
from time to time, but saw no sign
that / was followed nor heard any
sound Of pursuing footsteps; so, tell
ing myself at last that my fears were
groundless, l leaped the ditch at the
side OF the road and retraced my steps
until / came again to the hedge back
Of the Inn. From this, 1 had but TO
follow the course of the brook, here
the merest thread or water, and at
the end Of 10 minutes l was back
again at my starting point. / stopped
a IND hnnf WA fhn hnllnuy vrbnn a
soft hand rose and touched my cheek.
Us 1t you. NJ. de Tavernay?" asked
p voice. "Oh, but / am glad!" / was
beginning TO fear Tor you. What Is
that in your hand2"
"It Is food" / answered, sitting down
beside her and laughing with sheer joy.
drew my knife and severed loaf and
fowl alike Into two equal portions, then
with the point of 1t drew the corks and
placed he bottles carefully in a hollow
OF the grass, propping them upright
with some little stones. There" L
said, "the meal is served, mademoiselle.
] think we may dispense with grace,
as we must with knives and forks"
She laughed delightedly as she took
b portions / placed in her hands.
you are a wizard, M. de Tavernay,"
said. II had expected, at most, a
crust Of bread, and you provide a
feast
"A feast is OF value / pointed out,
"only when II Is in ones stomach"
We'll, this shall soon be in NINE"
she retorted; never In my life have I
had such an appetite" and she attack
cd the food with a vigor which it did
me good to see.
Nor was / behind her. Never, before
or since, have / tasted a fowl so ten
der, bread sc sweet. wine so satisfying.
1t was almost worth the privations we
had underground was natures COM
pensation for that sufferingl And u
first munger past, we took time to
pause and chat q little. She had re-
gained all her old spirit, and / am sure
tnat Tor her, as Tor me, there was
something fascinating and even IAN
gerous III that moment. We forgot past
sorrow and future peril, we forgot our
present situation n the trials we
must still encounter. The moon was
rising again over the hills to the east
and revealed Just as 1t had done the
night before, all the subtle delicacy of
her beauty. What she was thinking OF
i know not, but my own thoughts flew
back irresistibly to that hour In the
garden-that sweet, swift winged
houri
but was it only last night"
murmured, not realizing that I spoke
aloud until the words were uttered.
Indeed, 1t seems an age awayl" she
assented, absently, and a sudden burst
of Joy glowed within me.
80 you were thinking OF It. tooi'
I cried. and tried to catch her hand
Thinking OF what7" she asked
drawing away from me.
"Of the garden-of the precious mo-
ments we passed together there"
answered eagerly. my eyes on hers
'On the contrary" she answered
coolly. though I could have sworn she
blushed. Il was thinking only that las
night / was safe with my friends a
the chateau
"Oh," / said. not wanting to hea,
more, and ! a back into my sea,
with a gesture of impatience.
Though II you had not interrupted
my thoughts" she continued smiling
slyiy. Il should doubtless. In time
have come to the garden scene"
Tn time!" I repeated bitterly. 20
all the hours OF my life, that one Il
[ ever present with me. 1t eclipses al
the rest"
1T viii fade." she assured me light
ly. 1T will fade! AS for ME, / dc no
dwell upon II. because I must be care
hull"
Careful"
Certainly. Careful not to permi
myself to think too tenderly OF a MAJ